CKD is steadily increasing along with obesity worldwide. Furthermore, obesity is a proinflammatory risk factor for progression of CKD and cardiovascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that implementation of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise is feasible and can improve the proinflammatory metabolic milieu in patients with moderate to severe CKD through a pilot, randomized, 2×2 factorial design trial. Of 122 participants consented, 111 were randomized to receive caloric restriction and aerobic exercise, caloric restriction alone, aerobic exercise alone, or usual care. Of those randomized, 42% were women, 25% were diabetic, and 91% were hypertensive; 104 started intervention, and 92 completed the 4-month study. Primary outcomes were a change from baseline in absolute fat mass, body weight, plasma F-isoprostane concentrations, and peak oxygen uptake (VO). Compared with usual care, the combined intervention led to statistically significant decreases in body weight and body fat percentage. Caloric restriction alone also led to significant decreases in these measures, but aerobic exercise alone did not. The combined intervention and each independent intervention also led to significant decreases in F-isoprostane and IL-6 concentrations. No intervention produced significant changes in VO, kidney function, or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. In conclusion, 4-month dietary calorie restriction and aerobic exercise had significant, albeit clinically modest, benefits on body weight, fat mass, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in patients with moderate to severe CKD. These results suggest healthy lifestyle interventions as a nonpharmacologic strategy to improve markers of metabolic health in these patients.

Objectives-The MATTER and CRASH-2 studies demonstrate Tranexamic Acid (TXA) reduces mortality in patients with traumatic hemorrhage. However, their results, conducted in foreign countries and US military soldiers provoke concerns over generalizability to civilian trauma patients in the United States. We report the evaluation of patient outcomes and transfusion requirements following treatment with TXA by a civilian air medical program. Methods-We conducted a retrospective chart review of trauma patients transported by air service to a level one trauma center. For the purposes of intervention evaluation patients meeting this criterion for the two years (2012-2014) prior to therapy implementation were compared to patients treated during the two-year study period (2014-2016). Goals were to evaluate morbidity, mortality, transfusion requirements and length of stay.

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Introduction: Patients are often instructed to engage in multiple weekly sessions of exercise to increase physical activity. We aimed to determine whether assignment to a supervised exercise regimen increases overall weekly activity in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a pilot randomized 2 Â 2 factorial design trial examining the effects of diet and exercise (10%À15% reduction in caloric intake, 3 supervised exercise sessions/wk, combined diet restriction/exercise, and control). Activity was measured as counts detected by accelerometer. Counts data were collected on all days for which an accelerometer was worn at baseline, month 2, and month 4 follow-up. The primary outcome was a relative change from baseline in log-transformed counts/min. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the primary outcome in individuals in the exercise group and the nonexercise group. Results: We examined 111 individuals randomized to aerobic exercise or usual activity (n ¼ 48 in the exercise group and n ¼ 44 controls). The mean age was 57 years, 42% were female, and 28% were black. Median overall adherence over all time was 73%. Median (25th, 75th percentile) counts/min over nonsupervised exercise days at months 2 and 4 were 237.5 (6.5, 444.4) for controls and 250.9 (7.7, 529.8) for the exercise group (P ¼ 0.74). No difference was observed in the change in counts/min between the exercise and control groups over 3 time points (b [fold change], 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91, 1.02). Conclusion: Engaging in a supervised exercise program does not increase overall weekly physical activity in individuals with stage 3 to 4 CKD.

Introduction: Prior studies have shown obesity, lower activity levels and increased stress among emergency personnel, yet it is unclear if the specific sub-type of emergency personnel impacts stress levels and physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to compare emergency personnel sub-types for risk of heart disease and compare on and off duty PA and stress levels. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that there would be differences in cardiac risk factors, exercise behaviors, and salivary cortisol by type of emergency responders and would be different when on/off duty. Methods: We recruited 37 male emergency personnel workers (12 paramedics, 12 police officers and 13 firefighters, ages 20-40) who then underwent three non-sequential days of testing. We measured body composition, lipids, blood pressure, and peak VO2 with a standard Bruce treadmill protocol and calculated Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) on the first day of testing. Participants then wore an accelerometer and measured AM and PM salivary cortisol on and off duty. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, PA levels did not differ between on and off duty. Firefighters expended significantly more kcals per day and took more steps per day compared to paramedics (p < 0.05). Cortisol concentration was significantly higher AM vs. PM on duty (p < 0.05); although off duty cortisol remained elevated. No significance was found between off duty values. Firefighters’ FRS was significantly higher than paramedics (p < 0.05). See Table. Conclusion: In conclusion, although firefighters were more active than police and paramedics, they had a higher FRS. Among all emergency personnel types, cortisol concentrations showed a prolonged stress response in the emergency personnel population suggesting a sustained off duty stress response for unclear reasons. These finding suggest that firefighters should focus on decreasing cardiac risk factors and interventions are needed to reduce emergency personnel off duty stress.

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