Healthy Young Adults Research Articles

Using Sequence Analyses to Quantitatively Measure Oropharyngeal Swallowing Temporality in Point-of-Care Ultrasound Examinations: A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: Swallowing is a complex process that comprises well-timed control of oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures to achieve airway protection and swallowing efficiency. To understand its temporality, previous research adopted adherence measures and revealed obligatory pairs in healthy swallows and the effect of aging and bolus type on the variability of event timing and order. This study aimed to (i) propose a systemic conceptualization of swallowing physiology, (ii) apply sequence analyses, a set of information-theoretic and bioinformatic methods, to quantify and characterize swallowing temporality, and (iii) investigate the effect of aging and dysphagia on the quantified variables using sequence analyses measures. (2) Method: Forty-three participants (17 young adults, 15 older adults, and 11 dysphagic adults) underwent B-mode ultrasound swallowing examinations at the mid-sagittal plane of the submental region. The onset, maximum, and offset states of hyoid bone displacement, geniohyoid muscle contraction, and tongue base retraction were identified and sorted to form sequences which were analyzed using an inventory of sequence analytic techniques; namely, overlap coefficients, Shannon entropy, and longest common subsequence algorithms. (3) Results: The concurrency of movement sequence was found to be significantly impacted by aging and dysphagia. Swallowing sequence variability was also found to be reduced with age and the presence of dysphagia (H(2) = 52.253, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.260). Four obligatory sequences were identified, and high adherence was also indicated in two previously reported pairs. These results provided preliminary support for the validity of sequence analyses for quantifying swallowing sequence temporality. (4) Conclusions: A systemic conceptualization of human deglutition permits a multi-level quantitative analysis of swallowing physiology. Sequence analyses are a set of promising quantitative measurement techniques for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) swallowing examinations and outcome measures for swallowing rehabilitation and evaluation of associated physiological conditions, such as sarcopenia. Findings in the current study revealed physiological differences among healthy young, healthy older, and dysphagic adults. They also helped lay the groundwork for future AI-assisted dysphagia assessment and outcome measures using POCUSs. Arguably, the proposed conceptualization and analyses are also modality-independent measures that can potentially be generalized for other instrumental swallowing assessment modalities.

A Comparison between Core Stability Exercises and Muscle Thickness Using Two Different Activation Maneuvers.

Core stability training is crucial for competitive athletes, individuals who want to improve their health and physical performance, and those undergoing clinical rehabilitation. This study compared the ultrasound (US) muscle thickness of the abdominals and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscles between seven popular trunk stability exercises performed using hollowing and bracing maneuvers. Forty-four healthy young adults, aged between 21 and 32 years, performed a plank, bird dog, beast crawl, dead bug, Pilates tap, bridge, and side planks using the bracing and the hollowing maneuver. The thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and LM muscles was measured simultaneously using two ultrasound machines. Analysis of variance designs indicated that during hollowing, the bird dog and side plank exercises resulted in the greatest increase in the muscle's relative thickness overall. The relative thickness of all muscles was significantly greater (p < 0.001) during hollowing (22.7 ± 7.80 to 106 ± 24.5% of rest) compared to bracing (18.7 ± 7.40 to 87.1 ± 20.9% of rest). The TrA showed the greatest increase in thickness (p < 0.001) compared to the IO and LM. Additionally, the IO had a greater increase in thickness (p < 0.001) than the LM. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the bird dog and side plank exercises, when performed with hollowing, showed the most significant total muscle thickness increase. Notably, the hollowing maneuver enhances the thickness of the TrA, IO, and LM muscles more than the bracing maneuver. This contributes to the discussion on optimal strategies for dynamic core stabilization.

Stimulus specificity in combined action observation and motor imagery of typing.

Combined action observation and motor imagery (AO + MI) can improve movement execution (ME) in healthy adults and certain patient populations. However, it is unclear how the specificity of the observation component during AO + MI influences ME. As generalised observation could result in more flexible AO + MI rehabilitation programmes, this study investigated whether observing typing of target words (specific condition) or non-matching words (general condition) during AO + MI would have different effects on keyboard typing in healthy young adults. In Experiment 1, 51 students imagined typing a target word while watching typing videos that were either specific to the target word or general. There were no differences in typing execution between AO + MI conditions, though participants typed more slowly after both AO + MI conditions compared with no observation or imagery. Experiment 2 repeated Experiment 1 in 20 students, but with a faster stimulus speed in the AO + MI conditions and increased cognitive difficulty in the control condition. The results showed that the slowed typing after AO + MI was likely due to a strong influence of task-switching between imagery and execution, as well as an automatic imitation effect. Both experiments demonstrate that general and specific AO + MI comparably affect ME. In addition, slower ME following both AO + MI and a challenging cognitive task provides support for the motor-cognitive model of MI.

Evidence That Skeletal Muscles Modulate HDL-Cholesterol in Metabolic Healthy Young Adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether skeletal muscle (SM) mass correlates with plasma lipids in metabolic healthy young adults. The study was designed as a retrospective observational monocentric study. Data on plasma lipids and SM mass of subjects attending our institution from 1999 to 2014 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were being 18-45 years old and in apparently good health. SM mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using the equation proposed by Janssen and normalized to height as skeletal muscle index (SMI: SM mass/height2). The association between SMI and plasma lipids levels was examined using a crude and adjusted linear regression model including age, sex, BMI and waist circumference as additional covariates. The study population consisted of 450 subjects (273 females) without metabolic syndrome (12.2% with normal body weight, 33.1% overweight, and 54.7% with obesity). SMI, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and Triglycerides were higher, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower in overweight and obese patients as compared with normal weight subjects. SMI was inversely associated with HDL-cholesterol in female patients with obesity but not in male patients with obesity, in normal- or over-weight subjects (p < 0.05). These results suggest that changes in SM mass occurring in obesity could have a role in worsening lipid profile with special reference to HDL-cholesterol.

Integrative function of proprioceptive system in the acute effects of whole body vibration on the movement performance in young adults.

The proprioceptive system coordinates locomotion, but its role in short-term integration and recovery of motor activity in imbalance of motor patterns and body remains debated. The aim of this study is investigating the functional role of proprioceptive system in motor patterns and body balance in healthy young adults. 70 participants (aged 20.1 ± 0.3) were divided into experimental groups EG1 (n = 30), EG2 (n = 30), control group (CG, n = 10). EG1 performed single WBV session on Power Plate (7 exercises adapted to Functional Movement Screen (FMS). EG2 performed single session of FMS Exercises (FMSE). CG didn't perform any physical activity. All participants performed pre- and post-session of FMS and stabilometric measurements. FMS total score in EG1 increased by 2.0 ± 0.2 (p0 < 0.001), this was significantly differed (p0 < 0.001) from EG2 and CG. Acute effects of WBV and FMSE on rate of change and standard deviation (SD) of pressure center (COP) were shown in all groups during Static Test (p0 < 0.01). SD increased (p0 < 0.01) in Given Setting Test in EG1 and EG2, and in Romberg Test (p0 < 0.001) in EG1. Length, width and area (p0 < 0.01) of confidence ellipse, containing 95% of the statokinesiogram points, decreased in Static Test in EG1; width and area (p0 < 0.01) decreased in EG2 group. Significant (p0 < 0.01) decrease in Given Setting Test was in EG1, and significant (p0 < 0.01) increase was in Romberg Test (open eyes) in CG. Maximum amplitude of COP oscillations: significantly (p0 < 0.01) decreasing along X and Y axes in EG1 and EG2, and along Y axis in CG during Static Test; along Y axis (p0 < 0.01) in all groups during Given Setting Test. Significant differences were identified (p0 < 0.01) in calculated energy consumption for COP moving during all stabilometric tests. However, inter-group differences in COP after acute WBV and FMSE sessions have not been identified. Acute WBV session eliminates the deficits in motor patterns which is not the case after acute FMSE session, which, according to our integrative movement tuning hypothesis, is due to high activation of integrative function of proprioceptive system. Efficacy of WBV and FMSE on COP performance indicates a high sensitivity of postural control to different levels of proprioceptive system activity.

Automated protocols for delineating human hippocampal subfields from 3 Tesla and 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging data.

Researchers who study the human hippocampus are naturally interested in how its subfields function. However, many researchers are precluded from examining subfields because their manual delineation from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (still the gold standard approach) is time consuming and requires significant expertise. To help ameliorate this issue, we present here two protocols, one for 3T MRI and the other for 7T MRI, that permit automated hippocampus segmentation into six subregions, namely dentate gyrus/cornu ammonis (CA)4, CA2/3, CA1, subiculum, pre/parasubiculum, and uncus along the entire length of the hippocampus. These protocols are particularly notable relative to existing resources in that they were trained and tested using large numbers of healthy young adults (n = 140 at 3T, n = 40 at 7T) whose hippocampi were manually segmented by experts from MRI scans. Using inter-rater reliability analyses, we showed that the quality of automated segmentations produced by these protocols was high and comparable to expert manual segmenters. We provide full open access to the automated protocols, and anticipate they will save hippocampus researchers a significant amount of time. They could also help to catalyze subfield research, which is essential for gaining a full understanding of how the hippocampus functions.

Stair Climbing Improves Cognitive Switching Performance and Mood in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

AbstractAlthough stair-climbing intervals provide a simple mode of physical activity that can be easily carried out in naturalistic settings and incorporated into the daily lives of a significant proportion of the global population, addressing physical inactivity issues, very little research has focused on the psychological benefits of stair climbing. To address this, the current prospectively registered randomized controlled crossover trial tested whether brief bouts of stair climbing (6 × 1 min intervals) elicit immediate subsequent improvements in cognitive performance and mood in a sample of healthy young adults (final sample: n = 52, 50% female, age range 18–24 years), with consideration of sex, physical activity habits, and exercise intensity as potentially relevant variables. Compared to a no-exercise control session, following the stair climbing participants exhibited superior cognitive switching performance and reported feeling more energetic and happy. In addition, linear regression analyses linked higher stair-climbing intensity (indicated by heart-rate data) to faster response latencies. None of the effects depended on sex or physical activity habits, which implies that males and females can benefit irrespective of their current physical activity habits. Collectively, these results demonstrate that interval stair climbing can confer immediate psychological benefits, providing further evidence in support of stair climbing as a promising means to address physical inactivity issues. TRN: ACTRN12619000484145, Date of registration: 25/03/2019.

Detection of a Human Adenovirus Outbreak, Including Some Critical Infections, Using Multipathogen Testing at a Large University, September 2022-January 2023.

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) can cause outbreaks of flu-like illness in university settings. Most infections in healthy young adults are mild; severe illnesses rarely occur. In Fall 2022, an adenovirus outbreak was identified in university students. HAdV cases were defined as university students 17-26 years old who presented to the University Health Service or nearby emergency department with flu-like symptoms (eg, fever, cough, headache, myalgia, nausea) and had confirmed adenovirus infections by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted from electronic medical records; clinical severity was categorized as mild, moderate, severe, or critical. We performed contact investigations among critical cases. A subset of specimens was sequenced to confirm the HAdV type. From 28 September 2022 to 30 January 2023, 90 PCR-confirmed cases were identified (51% female; mean age, 19.6 years). Most cases (88.9%) had mild illness. Seven cases required hospitalization, including 2 critical cases that required intensive care. Contact investigation identified 44 close contacts; 6 (14%) were confirmed HAdV cases and 8 (18%) reported symptoms but never sought care. All typed HAdV-positive specimens (n = 36) were type 4. While most students with confirmed HAdV had mild illness, 7 otherwise healthy students had severe or critical illness. Between the relatively high number of hospitalizations and proportion of close contacts with symptoms who did not seek care, the true number of HAdV cases was likely higher. Our findings illustrate the need to consider a wide range of pathogens, even when other viruses are known to be circulating.

Effect of whole-body vibration frequency on objective physical function outcomes in healthy young adults: Randomized clinical trial

IntroductionWhole-body vibration (WBV) is used to improve muscle function but is important to know if doses can affect the objective function outcomes. ObjectiveTo compare the effect of two frequencies of WBV on objective physical function outcomes in healthy young adults. MethodsForty-two volunteers were randomized into three groups: sham group (SG), and WBV groups with 30 (F30) and 45 Hz (F45). A 6-week WBV intervention protocol was applied by a vibrating platform twice a week, with the platform turn-off for SG and with two frequencies according to group, 30 or 45 Hz. The objective physical functions outcomes assessed were the proprioceptive accuracy, measured by proprioceptive tests, and quasi-static and dynamic balances, measured by Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Y Balance Test, respectively. The outcomes were assessed before and after the WBV intervention. We used in the results comparisons, by GzLM test, the deltas percentage. ResultsAfter the intervention, no statistical differences were observed in percentage deltas for any outcomes (proprioceptive accuracy, quasi-static and dynamic balances). ConclusionObjective physical function outcomes, after the 6-week WBV protocol, did not present statistically significant results in any of the intervention groups (F30 or F45) and SG.

The change in handgrip strength, after physical exercise, is moderated by digit ratio (2D:4D): A study among the young adults in Poland.

The digit ratio (2D:4D), the ratio of the lengths of second (2D) to the fourth (4D) fingers, is a proxy indicator of prenatal androgen exposure. On average, males display lower 2D:4D than females. Previous studies have shown that lower 2D:4D ratios were associated with better sports and physical abilities. To assess whether a challenge condition, imposed by intense exercise, could increase handgrip strength (HGS) associated with 2D:4D. This cross-sectional experimental study included 90 healthy young Polish adults (40 males, 50 females). They underwent intense physical exercise, before (7 days) and after which they were measured for HGS and 2D:4D. Height and weight were also measured. Analyses of Covariance were employed to delineate associations. 2D:4D had significant predictive effects on the differences in HGS (DHGS) measured in two occasions, without and after, physical exercises. The lower was the 2D:4D, the higher the DHGS, particularly, for the left hand. The results reconfirmed that the link between prenatal testosterone exposure (indicated by 2D:4D) and physical strength depends on the context, such as a challenged condition.

The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Brain Fingerprint Stability: A Magnetoencephalography Validation Study.

This study examined the stability of the functional connectome (FC) over time using fingerprint analysis in healthy subjects. Additionally, it investigated how a specific stressor, namely sleep deprivation, affects individuals' differentiation. To this aim, 23 healthy young adults underwent magnetoencephalography (MEG) recording at three equally spaced time points within 24 h: 9 a.m., 9 p.m., and 9 a.m. of the following day after a night of sleep deprivation. The findings indicate that the differentiation was stable from morning to evening in all frequency bands, except in the delta band. However, after a night of sleep deprivation, the stability of the FCs was reduced. Consistent with this observation, the reduced differentiation following sleep deprivation was found to be negatively correlated with the effort perceived by participants in completing the cognitive task during sleep deprivation. This correlation suggests that individuals with less stable connectomes following sleep deprivation experienced greater difficulty in performing cognitive tasks, reflecting increased effort.

Investigating mortality salience as a potential causal influence and moderator of responses to laboratory pain.

Because pain can have profound ramifications for quality of life and daily functioning, understanding nuances in the interplay of psychosocial experiences with pain perception is vital for effective pain management. In separate lines of research, pain resilience and mortality salience have emerged as potentially important psychological correlates of reduced pain severity and increased tolerance of pain. However, to date, there has been a paucity of research examining potentially interactive effects of these factors on pain perception. To address this gap, the present experiment investigated mortality salience as a causal influence on tolerance of laboratory pain and a moderator of associations between pain resilience and pain tolerance within a Chinese sample. Participants were healthy young Chinese adults (86 women, 84 men) who first completed a brief initial cold pressor test (CPT) followed by measures of demographics and pain resilience. Subsequently, participants randomly assigned to a mortality salience (MS) condition completed two open-ended essay questions in which they wrote about their death as well as a death anxiety scale while those randomly assigned to a control condition completed analogous tasks about watching television. Finally, all participants engaged in a delay task and a second CPT designed to measure post-manipulation pain tolerance and subjective pain intensity levels. MS condition cohorts showed greater pain tolerance than controls on the post-manipulation CPT, though pain intensity levels did not differ between groups. Moderator analyses indicated that the relationship between the behavior perseverance facet of pain resilience and pain tolerance was significantly stronger among MS condition participants than controls. This experiment is the first to document potential causal effects of MS on pain tolerance and Ms as a moderator of the association between self-reported behavior perseverance and behavioral pain tolerance. Findings provide foundations for extensions within clinical pain samples.

Pharmacodynamic effects following co-administration of cannabinoids and opioids: A scoping review of human experimental studies.

Cannabinoids are increasingly used in the management of chronic pain. Although analgesic potential has been demonstrated, cannabinoids interact with a range of bodily functions that are also influenced by chronic pain medications, including opioids. We performed a scoping review of literature on the pharmacodynamic effects following co-administration of cannabinoids and opioids. We systematically searched EMBASE, PubMed, and PsycINFO for studies that experimentally investigated the co-effects of cannabinoids and opioids in human-subjects. Available evidence was summarized by clinical population and organ system. A risk of bias assessment was performed. A total of sixteen studies met inclusion criteria. Study populations included patients with chronic non-cancer and cancer pain on long-term opioid regimens and healthy young adults without prior exposure to opioids who were subject to experimental nociceptive stimuli. Commonly administered cannabinoid agents included Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol. Co-administration of cannabinoids and opioids did not consistently improve pain outcomes; however, sleep and mood benefits were observed in chronic pain patients. Increased somnolence, memory and attention impairment, dizziness, gait disturbance, and nauseousness and vomiting were noted with co-administration of cannabinoids and opioids. Cardiorespiratory effects following co-administration appeared to vary according to duration of exposure, population type, and prior exposure to cannabinoids and opioids. The available evidence directly investigating the pharmacodynamic effects following co-administration of cannabinoids and opioids for non-analgesic outcomes is scarce and suffers from a lack of methodological reporting. As such, further research in this area with comprehensive methodologic reporting is warranted.

The effect of transcutaneous median nerve stimulation on heart rate variability in healthy young adults

The effect of transcutaneous median nerve stimulation on heart rate variability in healthy young adults

Implementing eHealth-based behaviour change support within a nutrition intervention trial improves adherence to study-related behaviours in healthy young adults

Nutrition intervention trials play a key role in informing clinical and dietary guidelines. Within these trials, we need participants to change their behaviours; however, researchers seldom systematically consider how to support participants with these changes, contributing to poor adherence. Here we evaluate how using a behaviour change framework to develop support within a dietary intervention impacts young adults’ adherence to required trial behaviours. In the Protein Diet Satisfaction (PREDITION) trial, 80 young adults were randomised to a flexitarian or vegetarian diet for 10-weeks to investigate the psychological and cardiometabolic effects of moderate lean red meat consumption as part of a balanced diet(1). To understand these outcomes, it was key that participants within the trial (i) ate a healthy, basal vegetarian diet (excluding meat, poultry, and fish not provided by research team) and (ii) reported their dietary intake daily on a smartphone application (required to evaluate intervention compliance). To enhance adherence to these behaviours the Nine Principles framework was used to develop behaviour change support (BCS)(2). Key components of the BCS included access to a dietitian-led Facebook group, text reminders, and food delivery. Effectiveness was measured using the following analyses of the 78 participants who completed the study: pre-post change in targeted dietary habits over time using a subscore of the Healthy Diet Habits Index, adherence score to reporting over 10-weeks, Facebook group engagement, and impact evaluation. Analysis included linear imputation modelling, t-tests, and chi-square analysis. The total Healthy Diet Habits Index subscore out of 16 significantly increased from baseline to week 10 (10.6 ± 2.6 to 11.2 ± 2.6, p = 0.011), demonstrating maintenance of a healthy diet. Overall adherence to reporting was high across the 10 weeks, with the total population mean reporting score 90.4 ± 14.6 out of a possible 100. This strengthens study validity, allowing us to confidently report if participants complied with study requirements of consuming the intervention protein (red meat or plant-based meat alternatives) on top of a basal vegetarian diet. Although relatively low active Facebook engagement was observed (on average &lt;1 ‘react’ per post), most participants agreed the text messages and Facebook groups supported them to adhere to recording (63%) and eating healthily (60%), respectively. This is the first study to provide an example of how a framework can be used to systematically develop, implement, and assess BCS within a nutrition trial. This appears to be a promising way to enhance adherence to study-related behaviours, including the burdensome task of reporting dietary intake. We believe this has great potential to improve research validity and decrease resource waste, not only for the PREDITION trial but in future dietary intervention trials.

Metabolome analyses of skin dialysate: Insights into skin interstitial fluid biomarkers

BackgroundMetabolites in biofluids can serve as biomarkers for diagnosing diseases and monitoring body conditions. Among the available biofluids, interstitial fluid (ISF) in the skin has garnered considerable attention owing to its advantages, which include inability to clot, easy access to the skin, and possibility of incorporating wearable devices. However, the scientific understanding of skin ISF composition is limited. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to compare metabolites between skin dialysate containing metabolites from the skin ISF and venous blood (plasma) samples, both collected under resting states. MethodsWe collected forearm skin dialysate using intradermal microdialysis alongside venous blood (plasma) samples from 12 healthy young adults. We analyzed these samples using capillary electrophoresis–fourier transform mass spectrometry–based metabolomics (CE–FTMS). ResultsSignificant positive correlations were observed in 39 metabolites between the skin dialysate and plasma, including creatine (a mitochondrial disease biomarker), 1-methyladenosine (an early detection of cancer biomarker), and trimethylamine N-oxide (a posterior predictor of heart failure biomarker). Based on the Human Metabolome Technologies database, we identified 12 metabolites unique to forearm skin dialysate including nucleic acids, benzoate acids, fatty acids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (an Alzheimer’s disease biomarker), and cysteic acid (an acute myocardial infarction biomarker). ConclusionWe show that some venous blood biomarkers may be predicted from skin dialysate or skin ISF, and that these fluids may serve as diagnostic and monitoring tools for health and clinical conditions.

Quantifying the Relationship Between Unilateral Induced Metamorphopsia and Stereopsis Impairment.

To investigate the relationship between unilateral metamorphopsia, characterized by visual distortions in one eye, and impaired stereopsis. Utilizing both near and distance measurements through advanced testing systems, including 4K smartphones and an active shutter three-dimensional system, we simulated varying degrees of unilateral metamorphopsia in 30 healthy young adults aged between 21 and 29years. Two types of contour-based stereotest symbols, lines and squares, were developed. Distortions were classified into six distinct patterns, each further divided into eight grades of severity. Participants were tasked with identifying visual targets, and their stereothresholds were determined under different conditions of induced distortion. Stereopsis was measured within a range of 2.9 to 1.0 log arcsec, at 0.2 log arcsec intervals. Stereopsis changes under different distortion scenarios were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations, with a sequential Bonferroni adjustment applied for pairwise comparisons. A direct and quantifiable correlation was observed between the severity of metamorphopsia and reductions in stereopsis. As the degree of visual distortion increased, notably in both frequency and amplitude, there was a corresponding decline in stereopsis. This relationship held true in both near and distance measurements of stereopsis. Statistical analyses further reinforced these findings, highlighting a significant detrimental effect of distortion components on stereoacuity. The findings highlight the clinical significance of understanding the interplay between unilateral metamorphopsia and stereopsis. Early interventions in conditions leading to metamorphopsia might be critical to maintaining optimal stereopsis.

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire

Introduction/Background: In 2016, the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ) was developed in Australia. The AMCQ was developed to assess perceived motor competence in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years. The 26 items represent four factors: participation in physical activity and sports, activities of daily living, public performance, and peer comparison. Aims/Objectives: Currently, no validated German-language self-report screening instrument exists for assessing perceived motor competence among adolescents. This study aimed to validate the German version of the AMCQ (AMCQ-GER). Methods/Approach: The German translation’s factor structure and psychometric properties were analyzed based on a community sample of 635 healthy children and adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age (12.9 ± 2.31 years, 321 boys and 312 girls) and 100 healthy young adults between 19 and 30 years of age (23.0 ± 2.92 years, 49 men and 51 women). The previously validated cutoff score of ≤83 out of 104 was used to group the sample into high and low motor competence. Results: The mean AMCQ-GER score was 84.9 (SD = 8.59), and 38.8% of the participants identified with low motor competence. The principle component analysis revealed clear evidence for a three-factorial structure comprising physical activity and sports, general clumsiness, and activities of daily living (with an explained variance of 29.2%). Reliability for all scales was excellent, with a McDonald’s ϖ of at least .70. The overall conclusion of the Rasch analysis supported the confirmatory factor analysis, although with an overall smaller number of items (18 instead of 26). The AMCQ-GER was positively correlated with age (.26**) and participation in organized club sports (.19**). It was negatively correlated with body mass index (−.23**) and school grade in physical activity (−.40**). Conclusions/Relevance: Our rigorous validation protocol has generated a remarkable reproduction of the AMCQ in German. These results suggest that the language and structure of the questionnaire is appropriate for German-speaking countries.

Adherence and eating experiences differ between participants following a flexitarian or vegetarian diet in a 10-week randomised dietary intervention trial

Flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan diets are increasingly popular, particularly amongst young adults. This is the first randomised dietary intervention to investigate the health, wellbeing, and behavioural implications of consuming a basal vegetarian diet that additionally includes low-to-moderate amounts of red meat compared to one containing plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) in young adults (NCT04869163)(1). The objective for the current analysis is to measure adherence to the intervention, nutrition behaviours, and participants’ experience with their allocated dietary group. Eighty healthy young adults participated in this 10-week dietary intervention as household pairs. Household pairs were randomised to receive approximately three serves of beef and lamb meat (average of 390 g total cooked weight per person per week, flexitarian group) or PBMAs (350–400 g, vegetarian group) on top of a basal vegetarian diet. Participants were supported to adopt healthy eating behaviours, and this intervention was developed and implemented using a behaviour change framework(2). Diet adherence (eating allocated meat or PBMA, abstaining from animal-based foods not provided by researchers) was monitored daily, with total scores calculated at the end of the 10-week intervention period. Eating experiences were measured by the Positive Eating Scale and a purpose-designed exit survey, and a food frequency questionnaire measured dietary intake. Analyses used mixed effects modelling taking household clustering into account. The average total adherence score was 91.5 (SD = 9.0) out of a possible 100, with participants in the flexitarian group scoring higher (96.1, SD = 4.6, compared to 86.7, SD = 10.0; p &lt; 0.001). Those receiving meat were generally more satisfied with this allocation compared to those receiving the PBMAs, even though a leading motivation for participants joining the study was an opportunity to try plant-based eating (35% expressed that that interest). Participants in both intervention groups had increased vegetable intake (p &lt; 0.001), and reported more positive eating experiences (p = 0.020) and satisfaction with eating (p = 0.021) at the end of the 10-week intervention relative to baseline values. Behavioural methods to encourage engagement with the trial were successful, as participants demonstrated excellent adherence to the intervention. The flexitarian and vegetarian diets elicited different responses in adherence and eating experience. This holds relevance for the inclusion of red meat and PBMAs in healthy, sustainable dietary patterns beyond this study alone.

Pulmonary Function at Minimum 10 Years After Segmental Pedicle Screw Instrumentation for Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

A prospective multi-center cohort study. This study evaluates the 10-year pulmonary function outcomes for patients with structural thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (Lenke curve types 1-4, 6) after segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with thoracic curves is associated with reduced pulmonary function preoperatively. It remains unclear how much pulmonary improvement can be obtained using pedicle screw instrumentation at long-term follow-up. Out of 64 consecutively surgically treated patients with thoracic AIS (Lenke 1-4, 6) using pedicle screw instrumentation, 50 (mean age at final FU 14.7 ± 1.9, 44 females) participated in a prospective 10-year follow-up study. They were evaluated using clinical examination, spinal radiographs, and spirometry preoperatively and at 10-year follow-up. The preoperative percentage predicted values were adjusted for the height loss caused by the scoliosis according to curve size. Preoperatively 49% (20/41) had forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) below 80% of the predicted normal values representing pulmonary function impairment. Major curve correction averaged 76% (SD 9%). FVC improved from preoperative 3.29 L (SD 0.78L) to 3.87 L (0.79L) at 10-year follow-up (P<0.001). This improvement averaged 510mL (SD 560mL) in patients having both preoperative and 10-year follow-up measurements available. The percentage predicted values for FVC showed an improvement from 83% preoperatively to 86% at 10-year follow-up (P=0.048). At 10-year follow-up 38% (19/50) of the patients had FVC or FEV1 below 80% of the predicted values. FVC improved by a mean of 510ml from preoperative to 10-year follow-up in patients undergoing pedicle screw instrumentation for thoracic AIS. Despite 76% scoliosis correction and significant improvement of absolute lung volume values, more than one-third of these surgically treated otherwise healthy young adults fulfilled the criteria for pulmonary function impairment at 10-year follow-up. II.