Activity Program Research Articles

The Effect of a Physical Activity Program on Subjective Well-Being, Happiness and Problem-Solving Skills in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of Physical Activity Program applied to patients with schizophrenia on subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills levels. This study was conducted with a total of 86 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (43 intervention and 43 control) registered in a family health center. Subjective Well-Being Scale, the Short Form of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and Problem-Solving Inventory were used to collect the data at baseline and, post-intervention. Significant increases in subjective well-being, happiness, and problem-solving skills were found in the intervention group after the total of 12 weeks of the Physical Activity Program, which included walking and exercises, compared to the control group. Accordingly, it can be said that the Physical Activity Program is an effective method that increases subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier number is NCT15976921 and date of registration is 21/11/2023, retrospectively registered.

Regular Physical Activity Seems to Eliminate Lower Limb Perfusion Asymmetries in Sedentary Non-Healthy Older Individuals.

Perfusion asymmetries have been associated with vascular pathology. Physical activity is a component of vascular health. Here, we investigate the impact of a thirty-day regular home-based physical activity program in older individuals with multiple age-related comorbidities. Eleven participants of both sexes were included. Skin perfusion was assessed in both feet by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF, for deeper perfusion) and polarized light spectroscopy (PSp, for superficial perfusion). At baseline, participants had significant perfusion differences between right and left feet (p = 0.005 with LDF; p = 0.028 with PSp), which disappeared with activity and reappeared in recovery. After 30 days, both feet showed significant perfusion increases as assessed with LDF (p = 0.005) compared to D0. At this point, the perfusion asymmetry observed at D0 was no longer present. However, the superficial perfusion asymmetry assessed by PSp persisted at D30 (p = 0.028). Data show that regular physical activity positively altered the lower limb perfusion pattern. Systolic pressure and mean arterial pressure were also significantly reduced at D30. These impacts seem to be directly related to the physical activity program introduced in the day-by-day routines of these participants. These also encourage further research on the role of symmetry-asymmetry in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in vascular medicine.

Impact Of A Sports And Activity Program On A 14-year-old Athlete With New Onset T1D

Impact Of A Sports And Activity Program On A 14-year-old Athlete With New Onset T1D

A 12-week Supervised Physical Activity And Behavioural Counselling Program On Prostate Cancer Survivor's Sexual Health

A 12-week Supervised Physical Activity And Behavioural Counselling Program On Prostate Cancer Survivor's Sexual Health

Reappraising Cladophialophora bantiana phaeohyphomycosis in France: retrospective nation-based study

Cladophialophora bantiana is one of the most virulent phaeohyphomycetes, typically causes non-angiogenic single (or sometimes multiple) cystic brain lesions, and has resulted in a mortality rate of up to 70%.Most Cbantiana cases are described either in a series of isolated reports or in very small cohorts. The aim of this retrospective nation-based study was to share the data on Cbantiana phaeohyphomycosis cases reported in France and French overseas territories over the past two decades to improve understanding of this disease. Patients with Cbantiana infection were processed through the active surveillance programme of invasive fungal infections launched by the National Reference Center for Mycoses and Antifungals, Institut Pasteur (Paris, France), and the French Surveillance Network of Invasive Fungal Infections, which involved 29hospitals from mainland France and overseas French territories. Onlyproven and probable cases of infection, according to the revised and updated consensus definitions from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group, were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed or confirmed, or both, using a polyphasic approach at the Institut Pasteur between 2002and2022. Patients were separated into two groups: those with CNS involvement and those with no CNS involvement. Theprimary outcome was the survival rate. A total of 23patients with a Cbantiana invasive infection were included during the study period (Jan 1, 2002, to Dec 31, 2022). The median age was 56years in the CNS involvement group and 65years in the non-CNS involvement group. Until 2021, the annual number of cases varied between zero and two, with six cases observed in 2022, the warmest year recorded in France since 1900. CNS involvement was observed in 15 (65%) patients, including three disseminated cases; skin and soft tissue involvement in seven (30%) patients and an isolated lung infection in one case. Diabetes was observed in five patients, and any immunodepression factor was observed in 14 (61%) of 23patients. When considering only patients with CNS involvement, 9-month survival appeared higher in patients who underwent exeresis or large drainage (three [75%] of four patients vs three [27%] of 11patients; p=0·24) and significantly higher in those treated for 2or more weeks with triple antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin Bplus posaconazole and flucytosine; seven [78%] of nine patients vs one [17%] of six patients; p=0·040). Two patients were treated with excision surgery alone (one patient with success, and the other patient lost to follow-up). This study shows that the clinical presentations and underlying medical conditions of Cbantiana infections are more diverse than previously described. It also emphasises a significant difference in mortality rate between those with and without CNS involvement. The prognosis improved when surgery was performed and triple antifungal therapy was administered. Such rare and devastating invasive fungal infections should be managed by a multidisciplinary team. Santé Publique France.

Combined Virtual-Reality- and Gym-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Children With a Developmental Disability: Effects on Physical Activity Levels, Motor Skills, and Social Skills.

This study examined the effects of a combined virtual-reality- and gym-based physical activity (PA) program on PA levels, motor skills, and social skills of children with a developmental disability (DD). Twenty-five children with DD were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention was conducted for 60min, two times a week, for 12weeks. Pre- and postintervention assessments encompassing PA levels measured via Gravity Estimator of Normal Everyday Activity, motor skills evaluated using the Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition, and social skills gauged via the Social Skills Rating System-Parent were conducted. Additionally, a follow-up assessment was administered to the experimental group 12weeks postintervention. The findings unequivocally demonstrate that the combined virtual-reality- and gym-based PA program yielded significant enhancements in PA levels, motor skills, and social skills among children with DD in the experimental group. Notably, these improvements were sustained 12weeks after the intervention. These findings may help professionals develop and implement better PA programs for children with DD.

Evaluating national infection prevention and control minimum requirements: evidence from global cross-sectional surveys, 2017–22

WHO infection prevention and control (IPC) minimum requirements provide standards to reduce the risk of infection during health-care delivery. We aimed to investigate the global implementation of these requirements at national levels and the progress of doing so across 2021-22 compared with 2017-18 to identify future directions for interventions. National IPC focal points were invited to complete an online survey measuring IPC minimum requirements from July 19, 2021, to Jan 31, 2022. The primary outcome was the proportion of countries meeting IPC minimum requirements. Country characteristics associated with this outcome were assessed with beta regression. Subset analyses were conducted to compare the 2021-22 indicators with a WHO IPC survey conducted in 2017-18 and to assess the correlation of the proportion of IPC minimum requirements met with the results of other WHO metrics. 106 countries (ie, 13 low income, 27 lower-middle income, 33 upper-middle income, and 33 high income) participated in the survey (56% response rate). Four (4%) of 106 met all IPC minimum requirements. The highest scoring IPC core component was multimodal improvement strategies and the lowest was IPC education and training. The odds of meeting IPC minimum requirements was higher among high-income countries compared with low-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 2·7, 95% CI 1·3-5·8; p=0·020). Compared with the 2017-18 survey, there was a significant increase in the proportion of countries reporting an active national IPC programme (65% to 82%, p=0·037) and a dedicated budget (26% to 44%, p=0·037). Evaluation of the IPC minimum requirements compared with other survey instruments revealed a low positive correlation. To build resilient health systems capable of withstanding future health threats, urgently scaling up adherence to WHO IPC minimum requirements is essential. WHO. For the French and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and Outcomes in Patients Receiving Lung Transplant

Elevated ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution exposure has been associated with poor health outcomes across several domains, but its associated outcomes among lung transplant recipients are poorly understood. To investigate whether greater PM2.5 exposure at the zip code of residence is associated with a higher hazard for mortality and graft failure in patients with lung transplants. This retrospective cohort study used panel data provided by the United Network for Organ Sharing, which includes patients receiving transplants across all active US lung transplant programs. Adult patients who received lung transplants between May 2005 and December 2016 were included, with a last follow-up of September 10, 2020. Data were analyzed from September 2022 to May 2023. Zip code-level annual PM2.5 exposure was constructed using previously published North American estimates. The primary outcome was time to death or lung allograft failure after lung transplant. A gamma shared frailty Cox proportional hazards model was used to produce unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) to estimate the association of zip code PM2.5 exposure at the time of transplant with graft failure or mortality. Among 18 265 lung transplant recipients (mean [SD] age, 55.3 [13.2] years; 7328 female [40.2%]), the resident zip code's annual PM2.5 exposure level was greater than or equal to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard of 12μg/m3 for 1790 patients (9.8%) and less than the standard for 16 475 patients (90.2%). In unadjusted analysis, median graft survival was 4.87 years (95% CI, 4.57-5.23 years) for recipients living in high PM2.5 areas and 5.84 years (95% CI, 5.71-5.96 years) for recipients in the low PM2.5 group. Having an annual PM2.5 exposure level greater than or equal to the EPA standard 12 μg/m3 was associated with an increase in the hazard of death or graft failure (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.18; P < .001) in the unadjusted analysis and after adjusting for covariates (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.15; P = .02). Each 1 μg/m3 increase in exposure was associated with an increase in the hazard of death or graft failure (adjusted HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; P = .004) when treating PM2.5 exposure as a continuous variable. In this study, elevated zip code-level ambient PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased hazard of death or graft failure in lung transplant recipients. Further study is needed to better understand this association, which may help guide risk modification strategies at individual and population levels.

NEARER SCAN (LENO BESIK) evaluation of a task-sharing echocardiographic active case finding programme for rheumatic heart disease in Australia and Timor-Leste: protocol for a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation study

IntroductionRheumatic heart disease (RHD) is underdiagnosed globally resulting in missed treatment opportunities and adverse clinical outcomes. We describe the protocol for a study which aims to co-design, implement and conduct...

Preface

Peruvian Workshop on Solar Energy 2023 (JOPES 2023) These proceedings contain a selection of papers presented at the Peruvian Workshop on Solar Energy 2023 (Jornadas Peruanas de Energía Solar - JOPES), held for the sixth consecutive year. The motivation for these events dates back to 1981, when Prof. Manfred Horn began exploring the potential of renewable energies, particularly solar energy. He founded the Peruvian Association for Solar Energy and Environment (APES). A significant milestone occurred in 1986 when APES organized the first Peruvian Symposium on Solar Energy (SPES). Since 2003, SPES has been held annually without interruption, rotating among various cities in Peru with active university programs related to renewable energies. As an extension of these efforts, JOPES was established in 2008 to promote both local and international dissemination and exchange of ideas in the field of renewable energy research. We invite renowned keynote speakers, local researchers, and students to present their latest works. During the pandemic years of 2020-2022, the event continued virtually. JOPES 2023 was held in presential mode from July 20th to 22nd at the main auditorium of the Faculty of Sciences of the National University of Engineering (Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI). Keynote speakers from diverse countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, participated. Numerous local researchers also contributed, covering topics such as bioremediation of polluted waters, FMEA risk evaluation in the design of solar cookers, properties of stable faces of SnO2 for improving solar cell production, Peltier cells for evaluating the thermal conductivity of insulating materials, calibration of a built spectrometer, and determination of cloud optical depths during over-irradiance. We would like to express our gratitude to the authorities of UNI for their support in making this event possible, especially the Faculty of Sciences for providing the venue and the Vice-Rectorate of Investigation (VRI) for covering some of the finances. Special thanks also go to the Peruvian Association of Solar Energy and the Environment (APES), the Renewable Energy Center of the National University of Engineering (CER-UNI), and the Peruvian government’s National Council of Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC). List of Organizing Committee is available in this Pdf.

Black Girls as Transformative Leaders in Physical Activity Programs

Background: Black adolescent girls possess a unique ability to inspire and enact change in their communities, yet are overlooked in discussions of leadership and empowerment. Coupled with deficit approaches to school-based physical activity programming, positioning Black girls as physical activity leaders is missing from practice. BLinG-HealthTM (Black Leadership in Girls’ Health) trained peer leaders in group fitness instruction instrumental in delivering group fitness sessions in an 8-week after-school physical activity pilot program. Methods and Analysis: This paper presents the qualitative data illustrating the program's impact on Black girls leading peers in a group fitness setting using general inductive narrative analysis based on group interviews, observations, reflection notes, and faculty leadership testimonials. Results: Participants exuded community, collaboration, and confidence. Peer leadership was effective but differed. Girls recognized the program's benefits and challenges while enjoying it. Conclusion: Black girls can lead physical activity initiatives when allowed to do so while building a community. Researchers and school and community activists should empower Black girls to lead physical activity programs to foster better health outcomes.

Implementation Of A Behavioral Physical Activity Program In Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Implementation Of A Behavioral Physical Activity Program In Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects Of A Walking-based Physical Activity Program On Sleep In Korean Older Adults

Effects Of A Walking-based Physical Activity Program On Sleep In Korean Older Adults

Swim, Strength, or Combined Programs: Effect on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents With Down Syndrome.

The adolescent population with Down syndrome (DS) appears to show higher levels of body fat and lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness or muscle strength than their peers without disabilities. There is a need to create physical activity programs to improve these data. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of a 16-week swimming program, strength program, and combined program (swimming and strength training) on body composition and health-related physical fitness on adolescents with DS and to assess whether there are differences in the results of the different training programs. Forty-five adolescents (17 female and 28 male; average age 15.5 [1.53] years) with DS were recruited and randomized to three groups (swim [n = 15], strength [n = 15], and combined [n = 15]). Results showed that the swim group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables and there was an improvement in some body-composition variables (p < .05). The strength and combined groups obtained minor improvements in the variables analyzed. In summary, a 16-week swim program consisting of three sessions of 60min is able to improve levels of body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS. The swim training program seems to be more effective in improving body composition and health-related physical fitness than the strength or combined program. These findings could be useful in different special-education centers due to the predisposition shown by the population with DS to this sportmodality.

Exercise as a promoter of neurocognitive improvement in people with psychiatric disorders and comorbid obesity: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionThe psychiatric disorders and obesity comorbidity is related to neurocognitive impairment and inflammation. Exercise is crucial to improve and maintain healthy lifestyles. This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of aerobic exercise as promoter of neurocognitive improvement across psychiatric disorders with comorbid obesity (OB). MethodsPatients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and, schizophrenia and with comorbid OB (n=29) received brief healthy lifestyle counseling and were randomized into two groups: guided physical activity group (GPAG) (n=10) which included 12 weeks of guided-exercise of moderate intensity and frequency, and incentive of autonomous physical activity proposals by the specialist. Standard physical activity group (SPAG) (n=19) continue with their usual daily physical activity, without guidance or incentives, over 12 weeks. Peripheral blood biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, vascular mechanisms, and metabolic activity, as well as neurocognitive and functional performance were assessed twice, before and after intervention. Mixed one-way analysis of variance and linear regression analyses were performed. ResultsIndividuals in GPAG showed better neurocognitive and functional performance than individuals in SPAG after physical activity training (p<0.05; η²p=0.14 to 0.15). A significant improvement in cognition before and after the physical activity training in the GPAG group was found (p<0.0001; η²p=0.29). In all cases, the effect size was from moderate to large. Inflammatory activity (interleukin [IL-6]), oxidative (mitochondrial reactive oxygen species [mROS] and mitochondrial membrane potential [ΔΨm]) and inter cellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM1], leukocyte-endothelium adhesion [LEPMN], and p-selectin [PSEL]) levels, and cardio-metabolic (low-density lipoprotein [LDL], systolic blood pressure [SBP], and insulin) processes were significant predicting neurocognitive improve of individuals with psychiatric disorders and comorbid OB. ConclusionsPhysical activity programs may have positive impact on neurocognitive and functional performance in individuals with psychiatric disorders and OB. Exercise influences inflammatory, oxidative, vascular, and cardio-metabolic pathways, and modulate cognition. These findings may have a potential translational utility for early intervention in these disorders.

Move More: Development, Testing, and Feasibility of a Patient-Centered Physical Activity Program with a Maintenance Phase for Patients on Hemodialysis

Move More: Development, Testing, and Feasibility of a Patient-Centered Physical Activity Program with a Maintenance Phase for Patients on Hemodialysis

Starting Physical Activity From Scratch is Never Easy

Physical activity is a powerful intervention that addresses physiologic and functional changes stemming from age, pathology, as well as recovery from injury and illness. However, only 9% of older adults complete the recommended amounts and types of physical activity weekly. This article provides a step-by-step process for initiating a physical activity program with individuals who are starting from a baseline of little to no activity. In addition, this article reviews quantifying baseline levels of physical activity, identifying what matters most, determining readiness to perform physical activity, developing goals, creating an action plan, addressing barriers, assessing self-efficacy, and follow-up for challenges.

Physical Activity Program Combined With Intragastric Balloon To Weight Loss Treatment In Quito Equador

Physical Activity Program Combined With Intragastric Balloon To Weight Loss Treatment In Quito Equador

Post-rehabilitation programme to support upper limb recovery in community-dwelling stroke survivors: a mixed methods cluster-feasibility controlled trial

BackgroundLess than 50% of stroke survivors regain their pre-stroke level of upper limb function, compounded with a lack of long-term rehabilitation options available. The Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Programme (GRASP)...

Impact of Alternative Learning Activity Program on Student Leadership Development in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics School

This study explored the impact of the alternative learning activity (ALA) program offered in the Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus toward students’ leadership abilities. A mixed-methods approach was used to conduct the study through a survey of 132 student leaders affiliated with ALA clubs in the years 2022 to 2024. The results indicated that the participants exhibited strong expertise in communication, critical thinking, character development, citizenship, diversity appreciation, global understanding, and skill development in the measured indicators, suggesting that the ALA program is effective in producing well-rounded leaders. The findings also showed that almost all dimensions of leadership qualities exhibited the strong positive relationships between indicators, indicating their significant relationship and hinting that effective leadership is multidimensional. In ALA clubs, it was found that excellent leadership practices include providing diverse learning opportunities (kataguyod), offering targeted skill training (katuwang), offering mentorship and peer support (kaagapay), provision of leadership support (kalakbay), and inclusivity enhancement (kabahagi). These are beneficial practices, not only instill skills among the members but they also promote personal development. These findings show the importance of specialized leadership training in preparation for varied leadership roles.