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The cerebrospinal fluid volume affects the block height of spinal anaesthesia. Laminectomy of the lumbar spine may result in increased lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume of patients with a history of lumbar laminectomy would be larger than that of patients with normal lumbar spine anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging. Lumbosacral spine magnetic resonance images of 147 patients who underwent laminectomy at the L2 vertebrae or below (laminectomy group) and 115 patients without a history of spinal surgery (control group) were retrospectively reviewed. The lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volumes between the L1–L2 intervertebral disc level and the end of the dural sac were measured and compared between the two groups. The mean (standard deviation) lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume was 22.3 (7.8) ml and 21.1 (7.4) ml in the laminectomy and control groups, respectively (mean difference 1.2 ml; 95% confidence interval −0.7 to 3.0 ml; P = 0.218). In the prespecified subgroup analysis according to the number of laminectomy levels, patients who underwent more than two levels of laminectomy exhibited slightly larger lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume (n = 17, 30.5 (13.5) ml) compared with those who underwent two (n = 40, 20.7 (5.6) ml; P = 0.014) or one level of laminectomy (n = 90, 21.4 (6.2) ml; P = 0.010) and the control group (21.1 (7.4) ml; P = 0.012). In conclusion, the lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume did not differ between patients who underwent lumbar laminectomy and those without a history of laminectomy. However, patients who underwent laminectomy at more than two levels had a slightly larger volume of lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid than those who underwent less extensive laminectomy and those without a history of lumbar spine surgery. Further studies are warranted to confirm the subgroup analysis findings and elucidate the clinical implications of such differences in the lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the association between 2-minute heart rate recovery (HRR) and cancer risk. Each participant (5379 women; 8485 men) provided HRR obtained from treadmill tests. The outcome was site-specific cancer. Over 9 years of follow-up, 630 cancer events (258 women) were accrued. Slower HRR was associated with increased thyroid cancer risk in women (P for trend = .0121) and colorectal cancer risk in men (P for trend = .0034). The lowest HRR (<13 bpm) had higher hazards of thyroid cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.28-3.77) in women and colorectal cancer (HR = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.32-7.15) in men. In women, slower HRR and lower proportions of heart rate recovery (PHRR) were associated with higher hazards of thyroid cancer in women and metabolically related cancers (liver and colorectal) in men. Slower HRR and lower PHRR were independent risk factors for thyroid cancer in women and metabolically related cancers in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools are positioned to play a key role in nurturing students with knowledge and behaviours associated with healthful living. Our study examined the effects of an intervention on energy balance (EB) knowledge. Twelve 6th and 7th grade classrooms (n = 140) were assigned to receive either two standardised lessons on EB or a combined intervention that featured the same EB lessons, integrated with self-monitoring technology. EB knowledge was pre- and post-measured using a standardised written test, while the situational interest was measured at the end of experiment. Repeated measure analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance were conducted, to capture the differences in EB knowledge by time and group, and situational interest by group, respectively. Both groups significantly enhanced EB knowledge over time (F1,112 = 11.85; p = .001; η2 = .10), but the combined group demonstrated a greater increase (F1,112 = 5.36; p = .02; η2 = .05). An item-by-item mean comparison of EB knowledge and correct percent scores confirmed the above result (i.e. combined group versus education group: 7% versus 2% EB knowledge increase).The two groups were equally motivated to participate in the experiment, showing similar levels of total interest (education group: M/SD = 4.00/.68; combined group: M/SD = 4.17/.74; p = .18). The research findings and their implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in U.S. adults.Design: A cross-sectional design was used for this study.Setting: The study was set among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.Subjects: Adults, ages 20 years and older, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006 (n = 5580) participated in the study.Measures: PA measures included minutes per week of moderate plus vigorous PA estimated by self-report (MVPAsr), total 7-day accelerometry (MVPAa), and accelerometer-based MVPA performed in 10-minute bouts (MVPAb). Risk factors for metabolic syndrome included blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and waist circumference.Analysis: Odds ratios (ORs) for having metabolic syndrome were calculated for men and women who met the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans compared to those who did not.Results: Women who did not meet the PA guidelines had significantly greater odds of having metabolic syndrome according to MVPAsr (OR = 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65-2.94), MVPAa (OR = 4.40; 95% CI = 2.65-7.31), and MVPAb (OR = 2.91; 95% CI = 1.42-5.96). Men had significantly higher odds of having metabolic syndrome according to MVPAa (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 1.91-3.45) and MVPAb (OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.55-5.17), but not MVPAsr. These ORs remained significant after adjusting for all potential confounders except body mass index, after which only MVPAsr in women and MVPAb in men remained significant.Conclusion: Individuals who do not meet the PA guidelines exhibited greater odds of having metabolic syndrome. This relationship tended to be stronger for objective PA measures than for self-report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]