Daily Instrumental and Affective Attitudes About Exercise: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Background Daily decisions to exercise may be influenced by day-to-day changes in affective attitudes (AA) and instrumental attitudes (IA) toward exercise. However, the within-day association between AA, IA, and exercise behavior has received little attention. Purpose To examine the effects of more temporally proximal (daily) AA and IA on daily exercise behavior beyond traditionally assessed distal (at the beginning of an exercise program) AA and IA. Methods In the context of a 3-month exercise promotion program (N = 50), distal AA and IA were assessed at baseline. Ecological momentary assessment was used to assess proximal AA, IA, and exercise each day. Results Between-subject differences in distal AA (OR = 1.28, p = .03) and distal IA (OR = 1.34, p = .01) were predictive of average likelihood of exercise each day over the 3-month period. Within-subject differences in proximal AA (OR = 1.19, p = .007), but not proximal IA (OR = 1.11, p = .18), predicted exercise each day beyond the between-subjects effects of distal AA and IA. Exploratory analysis revealed an interaction, such that the within-subjects impact of proximal AA on daily exercise was most evident among individuals who held more negative distal AA at baseline (OR = 0.80, p < .0001). Conclusions Attitude type (affective versus instrumental) and temporality (distal versus proximal) are important to consider in attempts to predict and understand exercise behavior. In addition to targeting change in distal attitudes, exercise interventions should target changes in daily AA to impact exercise later in the same day.

Reproducible improvement in endothelial function following two separate periods of high-intensity interval training in young men

This is the first study examining endothelial function [flow-mediated dilation (FMD)] following repeated periods of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Two periods of HIIT separated by detraining resulted in reproducible group-level improvements in FMD. Despite considerable between-subject variability in FMD adaptation, individual FMD changes with the first HIIT period predicted FMD changes in the second period. This indicates the existence of reproducible between-subject differences in susceptibility to FMD improvement with HIIT.

Aloe vera for Prevention of Acute Radiation Proctitis in Colorectal Cancer: A Preliminary Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background Acute radiation proctitis (ARP) is a common complication of radiation therapy (RT). This adverse effect in severe cases ultimately results in interruption of RT and poor outcome. Aloe vera contains multiple antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds This study was aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of Aloe vera in ARP in colorectal cancer.Method: twenty eligible colorectal cancer patients, who received radiation, were randomized to receive Aloe vera 3% ointment or placebo for six weeks. At each weekly visit, ARP symptoms were evaluated by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and clinical presentation criteria. The lifestyle impact of the symptoms, depression and anxiety for assessment of psychosocial status of patients, and quantitative CRP were evaluated as secondary endpoints.Results there was a significant improvement in the symptom index for diarrhea and total RTOG scores and quantitative CRP levels (between-subject differences or group effect) (p < 0.05) in Aloe group. The overall time trend (within-subject differences or time effect) was statistically significant for rectal bleeding, rectal pain, total clinical scores, proctitis, cystitis, and total RTOG (P < 0.05) in Aloe vera group. The median lifestyle score improved significantly with Aloe vera. Intervention patients had a lower probability of presenting anxiety in their overall HAD scale during RT.Conclusion The use of topical formulation of Aloe vera 3% diminished the severity of ARP in colorectal cancer patients. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials IRCT201606042027N6, registrations date: 2016-04-09.

Application of Deep Learning for EEG

Deep learning is a relatively new branch of machine learning, which has been used in a variety of biomedical applications. It has been used to analyze different physiological signals and gain better understanding of human physiology for automated diagnosis of abnormal conditions. It is used in the classification of electroencephalography signals. Most of the present research has continued to use manual feature extraction methods followed by a traditional classifier, such as support vector machine or logistic regression. This is largely due to the low number of samples per experiment, high-dimensional nature of the data, and the difficulty in finding appropriate deep learning architectures for classification of EEG signals. One of the challenges in modeling cognitive events from EEG data is finding representations that are invariant to inter- and intra-subject differences as well as the inherent noise associated with EEG data collection. Herein, the authors explore the capabilities of the recent deep learning techniques for modeling cognitive events from EEG data.

Electrophysiological Characteristics of the Migraine Brain: Current Knowledge and Perspectives

Background: Despite pain being its most prominent feature, migraine is primarily a disorder of sensory processing. Electrophysiology-based research in the field has consistently developed over the last fifty years. Objective: To summarize the current knowledge on the electrophysiological characteristics of the migraine brain, and discuss perspectives. Methods: We critically reviewed the literature on the topic to present and discuss articles selected on the basis of their significance and/or novelty. Results: Physiologic fluctuations within time, between-subject differences, and methodological issues account as major limitations of electrophysiological research in migraine. Nonetheless, several abnormalities revealed through different approaches have been described in the literature. Altogether, these results are compatible with an abnormal state of sensory processing. Perspectives: The greatest contribution of electrophysiological testing in the future will most probably be the characterization of sub-groups of migraine patients sharing specific electrophysiological traits. This should serve as strategy towards personalized migraine treatment. Incorporation of novel methods of analysis would be worthwhile.

Understanding Inter-Individual Variability in Monoclonal Antibody Disposition

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently the largest and most dominant class of therapeutic proteins. Inter-individual variability has been observed for several mAbs; however, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms and factors contributing to inter-subject differences in mAb disposition is still lacking. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms of antibody disposition and the putative mechanistic determinants of inter-individual variability. Results from in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies were reviewed evaluate the role of the neonatal Fc receptor and Fc gamma receptors (expression and polymorphism), target properties (expression, shedding, turnover, internalization, heterogeneity, polymorphism), and the influence of anti-drug antibodies. Particular attention is given to the influence of co-administered drugs and disease, and to the physiological relevance of covariates identified by population pharmacokinetic modeling, as determinants of variability in mAb pharmacokinetics.

Reliability and correlates of intra-individual variability in the oculomotor system

Even if all external circumstances are kept equal, the oculomotor system shows intra-individual variability over time, affecting measures such as microsaccade rate, blink rate, pupil size, and gaze position. Recently, some of these measures have been associated with ADHD on a between-subject level. However, it remains unclear to what extent these measures constitute stable individual traits. In the current study, we investigate the intra-individual reliability of these oculomotor features. Combining results over three experiments (>100 healthy participants), we found evidence for intra-individual reliability over different time points (repeatability) as well as over different conditions (generalization). Furthermore, we correlated oculomotor variability with self-assessed ADHD tendencies, mind wandering, and impulsivity, and found evidence against such correlations. As such, the oculomotor system shows reliable intra-individual reliability, but its use for distinguishing self-assessed individual differences in healthy subjects remains unclear. With our results, we highlight the importance of reliability and statistical power when studying between-subject differences.

Saccade vigor partly reflects the subjective economic value of the visual stimulus

Decisions are made based on the subjective value that the brain assigns to options. However, subjective value is a mathematical construct that cannot be measured directly, but rather inferred from choices. Recent results have demonstrated that reaction time and velocity of movements are modulated by reward, raising the possibility that there is a link between how the brain evaluates an option, and how it controls movements toward that option. Here, we asked people to choose among risky options represented by abstract stimuli, some associated with gain, others with loss. From their choices in decision trials we estimated the subjective value that they assigned to each stimulus. In probe trials, they were presented with a single stimulus at center and made a saccade to a peripheral location. We found that the reaction time and peak velocity of that saccade varied roughly linearly from loss to gain with the subjective value of the stimulus. Naturally, participants differed in how much they valued a given stimulus. Remarkably, those who valued a stimulus more, as evidenced by their choices in decision trials, tended to move with greater vigor in response to that stimulus in probe trials. Thus, saccade vigor partly reflected the subjective value that the brain assigned the stimulus. However, the influence of subjective value on vigor was only a modest predictor of preference: vigor in probe trials allowed us to predict choice in decision trials with roughly 60% accuracy.New and NoteworthyWe found that saccade vigor tends to vary monotonically with subjective value: smallest for stimuli that predict a loss, and highest for stimuli that predict a gain. Notably, between-subject differences in valuation could be gleaned from the between-subject differences in their patterns of vigor. However, the influence of subjective value on vigor was modest, allowing partial ability to infer subjective value for the purpose of predicting choice in decision trials.

Within-subject Comparison of Dietary Intake and Diet Quality on Days with and Without Ready to Eat Cereal Consumption (P18-053-19)

Objectives Studies have shown ready to eat cereal (RTEC) eaters had better dietary intake than non-eaters, however, little is known about within-subject differences by RTEC consumption. The study was conducted to compare differences in dietary intake and diet quality between the day with and without RTEC consumption in adults from the United States. Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 were used in the study. The sample comprised of 1818 adults aged 18 years or older who reported consumption of RTEC in one day but not the other day based on two 24-hour dietary recalls. Energy and nutrient intake were obtained from the dietary data, whereas intake of whole grains and added sugar were estimated using Food Patterns Equivalent Database. Diet quality was measured by Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015). Multiple linear regression analyses for surveys were conducted to estimate within-subject differences in each outcome by RTEC consumption while adjusting for recall day, recall method, as well as a separate fixed effect of each person to control for demographic characteristics. Results Subjects had significantly higher intake of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, carbohydrate, as well as dietary fiber and whole grains, together with significantly lower intake of total fat and sodium, on the day when they consumed RTEC than the day when RTEC was not consumed (P < 0.05 for all). Total energy intake, intake of protein and total sugar as well as added sugar did not differ significantly between the day with and without RTEC consumption. On days when RTEC was consumed, HEI-2015 total score, as well as sub scores for adequacy components including whole fruits, whole grains, dairy, and moderation components including saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium, were significantly higher (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusions When adults consumed RTEC on a given day, they had a healthier diet with higher daily intake of dietary fiber, whole grains, as well as many key vitamins and minerals than the day when they did not consume RTEC. RTEC consumption is not associated with total energy intake and intake of total sugar or added sugar. Funding Sources The study was funded by General Mills, Inc.