. Physical activity related energy expenditure with the RT3 and TriTrac accelerometers in overweight adults. Obesity. 2007;15:950 -956. Objective: The objective was to evaluate two accelerometers, the RT3 and the TriTrac-R3D for their ability to produce estimates of physical activity-related energy expenditure (PAEE) in overweight/obese adults. Research Methods and Procedures: PAEE estimates from both accelerometers were obtained in two experiments. In Experiment 1, 13 overweight/obese subjects (BMI 34.2 Ϯ 6.4 kg/m 2 ) were monitored over 2 weeks in everyday life, PAEE being simultaneously measured by the doubly labeled water method (DLW). In Experiment 2, 8 overweight/ obese subjects (BMI 34.3 Ϯ 5.0 kg/m 2 ) and 10 normalweight subjects (BMI 20.8 Ϯ 2.1 kg/m 2 ) were monitored during a treadmill walking protocol, PAEE being simultaneously measured by indirect calorimetry. Results: In Experiment 1, there was no significant difference between methods in mean PAEE (DLW: 704 Ϯ 223 kcal/d, RT3: 656 Ϯ 140 kcal/d, TriTrac-R3D 624 Ϯ 419 kcal/d). The relative difference between methods (accelerometer vs. DLW) was Ϫ17.1% Ϯ 16.7% for the RT3 and Ϫ20.0 Ϯ 44.6% for the TriTrac-R3D. Correlation for PAEE between RT3 and DLW was higher than between TriTrac-R3D and DLW (r ϭ 0.67, p Ͻ 0.05 and r ϭ 0.36, p ϭ 0.25, respectively). The 95% confidence interval (CI) (kcal/d) of the mean difference between methods was large, amounting to Ϫ385 to 145 for the RT3 and Ϫ887 to 590 for the TriTrac-R3D. In Experiment 2, both accelerometers were sensitive to the changes in treadmill speed, with no significant difference in mean PAEE between methods in overweight/obese subjects. Conclusions: Although both accelerometers did not provide accurate estimates of PAEE at individual levels, the data suggest that RT3 has the potential to assess PAEE at group levels in overweight/obese subjects.

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The relationships of haptoglobin level to respiratory and allergic parameters have been assessed in an epidemiological study conducted in a working population surveyed twice 5 years apart. At the first survey conducted in 892 working men, haptoglobin level was significantly related to FEV1 (r = -0.18; P less than 0.001) and smoking habits. After adjustment for smoking, a history of wheezing was significantly related to lower haptoglobin level. A second survey conducted in 304 men of the original sample 5 years later confirmed that haptoglobin was related to FEV1 (r = -0.21; P less than 0.001) and that wheezing was significantly related to hypohaptoglobinaemia (lower decile; P = 0.04). Men who exhibited bronchial hyper-responsiveness to methacholine had haptoglobin levels 0.35 g/l higher than those who did not (P = 0.01). Haptoglobin level was unrelated to IgE level and skin prick tests. These results support the hypothesis of the role of inflammation in both lower lung function and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. They suggest that some heterogeneity exists within subjects with a history of wheezing.

Perceived nasal and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to tobacco smoke and cold air were assessed in 912 working men in the Paris area. Baseline lung function measurements and peripheral leucocyte counts with standard differential counts were performed. At least one perceived nasal or bronchial hyperresponsiveness symptom was reported by 15-7%. Current smoking was significantly less frequent among those with cough induced by tobacco smoke. Rhinitis induced by cold air was associated with lower FEV, (p < 0 01) and the association remained after adjustment for smoking, asthma, and wheezing (p = 006). Symptoms induced by cold air were related to circulating basophils. Neither perceived nasal nor perceived bronchial hyperresponsiveness was significantly related to the airway response to methacholine in a sample of the group (n = 324) surveyed again five years later. The results suggest that the symptom of rhinitis provoked by cold air is a possible "new" risk factor or marker for chronic airflow limitation. and basophil counts, using data collected in 1980-1 in a cross sectional survey of a working population. The associations between perceived hyperresponsiveness symptoms and the airway response to inhaled methacholine response obtained five years later in a sample of the men are also reported. Methods