Advances in the Chemistry and Biology of Specialised Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs).

This review article assembles key recent advances in the synthetic chemistry and biology of specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). The major medicinal chemistry developments in the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of synthetic SPM analogues of lipoxins and resolvins have been discussed. These include variations in the top and bottom chains, as well as changes to the triene core, of lipoxins, all changes intended to enhance the metabolic stability whilst retaining or improving biological activity. Similar chemical modifications of resolvins are also discussed. The biological evaluation of these synthetic SPMs is also described in some detail. Original investigations into the biological activity of endogenous SPMs led to the pairing of these ligands with the FPR2/LX receptor, and these results have been challenged in more recent work, leading to conflicting results and views, which are again discussed.

Mixed-method evaluation of a community-wide physical activity program in Launceston, Australia.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for disease burden and premature mortality. Interventions to increase physical activity are common, though few examples of multi-strategy, wide-scale community programs exist. Active Launceston is a community-wide program aimed at improving health and well-being through physical activity. We report on the process evaluation of Active Launceston and changes in community physical activity participation between 2008 and 2015, as a measure of program effectiveness. METHODS: Mixed-method evaluation of Active Launceston combined process evaluation-consisting of participant numbers, socio-demographic characteristics, campaign awareness, focus groups and stakeholder interviews-with impact evaluation consisting of a random-sample cross-sectional serial telephone survey. RESULTS: Active Launceston attracted 11 887 attendees, participating in 30 342 sessions, amounting to 38 088 hours of physical activity between 2008 and 2015. Participant focus groups highlighted benefits including increased engagement in exercise, better health and social connectedness. While telephone surveys found the proportion of people participating in any physical activity in the last 12 months to be similar between the 3 years (2008, 77.7%; 2012, 77.1%; 2015, 73.6%), a higher proportion participated in vigorous physical activity in 2012 and 2015 compared to 2008 (P < 0.01), when adjusting for age and gender differences. A higher proportion also achieved sufficient activity for health in 2015 compared to 2008 (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Mixed-method evaluation suggests Active Launceston is an effective community-wide program supporting community members to engage in regular physical activity and increase levels of social engagement. SO WHAT?: This work provides a model for implementing high-reach, community-wide interventions that improve physical activity outcomes.