Differential associations of risk factors with severe and non-severe hypoglycaemia: the Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool prospective observational study in people with insulin-treated type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To assess the differential association of risk factors with severe and non-severe hypoglycaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool study evaluated the risk of hypoglycaemia over a 4-week period in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) on insulin in 24 countries. Negative binomial regressions were applied to examine the associations of several risk factors with severe and non-severe hypoglycaemia. RESULTS: The median age was 41 years in 5949 patients with T1D and 62 years in 12 914 patients with T2D. The 4-week rates of non-severe hypoglycaemic were 5.57 and 1.40 episodes per person in T1D and T2D, respectively; the corresponding rates for severe hypoglycaemia were 0.94 and 0.30. The excess risk was 42% higher for severe than non-severe hypoglycaemia in females versus males with T2D; 27% higher in patients with T2D with versus without a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); and 47% lower in patients with T1D with versus without an insulin pump. The excess risk also differed across geographical areas and was marginally lower for severe than non-severe hypoglycaemia for higher values of HbA1c in patients with T2D. Associations with severity of hypoglycaemia were not different for age, diabetes and insulin therapy duration, previous hypoglycaemic episodes and insulin regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of severe versus non-severe hypoglycaemia differs in patients with T1D and T2D; sex, the use of a CGM and insulin pump, and geographical areas were differently associated with one type of hypoglycaemia than the other.

Can quantifying the relative intensity of a person's free-living physical activity predict how they respond to a physical activity intervention? Findings from the PACES RCT.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether quantifying both the absolute and relative intensity of accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA) can inform PA interventions. We hypothesised that individuals whose free-living PA is at a low relative intensity are more likely to increase PA in response to an intervention, as they have spare physical capacity. METHOD: We conducted a secondary data analysis of a 12-month randomised controlled trial, Physical Activity after Cardiac EventS, which was designed to increase PA but showed no improvement. Participants (N=239, 86% male; age 66.4 (9.7); control N=126, intervention N=113) wore accelerometers for 7 days and performed the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) at baseline and 12 months. PA intensity was expressed in absolute terms (intensity gradient) and relative to acceleration at maximal physical capacity (predicted from an individual's maximal ISWT walking speed). PA outcomes were volume and absolute intensity gradient. RESULTS: At baseline, ISWT performance was positively correlated with PA volume (r=0.50, p<0.001) and absolute intensity (r=0.50, p<0.001), but negatively correlated with relative intensity (r=-0.13, p=0.025). Relative intensity of PA at baseline moderated the change in absolute intensity (p=0.017), but not volume, of PA postintervention. Low relative intensity at baseline was associated with increased absolute intensity gradient (+0.5 SD), while high relative intensity at baseline was associated with decreased absolute intensity gradient (-0.5 SD). CONCLUSION: Those with low relative intensity of PA were more likely to increase their absolute PA intensity gradient in response to an intervention. Quantifying absolute and relative PA intensity of PA could improve enables personalisation of interventions.

A digital lifestyle behaviour change intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study exploring intuitive engagement with real-time glucose and physical activity feedback.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health technologies have advanced to now allow monitoring of the acute physiological responses to lifestyle behaviours. Our aim was to explore how people engaged with real-time feedback on their physical activity and glucose levels over several weeks. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 26 participants (61.5% female, 56.6 years) at moderate-to-high risk of developing type 2 diabetes were conducted. Interviews were completed after participants took part in an intervention comprising a flash glucose monitor (Freestyle Libre) and a physical activity monitor (Fitbit Charge 2). Purposive sampling ensured representation of ages, genders and group allocations. RESULTS: Inductive thematic analysis revealed how individuals intuitively used, interpreted and acted on feedback from wearable technologies. Six key themes emerged: triggers of engagement with the technologies, links between behaviour and health, lack of confidence, changes to movement behaviours, changes to diet and barriers to lifestyle behaviour change. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that accessing behavioural and physiological feedback can increase self-awareness of how lifestyle impacts short-term health. Some participants noticed a link between the feedback presented by the two devices and changed their behaviour but many did not. Training and educational support, as well as efforts to optimize how feedback is presented to users, are needed to sustain engagement and behaviour change. Extensions of this work to involve people with diabetes are also warranted to explore whether behavioural and physiological feedback in parallel can encourage better diabetes self-management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN17545949 , 12/05/2017, prospectively registered.

Influence of muscle mass in the assessment of lower limb strength in COPD: validation of the prediction equation.

Absence of established reference values limits application of quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction (QMVC) measurement. The impact of muscle mass inclusion in predictions is unclear. Prediction equations encompassing gender, age and size with (FFM+) and without (FFM-), derived in healthy adults (n=175), are presented and compared in two COPD cohorts recruited from primary care (COPD-PC, n=112) and a complex care COPD clinic (COPD-CC, n=189). Explained variance was comparable between the prediction models (R2: FFM+: 0.59, FFM-: 0.60) as were per cent predictions in COPD-PC (88.8%, 88.3%). However, fat-free mass inclusion reduced the prevalence of weakness in COPD, particularly in COPD-CC where 11.9% fewer were deemed weak.

The influence of South Asian ethnicity on the incremental shuttle walk test in UK adults.

The objective of this study was to compare incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) performance between South Asian and Caucasian British adults, identify predictors of ISWT distance and produce ethnicity-specific reference equations. Data from a mixed gender sample aged 40-75 years from Leicestershire, United Kingdom, were selected for analyses. Analysis of covariance determined differences in ISWT performance between South Asian and Caucasian British ethnic groups. Linear regressions identified predictors of ISWT distance, which determined the reference equations. In total, 144 participants took part in the study (79 South Asian (54 ± 8 years, 71% female) and 65 Caucasian British (58 ± 9 years, 74% female)). Distance walked for the ISWT was shorter for South Asian individuals compared with Caucasian British (451 ± 143 vs. 575 ± 180 m, p < 0.001). The ethnicity-specific reference equations for ISWT distance explained 33-50% of the variance (standard error of the estimate (SEE): 107-119 m) for South Asians and explained 14-58% of the variance (SEE: 121-169 m) for Caucasian British. Ethnicity univariately explained 12.9% of the variance in ISWT distance and was significantly associated with ISWT distance after controlling for age, gender, height, weight, dyspnoea and lung function ( B = -70.37; 1 = Caucasian British, 2 = South Asian), uniquely explaining 3.7% of the variance. Predicted values for ISWT performance were lower in South Asian people than in Caucasian British. Ethnicity-specific reference equations should account for this.

Brain Activation in Response to Personalized Behavioral and Physiological Feedback From Self-Monitoring Technology: Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The recent surge in commercially available wearable technology has allowed real-time self-monitoring of behavior (eg, physical activity) and physiology (eg, glucose levels). However, there is limited neuroimaging work (ie, functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI]) to identify how people's brains respond to receiving this personalized health feedback and how this impacts subsequent behavior. OBJECTIVE: Identify regions of the brain activated and examine associations between activation and behavior. METHODS: This was a pilot study to assess physical activity, sedentary time, and glucose levels over 14 days in 33 adults (aged 30 to 60 years). Extracted accelerometry, inclinometry, and interstitial glucose data informed the construction of personalized feedback messages (eg, average number of steps per day). These messages were subsequently presented visually to participants during fMRI. Participant physical activity levels and sedentary time were assessed again for 8 days following exposure to this personalized feedback. RESULTS: Independent tests identified significant activations within the prefrontal cortex in response to glucose feedback compared with behavioral feedback (P<.001). Reductions in mean sedentary time (589.0 vs 560.0 minutes per day, P=.014) were observed. Activation in the subgyral area had a moderate correlation with minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (r=0.392, P=.043). CONCLUSION: Presenting personalized glucose feedback resulted in significantly more brain activation when compared with behavior. Participants reduced time spent sedentary at follow-up. Research on deploying behavioral and physiological feedback warrants further investigation.

Metadata Correction: Brain Activation in Response to Personalized Behavioral and Physiological Feedback From Self-Monitoring Technology: Pilot Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/jmir.8890.].

The impact of socioeconomic factors, social determinants, and ethnicity on the utilization of glucose sensor technology among persons with diabetes mellitus: a narrative review.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) usage has been shown to improve disease outcomes in people living with diabetes by facilitating better glycemic management. However, previous research has suggested that access to these devices can be influenced by nonmedical factors such as socioeconomic status and ethnicity. It is critical that equitable access to CGM devices is ensured as people from those groups experience poorer diabetes-related health outcomes. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the various healthcare systems worldwide and how socioeconomic status, social context, and ethnicity shape device usage and the associated health outcomes. In general, we found that having a lower socioeconomic status and belonging to an ethnic minority group negatively impact CGM usage. While financial means proved to be an important mediator in this process, it was not the sole driver as disparities persisted even after adjustment for factors such as income and insurance status. Recommendations to increase CGM usage for people of a lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minorities include increasing the availability of financial, administrative, and educational support, for both patients and healthcare providers. However, recommendations will vary due to local country-specific circumstances, such as reimbursement criteria and healthcare ecosystems.

The effects of income, education, social factors and ethnicity on the use of glucose sensors by people with diabetes mellitus: a narrative review Over the recent years, glucose sensors have transformed the monitoring of glucose levels in people with diabetes. However, access to these devices has been determined by the healthcare systems and the associated rules and regulations, as well as perceptions from providers and patients about who would benefit most from these devices. In this narrative review, we performed an expansive literature search into what is known about factors that negatively impact the access to glucose sensors, and how these factors might be addressed. From this, we learn that, depending on the healthcare system, financial means form a major driver behind the disparities in glucose sensor use. However, factors such as ethnicity and provider and patient perceptions also can negatively affect one's chances to obtain a glucose sensor. Furthermore, we found that a successful program aimed at resolving the found disparities in glucose sensor use must be multi-faceted, and must include measures aimed at financial support, the use of objective and simple criteria for sensor eligibility, as well as educational support for both patients and providers.

An in vitro study assessing the infection risk of low-cost polyethylene mosquito net compared with commercial hernia prosthetics.

BACKGROUND: The innovative use of sterilized mosquito net as a cheaper alternative to commercial mesh for hernia repair has gained increasing recognition. Developing health care systems have inherently higher surgical site infection rates, and concerns regarding the introduction of untested prosthetic hernia meshes have been raised. This in vitro study assesses the infection risk of polyethylene (PE) mosquito net mesh compared with commercial hernia prosthetics by assessing the essential (first) step in the pathogenesis of mesh infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual meshes were inoculated with Staphylococcusepidermidis and Staphylococcusaureus with a bacterial inoculum of 10(2) bacteria. Inoculated meshes were incubated for 18 h in tryptone soy broth and then analyzed using scanning electron microcopy. The final fraction of the bacteria adherent to each of the meshes was compared. One-way analysis of variance was performed on the bacterial counts. The Tukey test was used to determine the difference between the different biomaterials in the event the one-way analysis of variance was significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean number of adherent bacteria to PE mosquito net compared with the monofilament polypropylene-based meshes (Prolene and Bard Soft Mesh). Multifilament Vypro mesh had significantly greater mean bacterial adherence compared with PE mosquito net (P < 0.001 with S aureus and P = 0.003 with S epidermidis). CONCLUSIONS: In vitro infection risk of PE mosquito net is not significantly different from commonly used monofilament polypropylene commercial prosthetics and is in fact lower than a commonly used commercial multifilament mesh. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that indicates that these meshes can be safely deployed.

An experimental study exploring the relationship between the size of bacterial inoculum and bacterial adherence to prosthetic mesh.

BACKGROUND: Infection is a major concern with medical implants. Surgical meshes used for the repair of abdominal wall hernias are associated with wound infection rates ranging from 7 to 18 %. Although mesh infection is relatively rare, once a patient shows clinical signs of mesh infection, the surgeon may be required to remove the mesh, resulting in additional surgery, morbidity, and cost. The usual causative organisms associated with cases of mesh infection are Staphylococcus species. The first stage of implant infection is bacterial adherence to the biomaterial. An accurate assessment of adherent bacteria to medical prosthetics is therefore important in order to determine the infection risk associated with surgical implants. METHODS: This experimental study evaluated the relationship between the size of the bacterial inoculum and bacterial adherence to three commonly used hernia prosthetics (polypropylene, polyester, and ePTFE). Tenfold dilutions of S. epidermidis (Evans-ATCC 12228) and S. aureus (Rosenbach-ATCC 25923), created with phosphate-buffered saline, were used to inoculate each of the meshes in 3 ml of tryptone soya broth for 18 h at 37 °C, 95 % air/5 % CO(2). The number of viable bacteria in each dilution was calculated using a spot plate technique. The number of adherent bacteria to the meshes was counted using direct imaging analysis with scanning electron microscopy and expressed as a mean. RESULTS: One hundred eight mesh samples were analysed. The size of the bacterial inoculum of S. epidermidis significantly influenced the number of adherent bacteria to the mesh, and lower rates of adhesion were observed with smaller inoculums for all three meshes (polypropylene, p = 0.02; ePTFE p = 0.03; polyester p = 0.02). A similar, albeit less profound, pattern of results was observed with S. aureus. Bacterial adherence was observed with inoculum sizes as small as <10 bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that even a very low number of bacterial inoculums can result in adherence to hernia biomaterials and that the level of adherence is directly related to the size of the inoculum. These in vitro results provide evidence that the size of the inoculum is important in the colonization of hernia biomaterials and demonstrate the importance of minimising the bacterial inoculum in the clinical setting.

Mosquito net mesh for abdominal wall hernioplasty: a comparison of material characteristics with commercial prosthetics.

BACKGROUND: The use of sterilized mosquito net as a cheaper alternative to commercial mesh used in hernia repair has previously been published. However, as no standards with regard to the material have been documented, we aimed to define the characteristics of a commonly available and low-cost mosquito net, which has already been shown to be clinically efficacious in groin hernia repair. We compared its characteristics to other commercially available meshes, in keeping with the well-established FDA and MHRA regulatory processes. METHODS: The macromolecular structure of the mosquito net was determined by vibrational spectroscopy. The ultrastructure of the meshes was examined with scanning electron microscopy, and uniaxial and burst tensile strength testing was performed. The following parameters were assessed: polymer type, filament characteristics, pore size, weight, linear density, elasticity, and tensile strength. RESULTS: The mosquito net was a polyethylene homopolymer, knitted from monofilament fibers with a mean filament diameter of 109.7 µm and a mean mesh thickness of 480 µm. The mean pore maximum diameter was 1.9 mm, with 91.2 % porosity, 53.7 g/m(2) mean mesh weight, and a linear mass density of 152 denier. This was comparable to the "large pore" (class I) commercial meshes. The bursting force for polyethylene mosquito net was greater than for UltraPro and Vypro (43.0 vs. 35.5 and 27.2 N/cm, respectively), and the mosquito net exhibited less anisotropy compared to the commercial meshes. CONCLUSIONS: The material and mechanical properties of the polyethylene mosquito net are substantially equivalent to those of commonly used lightweight commercial meshes.

Cost-effectiveness of inguinal hernia surgery in northwestern Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Cost-effectiveness of tension-free inguinal hernia repair at a private 20-bed rural hospital in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, was calculated relative to no treatment. METHODS: Lichtenstein repair using mosquito net or polypropylene commercial mesh was provided to patients with inguinal hernia by surgeons from Europe and North America. Prospective data were collected from provider, patient, and societal perspectives, with component costs collected on site and from local supply companies or published literature. Patient outcomes were forecasted using disability adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Uncertainty in patient-level data was evaluated with Monte-Carlo simulation. RESULTS: Surgery was provided to 102 patients with inguinal hernias of various sizes. Local anesthesia was used for 80 % of operations during the first mission, and spinal anesthesia was used for 89 % in the second mission. Few complications were observed. An average 6.39 DALYs (3,0) were averted per patient (95 % confidence interval: 6.22-6.84). The average cost per patient was US$499.33 (95 % CI: US$490.19-$526.03) from a provider perspective, US$118.79 (95 % CI: US$110.28-$143.72) from a patient perspective, and US$615.46 (95 % CI: US$603.39-$650.40) from a societal perspective. Mean cost-effectiveness from a provider perspective was US$78.18/DALY averted (95 % CI: US$75.86-$85.78) according to DALYs (3,0) averted using the West Life Table level 26, well below the Ecuadorian per-capita Gross National Income (US$3,850). Results were robust to all sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Inguinal hernia repair was cost-effective in western Ecuador through international collaboration.

Guidelines for surgeons on establishing projects in low-income countries.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest by surgeons in high-income countries to support colleagues in low-income countries to improve the provision of surgical care, particularly in rural areas. Such interest may be demonstrated by single individuals, short-term surgical missions, or establishment of partnerships. Such altruistic efforts may cause problems unless properly planned and carried out. METHODS: We reviewed the available literature and consulted widely to establish consensus guidelines for any surgeon considering participating in an initiative to improve surgical care in low-income countries. RESULTS: A series of recommendations is presented. These include ensuring that projects are appropriate, that there is an emphasis on training local healthcare providers in all aspects of perioperative care, that outcomes are monitored, and that initiatives work with local and regional training programs. CONCLUSIONS: With adherence to these recommendations, we hope that future partnerships and missions can maximize their effectiveness and minimize the risks of potential harm done.

Comparing Glucose Outcomes Following Face-to-Face and Remote Initiation of Flash Glucose Monitoring in People Living With Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: When launched, FreeStyle Libre (FSL; a flash glucose monitor) onboarding was mainly conducted face-to-face. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a change to online starts with patients directed to online videos such as Diabetes Technology Network UK for education. We conducted an audit to evaluate glycemic outcomes in people who were onboarded face-to-face versus those who were onboarded remotely and to determine the impact of ethnicity and deprivation on those outcomes. METHODS: People living with diabetes who started using FSL between January 2019 and April 2022, had their mode of onboarding recorded and had at least 90 days of data in LibreView with >70% data completion were included in the audit. Glucose metrics (percent time in ranges) and engagement statistics (previous 90-day averages) were obtained from LibreView. Differences between glucose variables and onboarding methods were compared using linear models, adjusting for ethnicity, deprivation, sex, age, percent active (where appropriate), and duration of FSL use. RESULTS: In total, 935 participants (face-to-face 44% [n = 413]; online 56% [n = 522]) were included. There were no significant differences in glycemic or engagement indices between onboarding methods and ethnicities, but the most deprived quintile had significantly lower percent active time (b = -9.20, P = .002) than the least deprived quintile. CONCLUSIONS: Online videos as an onboarding method can be used without significant differences in glucose and engagement metrics. The most deprived group within the audit population had lower engagement metrics, but this did not translate into differences in glucose metrics.

A Case for Unifying Accelerometry-Derived Movement Behaviors and Tests of Exercise Capacity for the Assessment of Relative Physical Activity Intensity.

Albert Einstein taught us that "everything is relative." People's experience of physical activity (PA) is no different, with "relativism" particularly pertinent to the perception of intensity. Markers of absolute and relative intensities of PA have different but complimentary utilities, with absolute intensity considered best for PA guideline adherence and relative intensity for personalized exercise prescription. Under the paradigm of exercise and PA as medicine, our Technical Note proposes a method of synchronizing accelerometry with the incremental shuttle walking test to facilitate description of the intensity of the free-living PA profile in absolute and relative terms. Our approach is able to generate and distinguish "can do" or "cannot do" (based on exercise capacity) and "does do" or "does not do" (based on relative intensity PA) classifications in a chronic respiratory disease population, facilitating the selection of potential appropriate individually tailored interventions. By synchronizing direct assessments of exercise capacity and PA, clearer insights into the intensity of PA performed during everyday life can be gleaned. We believe the next steps are as follows: (1) to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of using relative and absolute intensities in combination to personalize the approach, (2) to determine its sensitivity to change following interventions (eg, exercise-based rehabilitation), and (3) to explore the use of this approach in healthier populations and in other long-term conditions.

The prevalence and long-term health effects of Long Covid among hospitalised and non-hospitalised populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to systematically synthesise the global evidence on the prevalence of persistent symptoms in a general post COVID-19 population. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using multiple electronic databases (MEDLINE and The Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, and medRxiv) until January 2022. Studies with at least 100 people with confirmed or self-reported COVID-19 symptoms at ≥28 days following infection onset were included. Patient-reported outcome measures and clinical investigations were both assessed. Results were analysed descriptively, and meta-analyses were conducted to derive prevalence estimates. This study was pre-registered (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021238247). Findings: 194 studies totalling 735,006 participants were included, with five studies conducted in those <18 years of age. Most studies were conducted in Europe (n = 106) or Asia (n = 49), and the time to follow-up ranged from ≥28 days to 387 days. 122 studies reported data on hospitalised patients, 18 on non-hospitalised, and 54 on hospitalised and non-hospitalised combined (mixed). On average, at least 45% of COVID-19 survivors, regardless of hospitalisation status, went on to experience at least one unresolved symptom (mean follow-up 126 days). Fatigue was frequently reported across hospitalised (28.4%; 95% CI 24.7%-32.5%), non-hospitalised (34.8%; 95% CI 17.6%-57.2%), and mixed (25.2%; 95% CI 17.7%-34.6%) cohorts. Amongst the hospitalised cohort, abnormal CT patterns/x-rays were frequently reported (45.3%; 95% CI 35.3%-55.7%), alongside ground glass opacification (41.1%; 95% CI 25.7%-58.5%), and impaired diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (31.7%; 95% CI 25.8%-3.2%). Interpretation: Our work shows that 45% of COVID-19 survivors, regardless of hospitalisation status, were experiencing a range of unresolved symptoms at ∼ 4 months. Current understanding is limited by heterogeneous study design, follow-up durations, and measurement methods. Definition of subtypes of Long Covid is unclear, subsequently hampering effective treatment/management strategies. Funding: No funding.

Corrigendum to "The prevalence and long-term health effects of long Covid among hospitalised and non-hospitalised populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101762.].

Randomized, controlled, blinded trial of Tisseel/Tissucol for mesh fixation in patients undergoing Lichtenstein technique for primary inguinal hernia repair: results of the TIMELI trial.

OBJECTIVE: Test the hypothesis that fibrin sealant mesh fixation can reduce the incidence of postoperative pain/numbness/groin discomfort by up to 50% compared with sutures for repair of inguinal hernias using the Lichtenstein technique. BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia repair is the most common procedure in general surgery, thus improvements in surgical techniques, which reduce the burden of undesirable postoperative outcomes, are of clinical importance. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, patient- and evaluator-blinded study (Tissucol/Tisseel for MEsh fixation in LIchtenstein hernia repair [TIMELI]; trial NCT00306839) was conducted among patients eligible for Lichtenstein repair of uncomplicated unilateral primary inguinal small-medium sized hernia. Patients were subject to mesh fixation with either fibrin sealant or sutures. Main outcome measures were visual analogue scale (VAS) assessments for "pain," "numbness," and "groin discomfort" on a scale of 0 = best and 100 = worst outcome. The primary endpoint was a composite that evaluated the prevalence of chronic disabling complications (VAS score >30 for pain/numbness/groin discomfort) at 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: In total, 319 patients were randomized between January 2006 and April 2007 (159 fibrin sealant, 160 sutures). At 12 months, the prevalence of 1 or more disabling complication was significantly lower in the fibrin sealant group than in the sutures group (8.1% vs 14.8%; P = 0.0344). Less pain was reported in the fibrin sealant group than in the sutures group at 1 and 6 months (P = 0.0132; P = 0.0052), as reflected by a lower proportion of patients using analgesics in the fibrin group over the study duration (65.2% vs 79.7%; P = 0.0009). Only 3 of 316 patients (0.9%) experienced recurrence. The incidences of wound-healing complications and other adverse events were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrin sealant for mesh fixation in Lichtenstein repair of small-medium sized inguinal hernias is well tolerated and reduces the rate of pain/numbness/groin discomfort by 45% relative to sutures without increasing hernia recurrence (NCT00306839).

Sedentary behaviour is associated with heightened cardiovascular, inflammatory and cortisol reactivity to acute psychological stress.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviour is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Exaggerated psychobiological responses to acute psychological stress increase CVD risk. Sedentary behaviour is associated with characteristics that can predict large psychobiological stress response patterns (e.g., elevated resting blood pressure and systemic inflammation), but it is currently unknown whether sedentary behaviour and stress reactivity are directly linked. The aim of this study was to examine associations between device-assessed sedentary behaviour and measures of stress reactivity. METHODS: Sixty-one healthy adults wore an activPAL (thigh) and ActiGraph (wrist) for seven days to measure habitual levels of sedentary behaviour (mean ± SD = 9.96 ± 1.48 h/day) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (mean ± SD = 101.82 ± 42.92 min/day). Participants then underwent stress reactivity testing, where beat-to-beat cardiovascular (e.g., blood pressure, total peripheral resistance), inflammatory (plasma interleukin-6, leukocytes) and salivary cortisol measurements were taken in response to an 8-minute socially evaluative Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. RESULTS: Higher volumes of daily sedentary behaviour were associated with larger stress responses for diastolic blood pressure (Β=1.264, 95%CI=0.537-1.990, p = .005), total peripheral resistance (Β=40.563, 95%CI=19.310-61.812, p < .001), interleukin-6 (Β=0.219, 95%CI=0.109-0.329, p < .001) and cortisol (Β=1.844, 95%CI=1.139-2.549, p < .001). These findings emerged independent of a priori determined covariates, including daily levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and adiposity. DISCUSSION: Exaggerated stress reactivity is characteristic of high sedentary behaviour and could be a novel mechanism linking sedentary behaviour with CVD. Future work should examine the impact of reducing sedentary behaviour on measures of stress reactivity, as this may have clinical relevance for preventing CVD.

A More Intense Examination of the Intensity of Physical Activity in People Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Insights from Threshold-Free Markers of Activity Intensity.

Physical activity (PA) intensity of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is typically evaluated using intensity thresholds developed in younger, healthier populations with greater exercise capacity and free from respiratory symptoms. This study therefore compared (i) PA differences between COPD and non-COPD controls using both traditional intensity thresholds and threshold-free metrics that represent the volume and intensity of the whole PA profile, and (ii) explored the influence of exercise capacity on observed differences. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), average acceleration (proxy for volume, mg) and intensity distribution of activity were calculated for 76 individuals with COPD and 154 non-COPD controls from wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometry. PA profiles representing the minimum intensity (acceleration, mg) during the most active accumulated 5-960 min were plotted. Estimated VO2peak and relative intensity were derived from the incremental shuttle walk test distance. Compared to the non-COPD control group, individuals with COPD recorded fewer MVPA minutes (59 vs. 83 min/day), lower overall waking activity (29.1 vs. 36.4 mg) and a poorer waking intensity distribution (-2.73 vs. -2.57). Individuals with COPD also recorded a lower absolute intensity (acceleration, mg) for their most active 5-960 min, but higher intensity relative to their estimated exercise capacity derived from the ISWT. People with COPD have a lower volume and absolute intensity of PA than controls but perform PA at a higher relative intensity. There is a need to move away from absolute intensity thresholds, and towards personalised or relative-intensity thresholds, to reflect reduced exercise capacity in COPD populations.