Method For Assessment Of Activity Research Articles

Voxel-based point kernel method for dose rate assessment of non-uniform activity and self-shielding sources in nuclear facility decommissioning

Decommissioning task in nuclear facilities results in a number of radioactive components with non-uniform activity and self-shielding sources. Previous applications of virtual reality technology in the literature did not consider self-shielding sources and the activity distribution of sources is always considered homogeneous (uniform). In order to calculate the ambient dose equivalent rate of non-uniform activity and self-shielding source after cutting and removal operations in nuclear facility decommissioning, this paper proposes a hybrid of voxelization algorithm and point-kernel method for advanced gamma dose rate assessment for cutting simulation in a radioactive environment. The initial 3D scene model was designed using 3dsMax modeling and imported as a 3DS format file. The source solid models of arbitrary shape are automatically converted to voxelized models according to the voxelization algorithm. The cutting paths of the voxelized models are imported by the G-Code programming language. After the cutting and removing operations, the voxelized source models are compressed. Ultimately, considering the non-uniform distribution of the activity and self-shielding of sources, the gamma dose rate distribution is obtained by voxel-based point-kernel calculation. Simulation results are compared with dose rate calculated with MCNP, which show that the proposed method can produce a fast and accurate simulation of the cutting and removal operations of radioactive components and effectively calculate the ambient dose equivalent rate of non-uniform activity and self-shielding sources.

Physical activity as a prognostic factor of pain intensity and disability in patients with low back pain: A systematic review.

Identifying factors that influence the course of low back pain (LBP) is important to help clinicians to identify those patients at higher risk of non-recovery. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the prognostic role of physical activity in the course of LBP. Literature searches were conducted in five electronic databases from their inception to February 2018. Prospective cohort studies investigating the influence of any type of physical activity in people with LBP were considered eligible. The primary outcomes were pain intensity and disability. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Results were stratified according to participants' symptoms duration at baseline. Twelve studies were considered eligible for this review. Of these, six included patients with chronic LBP, four studies did not specify the patients' duration of symptoms, one study included patients with acute LBP, and one study included patients with subacute LBP. Included studies were heterogeneous in terms of physical activity assessment, outcomes, follow-up duration, and statistical methods, therefore, pooling of results was not performed. We found limited evidence to support the prognostic role of physical activity in the course of LBP. Our review identified limited evidence supporting physical activity as a prognostic factor in LBP. Future cohort studies are needed to clarify the strength and importance of this association. Despite recent research in the area, this systematic review shows that there is low quality evidence that physical activity may not be a prognostic factor for predicting pain and disability in patients with LBP.

Directed evolution of the 3C protease from coxsackievirus using a novel fluorescence-assisted intracellular method.

Proteases are crucial for regulating biological processes in organisms through hydrolysis of peptide bonds. Recombinant proteases have moreover become important tools in biotechnological, and biomedical research and as therapeutics. We have developed a label-free high-throughput method for quantitative assessment of proteolytic activity in Escherichia coli. The screening method is based on co-expression of a protease of interest and a reporter complex. This reporter consists of an aggregation-prone peptide fused to a fluorescent protein via a linker that contains the corresponding substrate sequence. Cleavage of the substrate rescues the fluorescent protein from aggregation, resulting in increased fluorescence that correlates to proteolytic activity, which can be monitored using flow cytometry. In one round of flow-cytometric cell sorting, we isolated an efficiently cleaved tobacco etch virus (TEV) substrate from a 1:100 000 background of non-cleavable sequences, with around 6000-fold enrichment. We then engineered the 3C protease from coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3 3Cpro) towards improved proteolytic activity on the substrate LEVLFQ↓GP. We isolated highly proteolytic active variants from a randomly mutated CVB3 3Cpro library with up to 4-fold increase in activity. The method enables simultaneous measurement of proteolytic activity and protease expression levels and can therefore be applied for protease substrate profiling, as well as directed evolution of proteases.

A draft of the interdisciplinary guidelines for diagnosis, methods for assessment of the degree of inflammatory activity, therapeutic efficacy, and for the use of biological agents in patients with concomitant immunoinflammatory diseases (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease)

Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are multifactorial chronic immunoinflammatory disorders with characteristic common genetic markers that determine their common pathophysiology and similar immune abnormalities. In particular, IL12/23 signaling pathway of the immune pathogenesis of the above mentioned diseases is related to the IL23R gene polymorphism. Common pathophysiological features, in their turn, produce a high risk and prevalence of comorbidity. Clinicians' unawareness of these particulars of the immunoinflammatory disorders might lead to the absence of interdisciplinary collaboration, late diagnosis of one of these disorders and polypharmacy, because each specialist (i.e., a dermatologist, a rheumatologist, a gastroenterologist) would administer his/hers treatments independently. In this context, the issues of the multidisciplinary approach to this problem are becoming highly relevant for earlier diagnosis and adequate treatment choice that is optimal for all disorders which contribute to the pathological process, taking into account common mechanism of their development. Therefore, there is the necessity to establish an interdisciplinary working group consisting of the leading specialists of the Russian Federation in rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology, with a purpose to elaborate a consensus on the immunoinflammatory comorbidities. At the discretion of the Russian Association of Rheumatologists (RAR), Russian Society of Dermatovenerologists and Cosmetologists (RSDVC), Russian IBD Study Society (RIBDS), such a group has been formed of 11 experts corresponding to their scientific expertise in the area. The main aim of the Working Group was to develop a universal interdisciplinary questionnaire for detection of the signs and symptoms of the immunoinflammatory disorders (psoriasis, PsA, IBD), as well as development of a draft project of the interdisciplinary guidelines on the early diagnosis, methods of activity assessment and indications to the use of genetically engineered biological agents in patients with comorbid immunoinflammatory comorbidities (psoriasis, PsA, IBD). Procedure of the interdisciplinary guidelines elaboration . The Working Group elaborated a draft project of the up-to-date evidence-based guidelines and proposed a multidisciplinary questionnaire. An interdisciplinary expert council of specialists in dermatology, rheumatology and gastroenterology discussed each position of the proposed guidelines and was adopted by a simple majority of votes through an open voting at the Second Russian Debates “Dermatology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology: focus on the interdisciplinary interaction” (Moscow, December 12–13, 2017). Results : 1 . A universal interdisciplinary questionnaire to detect clinical signs of immunoinflammatory disorders (psoriasis, PsA, IBD) has been created. It contains the main questions the answers to which are needed for a specialist physician (a dermatologist, a rheumatologist or a gastroenterologist) to suspect comorbidity and to refer the patient to a corresponding specialist. The questionnaire has three parts, each of them with questions to the patient aimed at the detection of the symptoms of psoriasis, PsA, and IBD. 2 . An algorithm for interaction between dermatologists, rheumatologists and gastroenterologists has been developed aimed at optimal management of patients with comorbid immunoinflammatory disorders. 3 . Goals of treatment of immunoinflammatory disorders (psoriasis, PsA, Crohn's disease) have been formulated according to the “treat-to-target” (Т2Т) concept. 4 . Criteria for assessment of activity and severity of the immunoinflammatory disorders (psoriasis, PsA, and Crohn's disease) have been formulated. 5 . The draft describes the indications for the administration of genetically engineered biological agents (GEBA), factors influencing the choice of treatment, criteria for GEBA efficacy assessment, indications to a change of a GEBA in primary or secondary treatment failure. Conclusion : In accordance with the results of discussion with specialists from various regions of the Russian Federation and with the decision of the Expert Council, it is planned to validate the questionnaire, with subsequent inclusion of the position of the draft project into the clinical guidelines on the management of patients with psoriasis, PsA, and Crohn's disease.

Higuchi Fractal Dimension of Heart Rate Variability During Percutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects.

Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) can be applied to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS) sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Since living systems are non-linear, evaluation of ANS activity is difficult by means of linear methods. We propose to apply the Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) method for assessment of ANS activity. HFD measures complexity of the HRV signal. We analyzed 45 RR time series of 84 min duration each from nine healthy and five diabetic subjects with clinically confirmed long-term diabetes mellitus type II and with diabetic foot ulcer lasting more than 6 weeks. Based on HRV time series complexity analysis we have shown that HFD: (1) discriminates healthy subjects from patients with diabetes mellitus type II; (2) assesses the impact of percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (pVNS) on ANS activity in normal and diabetic conditions. Thus, HFD may be used during pVNS treatment, to provide stimulation feedback for on-line regulation of therapy in a fast and robust way.

Performance Evaluation of a Semi-automated Method for [18F]FDG Uptake in Abdominal Visceral Adipose Tissue

PurposeSeverity of abdominal obesity and possibly levels of metabolic activity of abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this context, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the reproducibility and repeatability of a semi-automated method for assessment of the metabolic activity of VAT using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/x-ray computed tomography (CT).ProceduresTen patients with lung cancer who underwent two baseline whole-body [18F]FDG PET/low-dose (LD) CT scans within 1 week were included. Abdominal VAT was automatically segmented using CT between levels L1–L5. The initial CT-based segmentation was further optimized using PET data with a standardized uptake value (SUV) threshold approach (range 1.0–2.5) and morphological erosion (range 0–5 pixels). The [18F]FDG uptake in SUV that was measured by the automated method was compared with manual analysis. The reproducibility and repeatability were quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).ResultsThe metabolic assessment of VAT on [18F]FDG PET/LDCT scans expressed as SUVmean, using an automated method showed high inter and intra observer (all ICCs > 0.99) and overall repeatability (ICC = 0.98). The manual method showed reproducible inter observer (all ICCs > 0.92), but less intra observer (ICC = 0.57) and less overall repeatability (ICC = 0.78) compared with the automated method.ConclusionsOur proposed semi-automated method provided reproducible and repeatable quantitative analysis of [18F]FDG uptake in VAT. We expect this method to aid future research regarding the role of VAT in development of CVD.

Predictors of discordance in self-report versus device-measured physical activity measurement

PurposeAccurate measurement of free-living physical activity is challenging in population-based research, whether using device-based or reported methods. Our purpose was to identify demographic predictors of discordance between physical activity assessment methods and to determine how these predictors modify the discordance between device-based and reported physical activity measurement methods. MethodsThree hundred forty-seven adults from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin wore the ActiGraph accelerometer for 7 days and completed the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to assess predictors of discordance including gender, education, body mass index, marital status, and other individual level characteristics in physical activity reporting. ResultsSeventy-seven percent of men and 72% of women self-reported meeting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for aerobic activity but when measured by accelerometer, only 21% of men and 17% of women met guidelines. Demographic characteristics that predicted discordance between methods in multivariate regression included greater educational attainment (P < .001) and partnered status (P = .003). ConclusionsThese varying levels of discordance imply that comparisons of self-reported activity among groups defined by (or substantially varying by) educational attainment or marital status should be done with considerable caution as observed differences may be due, in part, to systematic, differential measurement biases among groups.

Development of phenotypical individualization of the person social activity criteria and indicators

Social activity being one of the main elements of organization of human vital activity, is characterized by systemic principle of formation and individuality of manifestations. Recognizing importance of the role of factors of social nature in development of social activity of an individual, one should agree that individual specialness of behavior largely depends on phenotypically determined psychophysiological and psychological features of an individual.&#x0D; Aim. The aim of research was to develop criteria and parameters of phenotypic individualization of social activity of a person.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. Into the study 146 individuals, males and females of 18-23 years of age were included. As the main criteria of psychophysiological and socio-psychological typologization of expressiveness and direction of social activity of an individual 2 groups of respective traits were used: impulsivity - initiativity - passivity, and prosociality - social neutrality - asociality.&#x0D; Results. The conducted experimental study permitted to correlate the device-detectable levels of the general nonspecific reactivity of an organism with the extent of expressiveness of social activity in human behavior. Here, a high level of general nonspecific reactivity was associated with inclination to impulsive behavior, a low level was associated with passive behavior, and the medium level of the general nonspecific reactivity of an organism was associated with inclination to initiative behavior. A method of qualitative differentiation and quantitative assessment of the individual prosociality-asociality balance in human behavior has been developed and tested. In order to technologize the process of complex evaluation of the expression and orientation of social behavior, a matrix of social activity of an individual has been developed that integrally characterizes the psychophysiological and psychological potential of an individual.&#x0D; Conclusion. The results of the study made it possible to specify the criteria and parameters of the phenotypical individualization of the social activity of an individual. The proposed method for assessment of the social activity of an individual provides a complex consideration of the physiological and psychological factors of the "sociality" of behavior, the possibility of qualitative typologization and quantitative determination of the individual prosociality-asociality balance, as well as algorithmization of the testing process.

Systematic approach to musculoskeletal benign tumors.

The radiologic workup of musculoskeletal tumors can be both cost-efficient and extremely helpful to the referring clinician if one proceeds in a thoughtful and logical manner. It should be remembered that plain films remain the most reliable imaging method for assessment of both biological activity and probable histologic diagnosis of an osseous lesion. Further investigations are of help to determine the extent of lesion and to help in staging. In order to do this, we have found it useful to include an assessment of 10 determinants in the description of a tumor. If these determinants are accurately described, the correct diagnosis or at least a limited differential diagnosis usually becomes obvious.

Sulfur-poisoning and thermal reduction regeneration of holmium-modified Fe-Mn/TiO2 catalyst for low-temperature SCR

AbstractThe effect of SO2 on the low-temperature SCR activity and the thermal reductive regeneration for holmium-modified Fe-Mn/TiO2 catalyst were investigated by activity assessment and various characterization methods. The deposition of ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) on catalyst surface and the sulfuration of active component (MnSO4) were proved to be the main causes for the deactivation in the presence of SO2. The catalyst Fe0.3Ho0.1Mn0.4/TiO2 exhibited superior SO2 durability when the concentration of SO2 was lower than 0.04%, and the catalytic activity could markedly recover with the termination of sulfur-poisoning source. The deactivation behavior was irreversible when the concentration of SO2 was increased to 0.1% but the deactivated catalyst could be regenerated after thermal reduction (350°C) for 60 min by 5% NH3. The microstructure and physicochemical properties could be significantly restored after the thermal reductive regeneration. Moreover, the NOx conversion could return to about 80%.

The feasibility of using pedometers for self-report of steps and accelerometers for measuring physical activity in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across an 18-month intervention.

Improving physical activity in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) is recommended to improve weight loss and general health. However, in order to determine the success of physical activity interventions, identification of feasible methods for assessment of physical activities is necessary. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of adults with IDD to track daily steps and wear an accelerometer. Overweight/obese adults with mild to moderate IDD followed a diet and physical activity program for 18months. All participants were asked to wear a pedometer and track steps daily by using a pedometer and to provide accelerometer data for 7days at baseline, 6, 12 and 18months. Adherence to the pedometer protocol and plausibility of the number of recorded steps were assessed, and these measures along with average wear time of the accelerometer were recorded. Data were collected from 149 participants (36.5±12.2years of age, 57% female). Participants recorded a step value on 81.5% of days across the 18-month study, with 40.9% of written days classified as plausible. When wearing the accelerometer, 26.8% of participants met the recommended 4-day/10-h wear time criterion at baseline, and 22.6, 24.8 and 18.8% met the criterion at 6, 12 and 18months, respectively. Adults with IDD will adhere reasonably well to wearing a pedometer long term, but may be unable to record the step data accurately. Furthermore, adults with IDD have poor compliance with accelerometer protocols, and future studies should determine if a shorter wear time protocol would produce valid data in this population.

Inventory on the dietary assessment tools available and needed in africa: a prerequisite for setting up a common methodological research infrastructure for nutritional surveillance, research, and prevention of diet-related non-communicable diseases

abstractObjective: To carry out an inventory on the availability, challenges, and needs of dietary assessment (DA) methods in Africa as a pre-requisite to provide evidence, and set directions (strategies) for implementing common dietary methods and support web-research infrastructure across countries. Methods: The inventory was performed within the framework of the “Africa's Study on Physical Activity and Dietary Assessment Methods” (AS-PADAM) project. It involves international institutional and African networks. An inventory questionnaire was developed and disseminated through the networks. Eighteen countries responded to the dietary inventory questionnaire. Results: Various DA tools were reported in Africa; 24-Hour Dietary Recall and Food Frequency Questionnaire were the most commonly used tools. Few tools were validated and tested for reliability. Face-to-face interview was the common method of administration. No computerized software or other new (web) technologies were reported. No tools were standardized across countries. Conclusions: The lack of comparable DA methods across represented countries is a major obstacle to implement comprehensive and joint nutrition-related programmes for surveillance, programme evaluation, research, and prevention. There is a need to develop new or adapt existing DA methods across countries by employing related research infrastructure that has been validated and standardized in other settings, with the view to standardizing methods for wider use.

Towards standardization of 18F-FET PET imaging: do we need a consistent method of background activity assessment?

BackgroundPET with O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) has reached increasing clinical significance for patients with brain neoplasms. For quantification of standard PET-derived parameters such as the tumor-to-background ratio, the background activity is assessed using a region of interest (ROI) or volume of interest (VOI) in unaffected brain tissue. However, there is no standardized approach regarding the assessment of the background reference. Therefore, we evaluated the intra- and inter-reader variability of commonly applied approaches for clinical 18F-FET PET reading.The background activity of 20 18F-FET PET scans was independently evaluated by 6 readers using a (i) simple 2D-ROI, (ii) spherical VOI with 3.0 cm diameter, and (iii) VOI consisting of crescent-shaped ROIs; each in the contralateral, non-affected hemisphere including white and gray matter in line with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and German guidelines. To assess intra-reader variability, each scan was evaluated 10 times by each reader. The coefficient of variation (CoV) was assessed for determination of intra- and inter-reader variability. In a second step, the best method was refined by instructions for a guided background activity assessment and validated by 10 further scans.ResultsCompared to the other approaches, the crescent-shaped VOIs revealed most stable results with the lowest intra-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.52%, spherical VOI 4.20%, 2D-ROI 3.69%; p < 0.001) and inter-reader variabilities (median CoV 2.14%, spherical VOI 4.02%, 2D-ROI 3.83%; p = 0.001). Using the guided background assessment, both intra-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.10%) and inter-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.19%) could be reduced even more.ConclusionsThe commonly applied methods for background activity assessment show different variability which might hamper 18F-FET PET quantification and comparability in multicenter settings. The proposed background activity assessment using a (guided) crescent-shaped VOI allows minimization of both intra- and inter-reader variability and might facilitate comprehensive methodological standardization of amino acid PET which is of interest in the light of the anticipated EANM technical guidelines.

Validation of spectrophotometric microplate methods for polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities analysis in fruits and vegetables

Enzymes polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) play important roles in the processing of fruits and vegetables, since they can produce undesirable changes in color, texture and flavor. Classical methods of activity assessment are based on cuvette spectrophotometric readings. This work aims to propose, to validate and to test microplate spectrophotometric methods. Samples of apple juice and lyophilized enzymes from mushroom and horseradish were analyzed by the cuvette and microplate methods and it was possible to validate the microplate assays with satisfactory results regarding linearity, repeatability, accuracy along with quantitation and detection limits. The proposed microplate methods proved to be reliable and reproducible as the classical methods besides having the advantages of allowing simultaneous analysis and requiring a reduced amount of samples and reactants, which can beneficial to the study of enzyme inactivation in the processing of fruits and vegetables.

Evaluation of motor disorders in children who were born prematurely, according to the standard electroencephalography

Aim. To determine the diagnostic value of the standard EEG patterns in disorders of motor development of born prematurely young children using logistic regression analysis.Materials and methods. An observational cohort study of 93 children development aged from birth to 36 months was carried out. All children were divided into groups - disabled children with organic lesions of the central nervous system (35.4 %), disabled children without organic lesions of the central nervous system (34.4 %), and healthy children (30.1%). Electroencephalography was performed by a standard method of background activity assessment, maturity, diffuse or local changes of brain bioelectrical activity, paroxysmal activity and the power spectrum in the range of delta, theta, alpha, beta 1 and beta 2. The study excluded the children with convulsions and anticonvulsant therapy. The corrected children age was used.Results. Disability in young children, who were born prematurely, was caused by the development of cerebral palsy. In 16.9 % of children other than motor development disorders pathology of vision, hearing and cognitive development delay was diagnosed. There were differences of delta- rhythm and alpha-rhythm in children who developed a disability at the corrected age 6–12 months. Using logistic regression analysis the odds ratio for disability in young children at the corrected age 6–12 months were determined: the part of the delta- rhythm over 28 %; low amplitude, diffuse changes; local slowdown on standard EEG.Conclusion. The authors believe that the proposed diagnostic model using noninvasive method - standard electroencephalography – helps to develop optimal steps in examining of young children and to predict motor disturbances development.

Association Between Body Composition and Inflammatory Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. A Systematic Review

BackgroundReports regarding the association between body composition and inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have consistently yielded contradictory results. ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review on the association between overweight/obesity and inflammatory activity in RA. MethodsFAST approach: Article search (Medline, EBSCO, Cochrane Library), followed by abstract retrieval, full text review and blinded assessment of methodological quality for final inclusion. Because of marked heterogeneity in statistical approach and RA activity assessment method, a meta-analysis could not be done. Results are presented as qualitative synthesis. ResultsOne hundred and nineteen reports were found, 16 of them qualified for full text review. Eleven studies (8147 patients; n range: 37–5161) approved the methodological quality filter and were finally included. Interobserver agreement for methodological quality score (ICC: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.82–0.98; P<.001) and inclusion/rejection decision (k 1.00, P>.001) was excellent. In all reports body composition was assessed by BMI; however a marked heterogeneity was found in the method used for RA activity assessment. A significant association between BMI and RA activity was found in 6 reports having larger mean sample size: 1274 (range: 140–5161). On the other hand, this association was not found in 5 studies having lower mean sample size: 100 (range: 7–150). ConclusionsThe modulation of RA clinical status by body fat mass is suggested because a significant association was found between BMI and inflammatory activity in those reports with a trend toward higher statistical power. The relationship between body composition and clinical activity in RA requires be approached with further studies with higher methodological quality.

Comparative Validity of Physical Activity Assessment Methods for Individuals with Schizophrenia

Individuals with schizophrenia are less physically active than the general population. In order to accurately assess the relationship between health and physical activity (PA), identify PA determinants, and develop interventions, valid and reliable methods of assessing PA must be identified. Previous research has reported that the Short-Form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) demonstrates similar measurement properties in this population as it does in the general population. Cognitive deficits are common among individuals with schizophrenia, and 7-day recall may be challenging. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand on the initial validation study by examining reliability over a 4-week period, and to test whether a 24-hour recall protocol improved criterion validity correlation coefficients in comparison to 7-day recall. METHODS: One hundred and eight participants completed the IPAQ at baseline and 4 weeks later. Participants wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their waist for 7 days in the week prior to the final IPAQ administration. A 24-hour recall modification of the IPAQ was administered after the final IPAQ assessment. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated based on the minutes of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) determined by each method of measurement. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability for the self-administered IPAQ was ρ=.47, p<.001 for total minutes of moderate to vigorous PA. Correlation between the final IPAQ assessment and objectively measured PA was ρ=.31, p=.002. MVPA reported in the 24-hour recall correlated significantly with MVPA on the previous day ρ=.24, p=.041. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a previous validation study, IPAQ criterion validity was similar but less reliable over a four-week period. Notably, 24-hour recall was not associated with improved criterion validity correlation coefficients. Findings provide further support that the IPAQ may be suitable as a surveillance tool to assess levels of physical activity among individuals with schizophrenia. Overall, the IPAQ demonstrated similar measurement properties as that reported among the general population. Use of the IPAQ will help increase epidemiological research and may be a suitable assessment tool for health care providers. Supported by a CIHR Operating Grant

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F-14 Free Communication/Slide - Advancing Physical Activity Assessment Methods - Part II Friday, June 3, 2016, 1: 00 PM - 3: 00 PM Room: 206: PDF Only

New Method for Assessment of Serum Catalase Activity

Background: The following study presents a colorimetric method for the assessment of serum catalase activity which yields precise, accurate, reproducible results and is simplified so that clinical pathology laboratories may achieve this determination without the need for special techniques. Methods: In this method, dichromate in acetic acid is reduced to chromic acetate when heated in the presence of undecomposed hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), with the formation of perchromic acid as an unstable intermediate. Hydrogen peroxide concentration is directly proportional to the concentration of chromic acetate that produced from the reaction. The chromic acetate produced is measured calorimetrically at 570 nm. Findings: The imprecision of the method was calculated by measuring the coefficient of variation, which equals to 3.4% within run and 5.9% between run. The catalase assay performed using the kinetic method yielded a good correlation (r = 0.9771). Applications: The present method characterizes by adding a correction factor to eliminate the interference that arises from the presence of sugars, amino acids, proteins and vitamins in serum. Keywords: Catalase Activity, Clinical Pathology, New Method Serum, Spectrophotometry

What are the top 10 physical activity research questions in schizophrenia?

Purpose: Research has only recently started to consider the applicability of physical activity (PA) for people with schizophrenia. Although there is increasing evidence for the benefits of physical activity, this population remains generally physically inactive and sedentary. The aim of the current study is to highlight 10 pertinent physical activity research questions in people with schizophrenia.Method: The International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH) executed a consultation of its National Organisations (n = 13) to identify the most salient questions relevant to guide clinical practise on physical activity in people with schizophrenia.Results: We identified the following 10 questions: (1) What are the benefits of physical activity for people with schizophrenia? (2) What are the mechanisms of the physical activity effects in people with schizophrenia? (3) What are the most prominent safety issues for physical activity prescription in people with schizophrenia? (4) What is the most optimal physical activity prescription for people with schizophrenia? (5) What are the key barriers for engaging people with schizophrenia in physical activity? (6) What are the most effective motivational interventions for physical activity adoption and maintenance in people with schizophrenia? (7) How do we translate physical activity research into clinical and community practise? (8) How can we ensure integration of physical therapists within the multidisciplinary mental health treatment team? (9) How can we prevent sedentary behaviour in people with schizophrenia? (10) What is the most appropriate physical activity assessment method in clinical practise?Conclusions: Addressing these questions is critical for developing evidence-based approaches for promoting and sustaining an active lifestyle in people with schizophrenia. Ultimately, achieving this will improve the quality of life of this population.Implications for RehabilitationInvestigation of behaviour change interventions for people with schizophrenia is critical.A low cost, easy to use, clinical, valid physical activity questionnaire is urgently needed.