Developing Faith-Based Health Promotion Programs that Target Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer Risk Factors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a faith-based health promotion program on the ideal health behaviors shared between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. The primary purpose was to measure the individual-level change in three categories of shared risk behaviors between CVD and cancer (body weight, physical activity, and nutrition) among program participants. Additionally, we evaluated the association of churches' perceived environmental support on these ideal health behaviors. Baseline and 10-week surveys were conducted to assess BMI, ideal health behaviors (diet and physical activity), and a Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) was created to measure adherence to health behaviors. A Supportive Church Environment Score (SCES) was designed to address the second objective. Psychosocial factors (stress and coping skills) and demographics were also measured. The percentage of participants meeting diet and exercise recommendations significantly increased with the completion of the program. Whole-grain intake increased by 64% (p = 0.085), vegetable intake increased by 58% (p = < 0.001), fruit intake increased by 39% (p = < 0.001), physical activity increased by 14% (p = < 0.001), and red meat consumption decreased by 19% (p = < 0.001). The median HLS increased from 7 to 8 (p = < 0.001). At baseline the association between ideal health behaviors and the SCES was significant for fruit intake (r = 0.22, p-value = 0.003) and red meat consumption (r = 0.17, p-value = 0.02). The aggregate behaviors as represented by the HLS were associated with the SCES (r = 0.19, p-value = 0.03). The significant increase in the HLS indicates an average improvement in the degree to which participants were meeting recommendations after completing the program. Therefore, adherence to these ideal health behaviors increased over the 10-week program.

The Most Undertreated Chronic Disease: Addressing Obesity in Primary Care Settings.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: While obesity-related comorbidities are frequently addressed and treated in primary care (PC), obesity itself is undertreated. We review the current treatments for obesity and provide potential provider and system-level strategies for integrating weight management and improving longer term obesity care within PC settings. RECENT FINDINGS: We now understand that the body develops multiple mechanisms to resist weight loss and promote weight regain, making both weight loss and weight loss maintenance challenging. Therefore, weight management often requires medically supervised interventions and should be treated on a long-term basis. However, there are multiple barriers to improving obesity care within PC settings. Clinically, utilizing strategies such as a shared decision-making approach and the 5As to discuss treatment options can facilitate formulating an obesity treatment plan. Utilizing telehealth, a team-based approach, and community partnering can increase patient access to intensive behavioral interventions. Future studies should evaluate other cost-effective methods to implement obesity care into the PC setting.

A probable case of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: Should high-dose steroids be given in the setting of polymicrobial sepsis?

In this clinical vignette, we present a case of a 59-year-old woman with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome likely triggered by polymicrobial sepsis. The diagnostic criteria and clinical manifestations of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome are reviewed. We also compare diagnostic criteria and clinical manifestations with other clinical entities in the differential diagnosis, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic-uremic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare, but lethal condition, and treatment recommendations are based on expert consensus and analyses of the international Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Registry. Current management guidelines recommend triple therapy, with anticoagulation, glucocorticoids, and plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulins. This case brings this rare clinical entity to the attention of clinicians and emphasizes the need for more research to understand the best management. It also raises the question of whether high-dose steroids should be continued for treatment of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in the setting of a severe sepsis.

Testicular growth and regression are not correlated with Dio2 expression in a wild male songbird, sturnus vulgaris, exposed to natural changes in photoperiod.

Timing of seasonal breeding in birds and mammals is regulated by changing the day length and is dependent on the presence of thyroid hormones. A mechanism for thyroid-dependent control of seasonality has been proposed, in which exposure to long day lengths induces rapid local conversion of T4 to its bioactive form, T3, via the up-regulation of the enzyme type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio2) in the brain, and the down-regulation of Dio3 (which inactivates T3). Such changes were correlated with gonadotropin release and gonadal growth in quail. This mechanism was elucidated in a domesticated species (quail) exposed to unnatural acute changes in day length. Here we investigated the Dio2/Dio3 mechanism in a wild species, the European starling, under naturally changing day length. Although Dio2 expression varied seasonally, Dio3 did not. We found no correlation of Dio2 with photoperiod, seasonal regulation of GnRH, or testicular volume. The observed differences in data from starlings and quail could be a result of phylogeny, genetic drift from founder populations, or differences in reproductive seasonality in addition to or instead of arising from domestication or use of artificially changing photoperiods. Overall, the data indicate that in a wild species exposed to natural changes in day length, the current proposed mechanism for photoperiodic timing is less straightforward than is generally accepted and might not be as universally applicable as previously thought.