Interleukin 17F Gene Polymorphism as a Potential Protective Factor in the Immunopathology of Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is characterised by intraocular inflammation due to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Studies have found that interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays a central role in the pathology of OT. However, nucleotide variability in IL17 and interleukin 17 receptor (IL17R) genes has not been characterised in OT. As cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence the expression of these molecules, the aim of this study was to verify whether IL17A (rs2275913), IL17F (rs763780), IL17RA (rs4819554) and IL17RC (rs708567) polymorphisms are associated with OT in a Brazilian population. This study enrolled 214 patients seropositive for T. gondii (110 with OT and 104 without) and 107 controls. Polymorphisms were identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, validated by DNA sequencing with chi-square and multivariate analyses being used to assess possible associations between polymorphisms and OT. Logistic regression under the dominant model revealed a protection factor against OT of the C mutant allele of the IL17F (rs763780) polymorphism. The T/C-C/C genotypes were significantly more common in patients without OT compared to those with OT (p value = 0.0066) and controls (p value = 0.014). Findings from this study suggest that the IL17F polymorphism may have an influence in the immunopathology of OT in Brazilian individuals.

Arsenic bioaccumulation and biotransformation in different tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A comparative study between As(III) and As(V) exposure and evaluation of antagonistic effects of selenium.

The speciation of arsenic in fish has been widely investigated, but bioaccumulation and biotransformation of inorganic As in different tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of As in Nile tilapia, as well as to evaluate the distribution of the main arsenic species (As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA, and AsB) in liver, stomach, gill, and muscle, after controlled exposures to As(III) and As(V) at concentrations of 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 during periods of 1 and 7 days. Total As was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). For both exposures (As(III) and As(V)), the total As levels after 7-day exposure were highest in the liver and lowest in the muscle. Overall, the Nile tilapia exposed to As(III) showed higher tissue levels of As after the treatments, compared to As(V) exposure. Speciation of arsenic present in the tissues employed liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (LC-ICP-MS), revealing that the biotransformation of As included As(V) reduction to As(III), methylation to monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and subsequent conversion to nontoxic arsenobetaine (AsB), which was the predominant arsenic form. Finally, the interactions and antagonistic effects of selenium in the bioaccumulation processes were tested by the combined exposure to As(III), the most toxic species of As, together with tetravalent selenium (Se(IV)). The results indicated a 4-6 times reduction of arsenic toxicity in the tilapia.

Physical Fitness Surveillance and Monitoring Systems Inventory for Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review with a Global Perspective.

Surveillance of health-related physical fitness can improve decision-making and intervention strategies promoting health for children and adolescents. However, no study has comprehensively analyzed surveillance/monitoring systems for physical fitness globally. This review sought to address this gap by identifying: (1) national-level surveillance/monitoring systems for physical fitness among children and adolescents globally, (2) the main barriers and challenges to implementing surveillance/monitoring systems, and (3) governmental actions related to existing surveillance/monitoring systems. We used a scoping review to search, obtain, group, summarize, and analyze available evidence. Our review involved three stages: (1) identification of surveillance systems through a systematic literature review, with complementary search of the grey literature (e.g., reference lists, Google Scholar, webpages, recommendations), (2) systematic consultation with relevant experts using a Delphi method to confirm/add systems and to gather and analyze information on the barriers and challenges to implementing systems, and (3) Web searches for public documents on government sites and surveillance/monitoring system pages, and direct internet searches to identify relevant governmental actions related to surveillance systems. A total of 15 fitness surveillance/monitoring systems met our inclusion criteria. Experts identified a lack of government support and funding, and the low priority of fitness on the public health agenda as the main barriers/challenges to implementation. Several governmental actions related to surveillance systems were identified, including policies, strategies, programs, and guidelines. We propose a Global Observatory of Physical Fitness to help address these issues.

Heat production during exercise in pregnancy: discerning the contribution of total body weight.

Studies have reported enhanced thermoregulatory function as pregnancy progresses; however, it is unclear if differences in thermoregulation are attributed to weight gain or other physiological changes. This study aimed to determine if total body weight will influence thermoregulation (heat production (Hprod)), heart rate, and perceptual measurements in response to weight-bearing exercise during early to late pregnancy. A cross-sectional design of healthy pregnant women at different pregnancy time points (early, T1; middle, T2; late, T3) performed a 7-stage weight-bearing incremental exercise protocol. Measurements of Hprod, HR, and RPE were examined. Two experimental groups were studied: (1) weight matched and (2) non-weight matched, in T1, T2, and T3. During exercise, equivalent Hprod at T1 (326 ± 88 kJ), T2 (330 ± 43 kJ), and T3 (352 ± 52 kJ) (p = 0.504); HR (p = 0.830); and RPE (p = 0.195) were observed in the WM group at each time point. In the NWM group, Hprod (from stages 1-6 of the exercise) increased across pregnancy time points, T1 (291 ± 76 kJ) to T2 (347 ± 41 kJ) and T3 (385 ± 47 kJ) (p < 0.001). HR increased from T1 to T3 in the warm-up to stage 6 (p = 0.009). RPE did not change as pregnancy time point progressed (p = 0.309). Total body weight, irrespective of pregnancy time point, modulates Hprod and HR during exercise. Therefore, accounting for total body weight is crucial when comparing thermoregulatory function during exercise across pregnancy.

Can photobiomodulation improve quadriceps strength and endurance outcomes in asymptomatic adults? A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To explore the effect of photobiomodulation on quadriceps strength and endurance torques in asymptomatic adults. METHODS: Twenty-eight asymptomatic adults were randomized to one of two interventions: photobiomodulation (n = 14) or sham (n = 14). Quadriceps strength was evaluated by maximum voluntary isometric contraction test (60°) and endurance by an elastic resistance in multiple-set knee extension/flexion repetitions using a traction dynamometer. The outcomes were measured at three time points: pre-baseline; baseline and; final assessment. The photobiomodulation was applied to the quadriceps and triceps surae muscles of each participant's dominant lower limb, using a cluster with 1 infrared laser diode and 3 led amber of 170 mW for 240 s over four consecutive days. The sham group went through the same procedures, but the equipment was off, and patients and assessors were blinded to the intervention. Reliability and minimal detectable change of the measures were obtained from the pre-baseline and baseline time points. Differences between interventions were tested by an analysis of covariance. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was no difference between photobiomodulation compared to sham in maximum isometric torque (mean difference (95% CI) = 0.008 (-0.29 to 0.31) and endurance torques (mean difference (95% CI) = 0.04 (-0.03 to 0.12). The mean difference was lower than the minimal detectable change for the maximum isometric torque (1.02 Nm.kg-1) and endurance torque (0.49 Nm.kg-1). CONCLUSION: Photobiomodulation does not improve quadriceps strength and endurance outcomes in asymptomatic adults.

Trends in anthropometric and somatotype profiles of Brazilian female futsal players: a 20 year study.

This study describes the anthropometric measurements and somatotype of the elite female futsal players from Brazil in 2021 and analyse the changes and trends over time in these physical characteristics. Data were collected from the 396 female futsal players, of whom; 169 players were assessed in 2021 then compared to those assessed in 2001 (n=112) and 2011 (n-115). Anthropometric measurements, including body weight, height, breadths, girths, and skinfolds were assessed. The somatotype was calculated and graphically represented. The changes between 2021 and the previous years were analysed using ANOVA and multiple linear regression. A jointpoint regression was performed to verify the annual percentage change. The comparison between 2021 data versus the other time points showed a higher age and lower fat content (2001: 22.7 ± 5.1 BF%; 2011: 22.2 ± 5.2 BF%; 2021: 19.0 ± 5.1 BF%). Players from 2021 had higher tensed arm and relaxed calf girths. All the positions, excluding pivots, significantly decreased their body fat units between 2021 and 2001 (goalkeeper: b=-4.49; defender: b=-2.78; winger: b=-4.48). Over the last 20 years, body fat reduced, and tensed arm and relaxed calf girths increased, suggesting an increase in fat-free mass content from the limbs.

Clinic- and laboratory-based measures of postural control in patellofemoral pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis and evidence gap map.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder associated with functional impairments. Although postural control is commonly assessed in people with PFP, there are inconsistent results regarding potential postural control deficits in this population. RESEARCH QUESTION: This review aims to evaluate whether postural control is impaired in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP) and the effectiveness of interventions on postural control measures. METHODS: We searched six databases from their inception to May 5, 2023. We included studies assessing clinic- or laboratory-based postural control measures in people with PFP compared to pain-free controls, and intervention studies with PFP populations. We assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. We assessed the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. We used random-effects meta-analyses considering subgroups based on type of task, measure, and intervention. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies were included. Very low certainty evidence indicated that people with PFP have shorter anterior (SMD = 0.53, 95 %CI:0.16,0.90), posteromedial (SMD = 0.54, 95 %CI:0.04,1.03) and posterolateral (SMD = 0.59, 95 %CI:0.11,1.07) reach distance, and worse composite score (SMD = 0.46, 95 %CI:0.22,0.70). Very low to moderate certainty evidence indicated that people with PFP have worse anterior-posterior and overall stability indexes during single-leg stance (SMD = -0.71, 95 %CI:-1.29,-0.14; SMD = -0.63, 95 %CI:-0.94,-0.32) and overall stability index during double-leg stance (SMD = -0.39, 95 %CI:-0.78,-0.00), but no differences in center of pressure area during stair ascent (SMD = 0.32, 95 %CI:-2.72, 3.36). Low certainty evidence indicated that kinesio taping improved anterior reach distance (SMD = -0.49, 95 %CI:-0.89,-0.09), while no significant differences were observed between pre- and post-intervention outcomes for conventional rehabilitation and rigid taping. SIGNIFICANCE: Clinicians should use clinic- (star excursion or Y-balance tests) and laboratory-based (stability indexes) measures to identify impairments of postural control in people with PFP. Low certainty of evidence suggests short-term improvement in postural control with kinesio taping.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of deformable fluid-filled bodies: progress and perspectives.

With the rapid development of studies involving droplet microfluidics, drug delivery, cell detection, and microparticle synthesis, among others, many scientists have invested significant efforts to model the flow of these fluid-filled bodies. Motivated by the intricate coupling between hydrodynamics and the interactions of fluid-filled bodies, several methods have been developed. The objective of this review is to present a compact foundation of the methods used in the literature in the context of lattice Boltzmann methods. For hydrodynamics, we focus on the lattice Boltzmann method due to its specific ability to treat time- and spatial-dependent boundary conditions and to incorporate new physical models in a computationally efficient way. We split the existing methods into two groups with regard to the interfacial boundary: fluid-structure and fluid-fluid methods. The fluid-structure methods are characterised by the coupling between fluid dynamics and mechanics of the flowing body, often used in applications involving membranes and similar flexible solid boundaries. We further divide fluid-structure-based methods into two subcategories, those which treat the fluid-structure boundary as a continuum medium and those that treat it as a discrete collection of individual springs and particles. Next, we discuss the fluid-fluid methods, particularly useful for the simulations of fluid-fluid interfaces. We focus on models for immiscible droplets and their interaction in a suspending fluid and describe benchmark tests to validate the models for fluid-filled bodies.

Clustering of health risk behaviors in pregnant individuals: Data from the Brazilian risk factor surveillance system for non-communicable chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clustering of health risk behaviors (HRB) and its association with demographics, physical exercise, overweight, perception of health, and diseases in Brazilian pregnant people. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Risk Factor Surveillance System for Non-communicable Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL), the main health survey in Brazil. METHODS: We used data on fruit and vegetable consumption, TV time, tobacco, and alcohol abuse in individuals who reported being pregnant (n = 4553). We used latent class analysis to identify optimal HRB clustering among participants. Multinomial regression (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [95%CI]) was applied to identify factors associated with HRB cluster. RESULTS: Three clustering classes were identified: "without HRB cluster" (i.e., least unhealthy behaviors) (n = 2402, 52,8%), "moderate HRB cluster" (n = 1983, 43,5%), and "high HRB cluster" (i.e., most unhealthy behaviors) (n = 168, 3,7%). Pregnant people aged 35-50 years (OR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.01; 3.52) who did not practice physical exercise (OR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.11; 3.39) were more likely to be classified as "high HRB cluster". Participants with 9-11 years (OR = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.07; 0.17) and ≥ 12 (OR = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.02; 0.11) years of education had a lower likelihood of being in the "high HRB cluster". CONCLUSION: Three HRB clustering patterns were found in this study. Greater maternal age, low education, and absence of physical exercises increased the chances of being in the high HRB cluster group. Participants with higher educational levels were less likely to be in the High HRB cluster.

Associations Between Rank, Sex, and Parity With Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained During Annual Military Physical Fitness Test.

ABSTRACT: Edwards, CM, da Silva, DF, Puranda, JL, Souza, SCS, Semeniuk, K, and Adamo, KB. Associations between rank, sex, and parity with musculoskeletal injuries sustained during annual military physical fitness test. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 367-373, 2024-Musculoskeletal injuries pose a significant threat to the well-being of military personnel. Attempts to use physical employment standard test results as predictors of injury are underway, but little is known about injuries sustained during the tests. This study sought to identify body regions most likely to be reported as injured during the annual Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physical fitness evaluation. In addition, sex, rank, and parity status are explored as possible associated factors for injury. A total of 1,796 actively serving CAF members were categorized by sex (1,030 male participants; 766 female participants), rank (1,142 Non-Commissioned Members [NCM]; 638 Officers), and parity (314 parous female participants; 435 nulliparous female participants). Sex, rank, and parity were associated with body regions reportedly injured during an annual CAF fitness assessment (significance p ≤ 0.05). When compared with male participants, female participants were more likely to be injured {aOR: 1.797 (95% [confidence interval] CI: 1.45-2.23)} and more prone to injury of the wrist (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.933 [95% CI: 1.20-3.12]), hip (aOR: 3.445 [95% CI: 2.07-5.728]), or lower back (aOR: 1.55 [95% CI: 1.18-2.04]). Non-Commissioned Members were more likely to injure the neck (aOR: 2.14 [95% CI: 1.18-3.88]) or shoulder (aOR: 2.03 [95% CI: 1.31-3.15]), when compared with Officers. Parous female participants reported pelvis/abdomen injury at a higher rate than the nulliparous group (5 vs. 1.7%, p = 0.019). Injuries sustained during an annual CAF fitness assessment differ based on sex, rank, and parity. Canadian Armed Forces female participants, NCM, and parous female participants may require specific physical fitness support in preparation for the annual physical fitness test.

A simplified BRADEN scale for the risk of developing pressure injuries.

BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries (PIs) are a major problem for healthcare providers, impacting both care costs and patients' quality of life, although they are predominately preventable. These injuries are especially present in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) as a result of the severity of the clinical conditions of patients in this unit. AIM: To develop a simplified version of the Braden scale by removing two of the most subjective subscores-Nutrition and Sensory Perception-in an attempt to reduce the chance of errors by the nursing team during the application of the scale. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted on data collected from patients admitted to the ICU of a private Brazilian tertiary hospital. The resulting data consisted of 5194 patients, 6353 hospital admissions, and 6974 ICU stays. The overall prevalence of PI was 1.09%. RESULTS: The T-test showed that both the Braden and the simplified Braden scores were significantly different between patients with and without PI (p < .001). Patients who developed PIs scored lower than those who did not. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve of the Braden Scale was 74.21% (95% CI: 68.61%-79.8%) and of the simplified scale was 72.54% (95% CI: 66.87%-78.22%). The Positive Predictive Value of the Braden Scale was 3.17% when interpolated at the same sensitivity as the simplified scale (47.37%), which achieved 3.26%. CONCLUSIONS: By removing two of the six subscores of the Braden scale we propose a new tool for identifying patients at risk of developing PI in a more objective and fast way. Our results show that classification performance had little negative impact. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A simplified, less subjective scale allows for more precise and less time-consuming risk classification.

Biocultural correlates of gross motor coordination in prepubescent children: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the association of gross motor coordination (GMC) with a matrix of biocultural factors in prepubescent children, taking into account weight status, somatic maturation, sociodemographic variables, and type of school. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine prepubescent children, of both sexes, aged between 8.00 and 8.99, were assessed for GMC (Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder - KTK), weight status, biological maturation (predicted mature stature), sex, mother's education level and type of school. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between higher values of KTK and associated biocultural factors. RESULTS: Normoponderal children are more likely to attain better total KTK scores than those with overweight or obesity (OR: 2.942; LC 95%: 1.189, 7.280). In addition, children who are more advanced in terms of biological maturation exhibited significantly lower odds of being in the high KTK category than their less advanced peers (OR: 0.670; LC 95%: 0.474,0.946). Sex, mother's education level and the type of school are not associated with higher performance on KTK. CONCLUSION: Weight status and biological maturation are associated with motor competence in prepubescent children. Future studies should consider additional correlates to better understand the complex interactions between biological, psychosocial and behavioral factors in the prediction of motor competence.

What are the correlates of intention to be physically active in Brazilian adolescents? A network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to explore the association of individual characteristics, social and environmental factors - school and region - in the intention to be physically active in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study based on the third edition of the National School Health Survey. The study included a total of 53,937 adolescents. To assess the intention to be physically active, only who engaged in less than 300 min of physical activity per week were included. Participants were asked: "If you had the opportunity to practice physical activity most days of the week, what would your attitude be?" Individual characteristics, physical activity domains, social factors, school, and regional environments were used as exposures. Network analysis was utilized to evaluate the associations. RESULTS: We observed that boys had higher intentions to be physically active compared to their peers, as did adolescents who perceived themselves as fat. In addition, students from private schools show a higher intention to regularly engage in physical activities, and in general, private schools offer more extracurricular physical activities. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, individual factors such as sex and body image perception, and environmental factors such as school administrative dependency and availability of extracurricular activities had a significant contribution to the intention to be physically active among Brazilian adolescents.

Co-development and evaluation of the Musculoskeletal Telehealth Toolkit for physiotherapists.

INTRODUCTION: In-person physiotherapy services are not readily available to all individuals with musculoskeletal conditions, especially those in rural regions or with time-intensive responsibilities. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that telehealth may facilitate access to, and continuity of care, yet many physiotherapists lack telehealth confidence and training. This project co-developed and evaluated a web-based professional development toolkit supporting physiotherapists to provide telehealth services for musculoskeletal conditions. METHODS: A mixed-methods exploratory sequential design applied modified experience-based co-design methods (physiotherapists [n = 13], clinic administrators [n = 2], and people with musculoskeletal conditions [n = 7]) to develop an evidence-informed toolkit. Semi-structured workshops were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed, refining the toolkit prototype. Subsequently, the toolkit was promoted via webinars and social media. The usability of the toolkit was examined with pre-post surveys examining changes in confidence, knowledge, and perceived telehealth competence (19 statements modelled from the theoretical domains framework) between toolkit users (>30 min) and non-users (0 min) using chi-squared tests for independence. Website analytics were summarised. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants engaged in co-design workshops. Feedback led to the inclusion of more patient-facing resources, increased assessment-related visual content, streamlined toolkit organisation, and simplified, downloadable infographics. Three hundred and twenty-nine physiotherapists from 21 countries completed the baseline survey, with 172 (52%) completing the 3-month survey. Toolkit users had greater improvement in knowledge, confidence, and competence than non-users in 42% of statements. Seventy-two percentage of toolkit users said it changed their practice, and 95% would recommend the toolkit to colleagues. During the evaluation period, the toolkit received 5486 total views. DISCUSSION: The co-designed web-based Musculoskeletal Telehealth Toolkit is a professional development resource that may increase physiotherapist's confidence, knowledge, and competence in telehealth.

Prevalence and incidence of insufficient physical activity in Brazilian adolescents during the pandemic: data from ConVid Adolescents. / Prevalência e incidência da prática insuficiente de atividade física em adolescentes brasileiros durante a pandemia: dados da ConVid Adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of insufficient physical activity in Brazilian adolescents and identify the most affected subgroups during the pandemic. METHODS: This study used data from the "ConVid Adolescents - Behavior Survey", which evaluated the behavior of 9,470 Brazilian adolescents during the period of social restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through a self-administered online questionnaire. Participants were invited through a virtual "snowball" sampling procedure. Information was reported on the frequency of physical activity before and during the pandemic. The exposure variables used were gender, age group, race/skin color, region of Brazil, type of school, maternal education, financial difficulties during the pandemic, and social restrictions. Logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Adolescents engaged in less physical activity during the pandemic, as the prevalence of insufficient physical activity increased from 71.3% in the previous period to 84.3% during the pandemic. The incidence of insufficient physical activity during the pandemic was 69.6%. The subgroups of adolescents most affected were those who self-declared as black or with dark skin color, reported financial difficulties during the pandemic, lived in the Southeast and South regions of the country, and practiced intense or complete social distancing. CONCLUSION: High incidences of insufficient physical activity were observed among Brazilian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended that further studies explore periods after those analyzed to identify the behavioral dynamics of adolescents upon returning to in-person activities.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência e a incidência de atividade física insuficiente em adolescentes brasileiros e identificar os subgrupos mais afetados durante a pandemia. MÉTODOS: Este estudo utilizou dados da ConVid Adolescentes - Pesquisa de Comportamentos, que avaliou, por meio de um questionário online autopreenchido, o comportamento de 9.470 adolescentes brasileiros no período de restrição social, em virtude da pandemia da COVID-19 em 2020. Os participantes foram convidados por meio de um procedimento de amostragem em cadeia denominado "bola de neve" virtual. Foram relatadas informações sobre a frequência de atividade física antes e durante a pandemia. As variáveis de exposição utilizadas foram sexo, faixa etária, raça/cor da pele, região do Brasil, tipo de escola, escolaridade materna, dificuldades financeiras durante a pandemia e restrições sociais. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Os adolescentes praticaram menos atividade física durante a pandemia, visto que a prevalência de atividade física insuficiente aumentou de 71,3% no período anterior para 84,3% durante a pandemia. A incidência de atividade física insuficiente durante a pandemia foi de 69,6%. Os subgrupos de adolescentes mais afetados foram os que se autodeclararam da raça/cor da pele preta, que relataram dificuldades financeiras durante a pandemia, residentes nas regiões Sudeste e Sul do país e que realizaram restrição social intensa e total. CONCLUSÃO: Altas incidências de atividade física insuficiente foram observadas entre adolescentes brasileiros durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Recomenda-se que novos estudos explorem períodos posteriores aos analisados para identificar a dinâmica comportamental dos adolescentes a partir do retorno das atividades presenciais.

Global prevalence and gender inequalities in at least 60 min of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity 1 or more days per week: An analysis with 707,616 adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend that adolescents should accumulate an average of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, using only this cut-off could hide important information. For instance, from a population-level point of view, increasing physical activity for those with no or low physical activity could provide more health benefits than increasing physical activity for those with intermediate levels. Also, including a more sensitive cut-point of ≥1 day per week could be an additional strategy for identifying those with low access/opportunities for physical activity practice. Thus, the current study aims to estimate the prevalence of ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 days per week among adolescents globally, and to describe any relevant gender inequalities. METHODS: We used representative datasets from 146 countries/territories collected between 2003 and 2019. MVPA was self-reported. Participants were grouped into younger (≤14 years old) and older (>14 years old) adolescents. Crude Poisson regression models were used to identify the relative differences in ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 days per week between boys and girls, and random-effects meta-analysis models were used to identify the pooled estimates. Analyses were stratified by country and region. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of both younger and older adolescents reported ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 days per week. This prevalence was ≥94% in Europe and Central Asia and North America, while the estimates for the other regions were <77%. The prevalence of ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 days per week was higher among boys than girls, with the largest differences occurring among the oldest adolescents (PR≤14y: 1.04 (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.03‒1.04) vs. PR>14y: 1.09 (95%CI: 1.08‒1.10)). CONCLUSION: Approximately 8 out of 10 adolescents reported accumulating ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 day per week, with notable differences between regions. Gender differences were observed in several countries, especially among the oldest adolescents. Priorities for physical activity promotion among adolescents should include increasing access/opportunities for physical activity among those who do not achieve ≥60 min of MVPA ≥1 days per week and reducing gender inequalities.

U-SMILE: a brief version of the Short Multidimensional Inventory on Lifestyle Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle Medicine comprises six domains: diet, substance use, physical activity, stress management, social connection, and sleep. The comprehensive assessment of lifestyle is challenging, but the "Short Multidimensional Inventory on Lifestyle Evaluation" (SMILE) was developed to fill out this gap. In this paper, we describe the development and the psychometric properties (internal consistency, concurrent and convergent validity) of a shorter version of the SMILE among university students. METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional study including 369 students from 10 Brazilian universities were used. Considering a theoretical nomological net, we performed exploratory factor analysis to obtain the most parsimonious, interpretable and good-fitting model. RESULTS: The final model was called U-SMILE, comprised 24 items, and presented acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.73, McDonald's ω = 0.79). To evaluate the concurrent validity of the U-SMILE, we compared it to the original SMILE and found a high correlation between the instruments (Spearman's r= 0.94). Furthermore, we evaluated convergent validity by examining the U-SMILE correlation with the PHQ-9 (Spearman's r= -0.517), and GAD-7 (Spearman's r= -0.356), two validated instruments to screen for depression and anxiety, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the U-SMILE is a valid instrument for assessing lifestyle among university students. We recommend that the use of U-SMILE to evaluate overall lifestyle scores rather than individual domain scores. Finally, we discuss the importance of clarifying the definitions of lifestyle and related constructs in future research.