Body Exercise Research Articles

Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity Paradox in Heart Failure: A Critical Evaluation.

Since the turn of the millennium, obesity has been on the rise worldwide, and particularly so throughout the United States. Even more concerning is the rate at which persons with severe obesity continue to trend upwards. Given the detrimental effects of obesity on cardiac structure and function, it is not surprising that obesity stands as one of the leading risk factors for developing heart failure (HF). This state-of-the-art article aims to review the updated literature on the obesity paradox to help further understand its relationship to body composition, weight loss, fitness, and exercise. An intriguing phenomenon appears to exist in which obesity is associated with a better prognosis in those with HF, compared to patients with lesser body mass. Recent studies suggest, however, that weight loss induced by pharmacologic strategies might be beneficial in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. Despite the presence of an obesity paradox, recent data suggest that obesity could be targeted in HF, however, long-term data are currently lacking. Consequently, definitive guidelines for managing obesity, and specifically the body composition of these patients, remain amiss.

Scientometric analysis of articles of respiratory gas mixtures and their application in emergency medicine

Relevance. In humans, specific respiratory gas mixtures (RGMs) significantly maximize the effect of anesthesia and treatment of certain diseases, as well as enhance body functional reserves and exercise performance. The objective is to identify major research prospects on the RGM capacity to optimize the functional status of humans, as represented in publications by Russian investigators.Methods. In response to the RGMs query, the Scientific Electronic Library search engine generated a dataset of 513 publications by Russian investigators, published from 2006 to 2023. For further analysis of the publications, the VOSviewer 1.6.20 software was implemented for clustering of keywords with a frequency of ≥ 4 presented in ≥ 8 publications either by individual authors or co-authorship networks.Results and discussion. The average annual number of articles was (23 ± 3). The dynamics of increasing publications were revealed. The scientometric analysis of the selected publications revealed that the content was highly demanded among readers. For instance, the average citation number per paper was 3.29, with a substantial self-citation rate of 30.2 %. Journals with the largest number of publications by top scientific networks were identified. The VOSviewer analysis produced 7 keyword clusters: Cluster 1 for xenon anesthesia – 258 papers (35 %) with the total link strength of 29 %; Cluster 2 for hypoxic training – 171 papers (23.2%) with the total link strength of 22.5 %; Cluster 3 for gas composition in confined spaces – 76 papers (10.3 %) and 22 % total link strength; Cluster 4 for oxygen-helium gas mixture – 132 papers (17.9 %) with 16.4 % total link strength; Cluster 5 for the neuroprotective effects of gas mixtures – 32 papers (4.3 %) with 3.6 % total link strength; Cluster 6 for the anti-stress effect of xenon-rich inhalation therapy – 40 papers (5.4 %) with 3.6 % total link strength; Cluster 7 for low-flow anesthesia – 28 papers (3.8 %) with 3.6 % total link strength.Conclusion. Scientometric studies can enhance the data support for scientific research of advanced strategies to optimize human functional status and increasing performance at work for professionals operating in extreme occupational environments.

Mind–Body Practices and Exercise in the Rehabilitation of Poststroke Aphasia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with a background in mind–body practices and exercise to prevent and treat cognitive, language, and cognitive communication disorders from a healthy aging viewpoint. Method: An online database search was conducted using a narrative review of mind–body interventions recommended by SLPs and other rehabilitation specialists. Conclusions: Mind–body practices and exercise are a low-cost, accessible, nonpharmacological intervention that may promote beneficial outcomes for individuals who are at risk for neurologic disease. Recent research on risk factors for mild cognitive impairment and dementia suggests that the underlying disease progression may be slowed or stopped with lifestyle modification (e.g., increased physical activity). Additionally, individuals recovering from stroke could potentially experience better outcomes with lifestyle modification (e.g., stress reduction). There has been increased popular interest in mindfulness as a component of a healthy lifestyle, which suggests that both patients and therapists may be receptive to incorporating it into traditional rehabilitation practices, provided there is reasonable support for its benefits. The aim of this article is to provide a rationale for integrating mind–body practices and exercise into speech-language pathology services to decrease levels of unhealthy stress, increase physical activity, and enhance cognition and communication.

Hands Up Program: Results of a feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial of a bone health exercise and education program for adults aged 50-65 post distal radius fracture.

Distal radius fractures (DRF) that occur from a fall from level ground are considered fragility fractures and may be the first indication that someone has compromised bone mineral density and is at risk of having osteoporosis. Women at about 50 years of age experience a dramatic increase risk of these fractures. Rehabilitation after DRF focuses on restoring range of motion and strength in the wrist, but rarely address future bone health concerns. We developed a 6-week therapist-developed remote full body exercise and osteoporosis/bone-health education program (called The Hands Up Program). This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a larger trial examining the effects of a whole-body exercise and education program for people 50-65 after a DRF. Community dwelling individuals between the age of 50-65 with a radiographically confirmed DRF were recruited from the Roth| McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Center in London, Ontario. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the Hands Up Program which was a twice weekly exercise and education program for 6 weeks, or the control group where they proceeded with usual care. The intervention was delivered online through a website where participants created a unique username and password to access. The primary feasibility outcomes of the study were recruitment rate (74 participants in 1 year), retention rate (75% completion), and intervention adherence rate (60% of completion of the exercise program). Secondary outcomes included strength, range of motion, self-reported outcomes, and bone density. Overall, 74 participants were recruited in 14 months. Retention did not meet the criteria for success, as only 53% of the participants attended their 12-month visit. Adherence was also not met albeit close with 55% completing the exercise program. Twelve participants withdrew from the study, five due to the time commitment, four without explanation, one due to group allocation, one due to COVID and one participant moved. One participant was deemed ineligible after consent. Four of the participants that withdrew were in the intervention group, and four in the control group, five participants withdrew before they were allocated to a group. Feedback from patients indicated potential improvements to the program: lower assessment burden, spacing out the intervention so that the education portion could be delivered during the immobilization phase of recovery, and creating a more individualized program. Adherence and retention were both a challenge, although adherence was close to target. While achieving adherence to exercise in bone health is a known challenge, given the importance of prevention in the at-risk DRF population and the challenges in co-design and delivery during the pandemic, we believe evaluation of a revitalized program is warranted.

Sucla2 Knock-Out in Skeletal Muscle Yields Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Myopathy With Muscle Type-Specific Phenotypes.

Pathogenic variants in subunits of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) are associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy in humans. SCS catalyses the conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate coupled with substrate-level phosphorylation of either ADP or GDP in the TCA cycle. This report presents a muscle-specific conditional knock-out (KO) mouse model of Sucla2, the ADP-specific beta subunit of SCS, generating a novel invivo model of mitochondrial myopathy. The mouse model was generated using the Cre-Lox system, with the human skeletal actin (HSA) promoter driving Cre-recombination of a CRISPR-Cas9-generated Sucla2 floxed allele within skeletal muscle. Inactivation of Sucla2 was validated using RT-qPCR and western blot, and both enzyme activity and serum metabolites were quantified by mass spectrometry. To characterize the model invivo, whole-body phenotyping was conducted, with mice undergoing a panel of strength and locomotor behavioural assays. Additionally, exvivo contractility experiments were performed on the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. SOL and EDL cryosections were also subject to imaging analyses to assess muscle fibre-specific phenotypes. Molecular validation confirmed 68% reduction of Sucla2 transcript within the mutant skeletal muscle (p < 0.001) and 95% functionally reduced SUCLA2 protein (p < 0.0001). By 3 weeks of age, Sucla2 KO mice were 44% the size of controls by body weight (p < 0.0001). Mutant mice also exhibited 34%-40% reduced grip strength (p < 0.01) and reduced spontaneous exercise, spending about 88% less cumulative time on a running wheel (p < 0.0001). Contractile function was also perturbed in a muscle-specific manner; although no genotype-specific deficiencies were seen in EDL function, SUCLA2-deficient SOL muscles generated 40% less specific tetanic force (p < 0.0001), alongside slower contraction and relaxation rates (p < 0.001). Similarly, a SOL-specific threefold increase in mitochondria (p < 0.0001) was observed, with qualitatively increased staining for both COX and SDH, and the proportion of Type 1 myosin heavy chain expressing fibres within the SOL was nearly doubled (95% increase, p < 0.0001) in the Sucla2 KO mice compared with that in controls. SUCLA2 loss within murine skeletal muscle yields a model of SCS-deficient mitochondrial myopathy with reduced body weight, muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. Physiological and morphological analyses of hindlimb muscles showed remarkable differences in exvivo function and cellular consequences between the EDL and SOL muscles, with SOL muscles significantly more impacted by Sucla2 inactivation. This novel model will provide an invaluable tool for investigations of muscle-specific and fibre type-specific pathogenic mechanisms to better understand SCS-deficient myopathy.

Genomic predictors of fat mass response to the standardized exercise training.

To explore the genetic architecture underlying exercise-induced fat mass change, we performed a genome-wide association study with a Chinese cohort consisting of 442 physically inactive healthy adults in response to a 12-week exercise training (High-intensity Interval Training or Resistance Training). The inter-individual response showed an exercise-induced fat mass change and ten novel lead SNPs were associated with the response on the level of P<1×10-5. Four of them (rs7187742, rs1467243, rs28629770 and rs10848501) showed a consistent effect direction in the European ancestry. The Polygenic Predictor Score (PPS) derived from ten lead SNPs, sex, baseline body mass and exercise protocols explained 40.3% of the variance in fat mass response, meanwhile importantly the PPS had the greatest contribution. Of note, the subjects whose PPS was lower than -9.301 had the highest response in exercise-induced fat loss. Finally, we highlight a series of pathways and biological processes regarding the fat mass response to exercise, e.g. apelin signaling pathway, insulin secretion pathway and fat cell differentiation biological process.

Beyond Pain: Innovative Approaches to Tension-Type Headache Management and Treatment

Introduction: Tension-type headache (TTH) is a common neurological disorder characterized by bilateral head pain and muscle tension, affecting up to 78% of the population. Despite its prevalence, TTH has historically received less attention than migraines. However, recent years have seen increased interest in understanding its pathophysiology and treatment options. This review comprehensively analyzes TTH management, covering non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches to guide clinical practice and future research effectively. State of Knowledge: TTHs manifest as bilateral, pressing, encircling head pain, profoundly affecting individuals' quality of life. Recent years have witnessed increased interest in TTH understanding and treatment. Non-pharmacological interventions, including behavioral modifications, exercise, dietary adjustments, sleep hygiene, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and pharmacological treatments like over-the-counter medications, prophylactic drugs, psychedelics, and botulinum toxin A, have shown promise in alleviating symptoms. Conclusion: This review highlights the multifaceted management of TTH. Non-pharmacological interventions, including behavioral modifications and psychotherapy, offer symptom relief. Body awareness therapy, exercise, and psychotherapy benefit TTH symptoms and quality of life. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and amitriptyline are standard treatments, with emerging options like psychedelics and botulinum toxin A. Personalizing treatment and understanding TTH mechanisms pose challenges. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for enhancing management and outcomes. More research is required to identify optimal treatments and long-term efficacy. Despite challenges, progress in TTH management brings hope for better patient care.

Body, belief, and postpartum recovery: perceptions of exercise, body image, and postpartum wellbeing amongst ultra-Orthodox women

ABSTRACT Exercise during the postpartum period positively influences mothers’ mental health, including body image, which is critical for a successful postpartum experience. Ultra-Orthodox women, subject to strict religious laws governing their bodies, strongly adhere to the commandment to procreate, resulting in a higher birth rate compared to the general population. These unique characteristics may find expression in the way religion shapes their postpartum body image and exercise experience. This study aims to explore these elements, addressing the scarcity of research on this population, to better understand unique cultural sensitivities during this critical period of mothers’ health. Semi-structured interviews with ultra-Orthodox postpartum women following 12 weeks of exercise, revealed: (1) The perception of the body among postpartum ultra-Orthodox women, including the body (1.1) perceived as a means, not a goal, (1.2) disrupted by pregnancy, and (1.3) healing through exercise. The second theme found (2) Exercise raises cultural conflicts, and participants (2.1) provided justification for exercise and (2.2) hiding participation. The discussion focuses on the interplay between religious beliefs, the postpartum female body, and internal conflicts arising in relation to the postpartum exercise experience. This qualitative study highlights the ways that these cultural nuances may advance or hinder postpartum wellbeing of ultra-Orthodox women.

Effects of Standard Tai Chi on Exercise Capacity and Mental Health in Exercise-Deprived Overweight/Obese Adults and Assessment of Participant Adherence.

To explore the effects of Tai Chi on body mass index (BMI), exercise capacity, and mental health of overweight/obese adults, and investigate factors influencing adherence to enhance adherence of Tai Chi as a sustainable exercise method. A randomized, controlled, exploratory clinical trial was conducted paired with a qualitative study of adherence management. A total of 20 overweight/obese participants were randomly assigned to a standard Tai Chi group (experimental) and a simplified Tai Chi group (control) for an 8-week intervention, 10 patients in each group, with a 12-month follow-up. BMI was calculated and exercise capacity including an isokinetic muscle strength and balance ability test were evaluated. Mental health was assessed using the General Well-Being Schedule (GWB), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSES) at baseline, 4th week, and 8th week, respectively. The qualitative research included open-interviews with Tai Chi practitioners and semi-structured interviews with subjects. The intervention was conducted in Haidian Park, Beijing, China from October 6, 2022, to January 1, 2023, without dropouts. After an 8-week intervention, the participants in the experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in BMI (P<0.05). Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in exercise capacity (P<0.05). The experimental group exhibited a significant enhancement in the GWB, PSQI and CSES (P<0.05). Only GWB had significant difference in the control group (P<0.05). The experimental group surpassed the control group in GWB and CSES (P<0.05). The adherence rate was 87.5% in the experimental group and 57.9% in the control group after 8 weeks intervention. Analysis on adherence identified 15 themes, the top 3 themes mentioned were as follows: mind-body effects, online and on-site guidance, training schedule (for subjects); mind-body effects, difficulties in practicing, and understanding of Tai Chi (for practitioners). Both interventions were effective in improving exercise capacity. Tai Chi, integrating both physical and mental conditioning, reduced weight, improved exercise capacity and mental happiness, and increased adherence, providing a sustainable exercise program (ChiCTR2200063599).

Tai Chi training: An effective method to enhance the oneness of mind and body in dance performance

Since the nineteenth century, the primary goal of university dance programmes has been to enhance students' dance skills, while the development of artistic expression has been neglected. Tai Chi training has been shown to be an effective method of exercising the mind and body to enhance perceptivity and body creativity. However, there is still less research on its impact in teaching dance performance in universities. Therefore, this study aims to address two fundamental questions: (1) How does Tai Chi training affect students’ perceptivity and creativity in dance performances? (2) What are the specific effects of enhanced perceptivity and creativity on the state of dance performance? In order to answer these questions, this study utilized a qualitative research methodology involving 43 dance students from Hunan Women's University in China. The research methodology included a 10-week Tai Chi training program at Hunan Women's University in Hunan Province, China, and semi-structured interviews with participants. The findings reveal how Tai Chi training enhances dance students' perceptivity and creativity in dance performance and explains its effectiveness on the state of oneness of mind and body in dance performance. This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence for understanding the impact of Tai Chi training on mind and body awareness in dance and provides a basis for incorporating more mind and body exercises into dance education in the future.

Nutrition and Physical Activity in Older Adults with CKD patients: Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Nutrition and physical activity are two major issues in the management of CKD patients who are often older, have comorbidities and are prone to malnutrition and physical inactivity, conditions that cause loss of quality of life and increase the risk of death. We performed a multidimensional assessment of nutritional status and of physical performance and activity in CKD patients on conservative therapy in order to assess the prevalence of sedentary behaviour and its relationship with body composition. 115 consecutive stable CKD patients aged 45-80 years were included in the study. They had no major skeletal, muscular or neurological disabilities. All patients underwent a multidimensional assessment of body composition, physical activity and exercise capacity. Sedentary patients, as defined by mean daily METs &lt; 1.5 were older and differed from non-sedentary patients in terms of body composition, exercise capacity and nutrient intake, even after adjusting for age. Average daily METs were positively associated with lean body mass, muscle strength, 6-MWT performance, but negatively associated with fat body mass, body mass index and waist circumference. In addition, a sedentary lifestyle may have negative effects on free fat mass, muscle strength and exercise capacity, and may increase fat body mass. Conversely, s decrease in muscle mass and/or an increase in fat mass may lead to a decrease in physical activity and exercise capacity. There is a clear association and potential interrelationship between nutritional aspects and exercise capacity in older adults with CKD: they are really the two sides of the same coin.

Coexistence of Non-Lower Body Mass Index and Exercise Habits Reduce Readmission in Older Patients With Heart Failure.

To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and exercise habits on readmission rates among older patients with heart failure. Ninety-seven older patients admitted for heart failure (median age: 81 years; 57.7% male) were included in the study. Patients were categorized into four groups based on the presence or absence of lower BMI and/or the absence of exercise habits. Lower BMI was defined as BMI<20.3 kg/m2 at discharge and exercise habits were defined as engaging in 30 or more minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise at least once a week. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission during the 1-year follow-up period. The patients were distributed across four groups: lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=24, 24.7%), lower BMI/exerciser (n=22, 22.7%), non-lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=21, 21.6%), and non-lower BMI/exerciser (n=30, 30.9%). Forty-six patients (47.4%) experienced readmission during the 1-year follow-up period. In a cox proportional hazard analysis, non-lower BMI/exerciser remained an independent prognostic factor even after adjusting for confounding factors (non-lower BMI/exerciser vs. lower BMI/non-exerciser: hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.83; p=0.022). The coexistence of non-lower BMI and regular exercise habits may reduce readmission during the 1-year in older patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct appropriate nutritional assessments for patients with lower BMI at discharge. Additionally, promoting and monitoring sustained physical activity after discharge is crucial for older patients with heart failure.

Drop set versus traditional strength training protocols equated in volume on muscle thickness in women

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two strength training protocols, equated in volume, on the elbow flexor muscle thickness (MT) in women. Methods: Twenty-seven women (mean±sd, age 21.89±2.85 years; stature,167.82±5.90 cm; body mass 63.01±7.20 kg; estimate of body fat mass, 19.19±2.88%) were divided in three experimental groups: a drop-set (DS), a traditional (TR), and a control group (CG). The CG maintained regular strength training without perform any upper body exercises. The DS group performed a dumbbell biceps curl for two days/week, 12 weeks, 4 sets of 3 blocks of 10 repetitions at 75%, 55%, and 35% of their 1 Repetition Maximum (RM), and 8 sets of 11 repetitions at 75% of the 1RM for the TR protocol. Rest interval between sets was 120 seconds. The MT was acquired in the anterior face of both upper arms at 50% and 60% of the distance between the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the acromial process of the scapula before (T0) and after the 24 training sessions (T1). Results: There was a significant increase in all MT measurements between T0 and T1for the training groups(p&lt;0.05). In addition, significantly higher values of MT were found in the training groups compared to the control group for all local measurements in T1 (p&lt;0.05). No significant differences were found between training the groups for MT. Conclusion: It appears that both training groups (DS and TR), were effective in promoting MT of the elbow flexors muscles of young women with no differences between training strategies. Keywords: Hypertrophy, Ultrasonography, Training method, Female

Smart Physiotherapy: Advancing Arm-Based Exercise Classification with PoseNet and Ensemble Models.

Telephysiotherapy has emerged as a vital solution for delivering remote healthcare, particularly in response to global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study seeks to enhance telephysiotherapy by developing a system capable of accurately classifying physiotherapeutic exercises using PoseNet, a state-of-the-art pose estimation model. A dataset was collected from 49 participants (35 males, 14 females) performing seven distinct exercises, with twelve anatomical landmarks then extracted using the Google MediaPipe library. Each landmark was represented by four features, which were used for classification. The core challenge addressed in this research involves ensuring accurate and real-time exercise classification across diverse body morphologies and exercise types. Several tree-based classifiers, including Random Forest, Extra Tree Classifier, XGBoost, LightGBM, and Hist Gradient Boosting, were employed. Furthermore, two novel ensemble models called RandomLightHist Fusion and StackedXLightRF are proposed to enhance classification accuracy. The RandomLightHist Fusion model achieved superior accuracy of 99.6%, demonstrating the system's robustness and effectiveness. This innovation offers a practical solution for providing real-time feedback in telephysiotherapy, with potential to improve patient outcomes through accurate monitoring and assessment of exercise performance.

Differential impacts of body composition on oxygen kinetics and exercise tolerance of HFrEF and HFpEF patients

This study aims to (1) compare the kinetics of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2p), skeletal muscle deoxygenation ([HHb]), and microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) between heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and those with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and (2) explore the correlation between body composition, kinetic parameters, and exercise performance. Twenty-one patients (10 HFpEF and 11 HFrEF) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess VO2 kinetics, with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) employed to measure [HHb]. Microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) was calculated using the Fick principle. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed to evaluate body composition. HFrEF patients exhibited significantly slower VO2 kinetics (time constant [t]: 63 ± 10.8 s vs. 45.4 ± 7.9 s; P < 0.05) and quicker [HHb] response (t: 12.4 ± 9.9 s vs. 25 ± 11.6 s; P < 0.05). Microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) was higher in HFrEF patients (3.6 ± 1.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.8; P < 0.05), who also experienced shorter time to exercise intolerance (281.6 ± 84 s vs. 405.3 ± 96 s; P < 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between time to exercise and both QO2mv (ρ= -0.51; P < 0.05) and VO2 kinetics (ρ= -0.63). Body adiposity was negatively correlated with [HHb] amplitude (ρ= -0.78) and peak VO2 (ρ= -0.54), while a positive correlation was observed between lean muscle percentage, [HHb] amplitude, and tau (ρ= 0.74 and 0.57; P < 0.05), respectively. HFrEF patients demonstrate more severely impaired VO2p kinetics, skeletal muscle deoxygenation, and microvascular O2 delivery compared to HFpEF patients, indicating compromised peripheral function. Additionally, increased adiposity and reduced lean mass are linked to decreased oxygen diffusion capacity and impaired oxygen uptake kinetics in HFrEF patients.

Stimulated C2C12 Myotube Headspace Volatile Organic Compound Analysis.

Understanding exercise metabolism and the relationship with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) holds potential in both health care and sports performance. Exercise metabolism can be investigated using whole body exercise testing (in vivo) or through the culture and subsequent electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) of myotubes (in vitro). This research investigates the novel headspace (HS) analysis of EPS skeletal muscle myotubes. An in vitro system was built to investigate the effect of EPS on the volatile constituents in the HS above EPS skeletal muscle. The C2C12 immortalised cell line was chosen. EPS was applied to the system to induce myotube contraction. The in vitro system was applied to the analysis of VOCs using thermal desorption (TD) sampling. Samples were collected under four conditions: environmental samples (enviro), acellular media HS samples (blank), skeletal muscle myotubes without stimulation HS samples (baseline) and EPS of skeletal muscle myotube HS samples (stim). TD sampling combined with gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detected two compounds that, after multivariate and univariate statistical analysis, were identified as changing due to EPS (p < 0.05). These compounds were tentatively assigned as 1,4-Dioxane-2,5-dione, 3,6-dimethyl- and 1-pentene. The former is a known lactide and the latter has been reported as a marker of oxidative stress. Further research should focus on improvements to the EPS system, including the use of more relevant cell lines, quantification of myotube contractions, and the application of targeted analysis, metabolic assays and media analysis.

Effect of Physical Activity Behaviors, Team Sports, and Sitting Time on Body Image and Exercise Dependence.

This study aimed to evaluate whether the type and degree of physical activity commitment (i.e., team sport athletes, highly active individuals, sedentary behavior) influence body image and exercise behavior. A total of 96 participants (46 women and 50 men; age: 22.7 ± 2.7 years; height: 170 ± 8.6 cm; weight: 67.6 ± 10.8 kg) were divided in six groups: female volleyball and male football players (student athletes classified as Tier 2), highly physically active women and men, with high sitting time completed the Body Image Dimensional Assessment and the 21-item Exercise Dependence Scale to evaluate body dissatisfaction and level of dependency on exercise. The Body Image Dimensional Assessment is a silhouette-based scale, where three direct indices are derived from the participants' responses: body dissatisfaction, sexual body dissatisfaction, and comparative body dissatisfaction. The Exercise Dependence Scale is a six-point Likert scale that evaluates seven dimensions of exercise dependence (tolerance, withdrawal, intention effects, lack of control, time, reductions in other activities, and continuance) and provides an overall score. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to examine the effects of different levels of physical activity, team sport participation (volleyball and football), and sedentary behavior (i.e., high sitting time) on participants' body image indices and dimensions of exercise dependence according to sex. Volleyball players showed significantly higher body dissatisfaction than football players (d = 0.99) and the physically active men group (d = 2.31), who had lower values than sedentary women group (d = 1.68). Football players had lower comparative body dissatisfaction values than volleyball players (d = 1.70) and sedentary women (d = 1.69), who had higher values than sedentary men (d = 1.04). Sedentary women had a significantly lower exercise dependence scale score than volleyball players (d = 1.71), football players (d = 1.12), and physically active men (d = 1.21). The findings highlight the impact of regular physical activity on body dissatisfaction and the variance in body image perceptions between the sexes. Moreover, the high exercise dependence values found in volleyball and football players and physically active men suggest an effect of intense training and maladaptive exercise behaviors, underlining the need for comprehensive strategies to address exercise dependence.

Ultrasonography as a way of evaluating the diaphragm muscle in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The respiratory muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have reduced strength and resistance, leading to loss of the functional ability of these muscles. Lung hyperinflation is one of the main alterations, and air trapping is the main factor limiting diaphragmatic mobility (DM) in these patients; however, its correlation with functional parameters, exercise capacity, and indicators of disease severity remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess DM in stable COPD patients and relate the findings with parameters such as the 6-minute walk test distance, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %predicted, residual volume (RV) %predicted, and dyspnea. An observational cohort study was conducted to measure DM using ultrasound both at rest (DMrest) and during deep inspiration (DMmax). Forty-nine patients with stable COPD were included in this study. There was a correlation between DMmax and FEV1 %predicted (R = 0.36; P = .012), RV %predicted (r = -0.42; P = .01), RV/total lung capacity (r = -0.61; P < .001), and distance reached in the 6MWT (R = 0.46; P = .001). Patients with a modified Medical Research Council score <2 exhibited greater DM than those with a score ≥2 (mean difference = 13.20 ± 4.6 mm; P = .0059). Similarly, patients with a Body Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity index ≤4 showed greater DM (61.95 mm) than those with a Body Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity index >4 (47.89 mm; mean difference = 14.05 ± 5.3 mm; 95% confidence interval = 25.09-3.01 mm). DM is correlated with bronchial obstruction (FEV1), lung hyperinflation (RV and RV/total lung capacity), exercise capacity, and dyspnea in patients with COPD, suggesting its utility as an evaluative tool in this population.

The associations of cardiovascular and lifestyle factors with mortality from chronic kidney disease as the underlying cause: the JACC study.

This study investigated conventional cardiovascular and lifestyle risk factors affecting mortality from chronic kidney disease as the underlying cause in the general Japanese population. We conducted an 18.8-year follow-up study of 44,792 men and 61,522 women aged 40-79 from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk between 1986 and 1990. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the association between risk factors and mortality from chronic kidney disease. During the follow-up period, 373 participants (185 men and 188 women) died from chronic kidney disease. A body mass index of ≥27 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.00 [1.19-3.36] for men and 1.91 [1.19-3.07] for women, compared with 23.0-24.9 kg/m2), a history of hypertension (2.32 [1.67-3.22] for men and 2.01 [1.44-2.81] for women) and a history of diabetes mellitus (5.21 [3.68-7.37] for men and 7.10 [4.93-10.24] for women) were associated with an increased risk of mortality from chronic kidney disease in both sexes. In men, smoking was also associated with an increased risk (1.91 [1.25-2.90]), while current drinking (0.58 [0.34-0.98] for <23 g/day, 0.48 [0.29-0.80] for 23-45 g/day and 0.53 [0.32-0.86] for ≥46 g/day) and exercising ≥5 hours/week (0.42 [0.18-0.96]) were associated with a lower risk. Similar but non-significant associations for smoking and drinking were observed in women. In addition to a history of hypertension and a history of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, smoking status, drinking status, and exercise habits were associated with the risk of mortality from chronic kidney disease.

Self-appreciation is not enough: exercise identity mediates body appreciation and physical activity and the role of perceived stress.

This study explores the relationship between body appreciation and physical activity, focusing on the mediating role of exercise identity and the moderating effect of perceived stress. While individuals with positive body image are generally thought to engage in proactive physical activity, it remains unclear whether this positive attitude necessarily promotes exercise. We conducted a short-term longitudinal survey, recruiting 345 college students 28 (100 females, 245 males; M age = 22.94, SD = 5.99) who completed questionnaires at two-week intervals for a total of three times within four weeks. Body appreciation, exercise identity, perceived stress, and physical activity were measured for the participants separately. The results demonstrated that body appreciation positively predicted physical activity, exercise identity partially mediated the positive effect of body appreciation on physical activity, and perceived stress played a moderating role in body appreciation and exercise identity. These results highlight the significant role of body appreciation in influencing physical activity through exercise identity, with perceived stress further moderating this relationship. The study underscores the importance of promoting body appreciation and regulating stress to enhance physical activity engagement among college students.