Cardiorespiratory Health Research Articles

Effect of therapeutic exercise on peak oxygen consumption in oncological population: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Cancer is amongst the leading causes of death worldwide. A total of 19.3 million new cases were diagnosed in 2020. Cardiovascular impairment is the second leading cause of death in patients undergoing cancer treatment. By measuring the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max) in cancer patients, it is possible to estimate their cardiorespiratory health. This study aims to show how participants’ VO2max increases with a therapeutic physical exercise programme. Methods Four databases were used for the literature search. Twenty-eight studies were analysed using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of these studies was analysed with the PEDRO scale. The structural characteristics of the articles and the study variable (VO2max) were studied. Results The VO2max of the 2558 patients studied presents some variations by gender, intervention and moment of measurement. For male-associated cancer, the increased VO2max ranged between 1.5 and 4.2% after the intervention. The increase in the maximum VO2max in female-associated cancer was between 0.3 and 53%. Different types of cancer for both genders presented an oscillation between 0.5 and 3.47%. Conclusions Therapeutic physical exercise is an efficient intervention to improve the VO2max in oncology patients. The results show that a therapeutic physical exercise intervention lasting 12 weeks, 3 days per week with a moderate-vigorous intensity, increases the VO2max in oncology patients.

Extreme Heat and Air Quality: Community Leader Perspectives on Information Barriers and Opportunities in Two Environmental Justice Communities.

Extreme heat and air pollution exposure are leading causes of adverse cardiorespiratory health outcomes. Exposure reduction strategies are often focused at the local level. This study examined critical challenges community leaders face in understanding and sharing environmental exposure and health information. We conducted interviews with 19 community leaders of two urban environmental justice communities in Massachusetts, United States. Using directed content analysis, we examined air quality and heat perceptions, information and data resources, and barriers to understanding and communicating relevant local information. Participants shared concerns about both poor air quality and extreme heat. They also expressed the opinion that exposure risk information about these topics is siloed; heat and air quality data can be hard to access, interpret, and effectively communicate with community members. Solutions recommended by participants included community engagement, open-data portals, and creative science communication. Increasing sustainable collaborations among academic, government, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors is recommended.

Effectiveness of Circuit Training on VO2max in Overweight Young Adults After 4 Weeks

BACKGROUND: Circuit training was found to be effective in cardio-respiratory health, in the present study an attempt is made to see the effect of circuit training on VO2max in young adults after 4 weeks AIM: To study the effectiveness of Circuit training on VO2max in overweight young adults after 4 weeks OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of Circuit training on VO2max in overweight young adults after 4 weeks. METHOD: A total of 30 participants were selected from Pune based on inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. Signed inform consent was obtained before the study. Before starting the exercise protocol Queen college step test was performed. After these 10 min warm up exercises was carried out before circuit training. 30 min CT is carried out that includes- knee raise clap, kick raise, alternating jump lunge, abdominal twist, squats, burpees. After CT 10 min cool down is performed. OUTCOME MEASURE: PVO2max (mg/kg/ min) = 65.81- (0.1847× pulse rate in beats per minute) RESULTS: It is found that the mean of pre VO2max was 47.76447 and post VO2max was 53.83667 the P< 0.0001 which is consider to be extremely significant. CONCLUSION: This study says that it is possible to develop cardio-respiratory endurance through a circuit training program. Circuit training becomes necessary to improve VO2max. Keywords: Circuit training, VO2max, cardio-respiratory, Overweight, Queen college step test.

Validation and user experience of a dry electrode based Health Patch for heart rate and respiration rate monitoring

Successful implementation of remote monitoring of vital signs outside of the hospital setting hinges on addressing three crucial unmet needs: longer-term wear, skin comfort and signal quality. Earlier, we developed a Health Patch research platform that uses self-adhesive dry electrodes to measure vital digital biomarkers. Here, we report on the analytical validation for heart rate, heart rate variability and respiration rate. Study design included n = 25 adult participants with data acquisition during a 30-minute exercise protocol involving rest, squats, slow, and fast cycling. The Shimmer3 ECG Unit and Cosmed K5, were reference devices. Data analysis showed good agreement in heart rate and marginal agreement in respiratory rate, with lower agreement towards higher respiratory rates. The Lin’s concordance coefficient was 0.98 for heart rate and 0.56 for respiratory rate. Heart rate variability (RMSSD) had a coefficient of 0.85. Participants generally expressed a positive experience with the technology, with some minor irritation from the medical adhesive. The results highlighted potential of this technology for short-to-medium term clinical use for cardiorespiratory health, due to its reliability, accuracy, and compact design. Such technology could become instrumental for remote monitoring providing healthcare professionals with continuous data, remote assessment and enhancing patient outcomes in cardiorespiratory health management.

The impact of aerobic exercise dose based on ACSM recommendations on patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To explore the effects of different dose of aerobic exercise on motor function, balance, mobility, and quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients, aiming to provide insights into determining the optimal aerobic exercise dose for treating PD. Searching was conducted in four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane. The dose of aerobic exercise intervention was evaluated based on the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine regarding the development and maintenance of cardiorespiratory health, muscle strength, and functional mobility in patients with PD. The exercise intervention dose of the included studies were first classified into high ACSM compliance and low ACSM compliance based on meeting 4/6 of the ACSM recommendations. The reliability of the results was then validated using the criterion of meeting 5/6 of the ACSM recommendations. Comparisons of the effects of aerobic exercise dose on Motor function, Balance, Mobility, and QOL in PD patients using standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. When using the 4/6 ACSM compliance criterion, 17 studies were categorized as high ACSM compliance and 12 as low ACSM compliance. The SMD ratios for high versus low ACSM compliance were: UPDRS-III (-0.79: -0.18), BBS (0.60: 0.05), TUG (-0.60: -0.60), and QOL (-1.05: -0.15). When using the 5/6 ACSM compliance criterion, 11 studies were categorized as high ACSM compliance and 19 as low ACSM compliance. The SMD ratios for high versus low ACSM compliance were: UPDRS-III (-0.95: -0.38), BBS (0.48: 0.37), TUG (-0.71: -0.55), and QOL (-0.7: 0.04). This study provides preliminary support for the potential of aerobic exercise to improve certain clinical symptoms in patients with PD. Furthermore, the results indicate that compliance to higher doses of aerobic exercise, as per ACSM standards, may contribute to improvements in motor function, balance, mobility, and quality of life for patients with PD. However, due to the heterogeneity in the studies and the influence of factors that have not yet been fully explored, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to further verify and clarify the effects of aerobic exercise. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier PROSPERO: CRD42024517548.

Effect of physical exercise on postoperative shoulder mobility and upper limb function in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The shoulder pain and reduced range of motion caused by breast cancer seriously affect the quality of life of women. Such persistent impairments can escalate into chronic pain, diminished muscle strength, lymphedema, and compromised cardiorespiratory health potentially culminating in permanent disability. This systematic review aims to evaluate how physical exercise impacts shoulder mobility and upper limb function in breast cancer patients post-surgery, examining various aspects of exercise such as type, intensity, duration, frequency, and intervention timing to determine the influence on outcomes. A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases up to April 16, 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the effects of physical exercise on postoperative outcomes in breast cancer patients. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, with meta-analyses and publication bias tests performed via RevMan5.4, and evidence quality evaluated using GRADEPro. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty studies (25 RCTs involving 2,171 patients) were included for both the systematic review and the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis confirmed that physical exercise significantly enhanced shoulder flexion (SMD =0.59; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.86; P<0.001) and abduction (SMD =1.01; 95% CI: 0.43, 1.60; P<0.001) in postoperative patients, and improved upper limb function (SMD =0.87; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.26; P<0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated that comprehensive exercise, particularly when performed ≤3 times a week or over 8-12 weeks, was most effective for improving shoulder flexion, while shorter durations (<8 weeks) and similar frequencies were optimal for abduction. Resistance exercises, especially when started early (<2 weeks post-surgery), showed significant benefits for upper limb function. The included studies were of moderate to high quality, though some lacked detailed reporting on blinding or allocation concealment. Analysis suggests that the timing of intervention initiation, along with exercise type and frequency, may contribute to observed variations in outcomes. Evidence quality assessments did not reveal significant issues with indirectness or imprecision, and no significant publication bias was detected. Given the low heterogeneity and absence of significant downgrade factors, intermediate evidence quality was assigned for upper limb function and shoulder abduction, with high quality for shoulder flexion. Physical exercise is notably effective in enhancing both upper limb function and shoulder mobility in breast cancer patients, with the timing and frequency of exercise interventions influencing these improvements. This provides valuable evidence for clinical rehabilitation strategies.

(Invited) Wearable Pocket-Sized Fully Non-Contact Cardiorespiratory Sensor

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have emerged as the leading cause of global mortality over the past decade, encompassing conditions such as atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Consequently, continuous monitoring plays a crucial role in managing these conditions, as it enables early detection, improves patient survival rates, and alleviates the burden on emergency medical resources. Our research group has developed a wearable pocket-sized fully non-contact cardiorespiratory sensor that utilizes electromagnetic induction technology to measure dynamic changes in electrical conductivity resulting from cardiac contractions and pulmonary volume variations. This enables the continuous acquisition of eddy current damping response signals to achieve cardiorespiratory monitoring. In comparison to commercially available ECGs, PPG smartwatches, and respiratory sensors, our proposed pocket-sized sensor offers three major advantages: exceptional concealment, convenience, and comfort for health monitoring due to its pocket-sized and micro-structured design; simultaneous acquisition of two-dimensional cardiac and respiratory signals, facilitating comprehensive cardiorespiratory health monitoring; and the ability to adjust sensing depth through frequency modulation of the electromagnetic field, thus eliminating variations in physiological structures among subjects and achieving optimized sensing and personalized medical benefits.

A review of the application of exercise intervention on improving cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease: mechanisms and clinical studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, leading to sustained cognitive decline. An increasing number of studies suggest that exercise is an effective strategy to promote the improvement of cognition in AD. Mechanisms of the benefits of exercise intervention on cognitive function may include modulation of vascular factors by affecting cardiovascular risk factors, regulating cardiorespiratory health, and enhancing cerebral blood flow. Exercise also promotes neurogenesis by stimulating neurotrophic factors, affecting neuroplasticity in the brain. Additionally, regular exercise improves the neuropathological characteristics of AD by improving mitochondrial function, and the brain redox status. More and more attention has been paid to the effect of Aβ and tau pathology as well as sleep disorders on cognitive function in persons diagnosed with AD. Besides, there are various forms of exercise intervention in cognitive improvement in patients with AD, including aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and multi-component exercise. Consequently, the purpose of this review is to summarize the findings of the mechanisms of exercise intervention on cognitive function in patients with AD, and also discuss the application of different exercise interventions in cognitive impairment in AD to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the selection of exercise intervention in cognitive rehabilitation in AD.

Aquatic High-Intensity Interval Deep Water Running Influence on Cardiometabolic Health and Cognitive Psychological Responses in Women.

To investigate the effects of an 8-wk AHIIT-DWR intervention compared with land-based HIT training (LHIIT) on cardiometabolic health, cognitive, and psychological outcomes in inactive elderly women. Seventy inactive elderly women aged 60 yr or above were randomly assigned into two groups: AHIIT-DWR and LHIIT. The AHIIT-DWR group engaged in DWR sessions comprising 30 min of interval training, consisting of ten 2-min exercise bouts at 80%-90% of their maximal heart rate (HR max ), with 1-min active recovery at 70% HR max between bouts, for two sessions per week, for 8 wk. The LHIIT group performed treadmill running at the same intensity. Both groups showed similar cardiovascular fitness, maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O 2max ), HR max , and RER improvement ( P > 0.05), whereas AHIIT-DWR showed a significant improvement in aerobic capacity minute ventilation (V̇E), metabolic equivalents (METs), and O 2 pulse ( P < 0.05) over the 8-wk intervention. Both AHIIT-DWR and LHIIT significantly decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL postintervention ( P < 0.05). No significant group differences were observed for cognitive function assessed by MMSE and MOCA ( P > 0.05). Both groups showed similar enjoyment levels, self-efficacy scores, and high adherence rates (>90%). Our study suggests that AHIIT-DWR can elicit a similar improvement in cardiorespiratory health, metabolic blood markers, cognitive function assessed by MMSE and MOCA, and psychological responses as LHIIT in inactive elderly women.

Substance use and incidence of metabolic syndrome before midlife among military adults: the CHIEF cohort study.

Habitual substance use, i. e., alcohol, tobacco and betel nut, has been found with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the general population, whereas the association remains unclear in physically fit military personnel. This study aimed to investigate the combination of these substances use and their associations with new-onset MetS in the military. A total of 2,890 military men and women, aged 18-39 years, without MetS were obtained from the cardiorespiratory fitness and health in eastern armed forces study (CHIEF) in Taiwan and followed for incident MetS from baseline (2014) through the end of 2020. Incident MetS event was defined by the International Diabetes Federation guideline and confirmed in the annual health examinations. A self-report was used to assess the alcohol, tobacco and betel nut use status (active vs. former/never). Multivariable Cox regression model was performed to determine the association with adjustments for sex, age, body mass index and physical activity at baseline. At baseline, there were 279 active betel nut chewers (9.7%), 991 active smokers (34.3%) and 1,159 active alcohol consumers (40.1%). During a mean follow-up of 6.0 years, 673 incident MetS (23.3%) were observed. As compared to no substance users, only one substance, and two and three substances users had a greater risk of incident MetS [hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals: 1.27 (1.06-1.54), 1.38 (1.12-1.69) and 1.78 (1.37-2.32), respectively]. In subgroup analyses, the risk of incident MetS in two and three substances users was significantly greater in those free of baseline low high-density lipoprotein [HRs: 1.54 (1.21-1.95) and 2.57 (1.92-3.46), respectively], as compared to their counterparts (both p for interactions <0.05). A dose-response association of more substances use for new-onset MetS was noted in military personnel. This finding suggests that the combined alcohol, tobacco and betel nut use may play a role in the development of MetS. Further study is required to establish causation and to investigate the potential benefits of substance use cessation in reducing the risk of MetS.

Physical rehabilitation program for cardiorespiratory health and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in UAE: protocol for a randomized control trial

BackgroundCancer is a medical condition where some cells of the body reproduce uncontrollably and metastasize to other parts of the body. The burden of the disease is significantly high both at the global and national levels. In UAE, cancer was found to be the third leading cause of death. Breast cancer has been ranked first due to its prevalence, incidence, and mortality in UAE. Breast cancer survivors have significantly poor cardiovascular tolerance which affects their quality of life (QoL), even after the carcinoma has been treated or removed. Thus, the protocol aims to analyze the changes in cardiovascular endurance and QoL domains for breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates using a long-term 2-month physical rehabilitation.MethodsA total of 60 breast cancer survivors would be included in the study using a randomized controlled allocation of a 2-month physical rehabilitation intervention program with 3 months of follow-up. The intervention would target the cardiovascular endurance component of the participants to improve their physical well-being and quality of life ultimately.DiscussionThe findings of the study would have high clinical significance among breast cancer survivors in the UAE. The proposed physical rehabilitation program could be beneficial in improving cardiovascular endurance and thereby reduce the risk of mortality among breast cancer survivors. In addition, the physiological benefits of the exercise program could improve their quality-of-life domains including physical, mental, and social well-being. On a larger view, it could also help to reduce the economic burden on the health system due to associated complications.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06013527. Registered on 28 August 2023.

Cardiorespiratory Performance, Physical Activity, and Depression in Thai Older Adults with Sarcopenia and No Sarcopenia: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Older adults have a high risk for musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and mental health problems. We compared respiratory muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, physical activity (PA), and depression between older adults with and without sarcopenia. This matched case-control study included 200 Thai older adults (100 participants with and without sarcopenia). According to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019, participants completed a handgrip dynamometer, a 6 m walk test, and bioimpedance analysis for sarcopenia screening. Individuals were required to evaluate their cardiovascular endurance and respiratory muscle strength and complete a set of questionnaires (i.e., depression and PA). Participants with and without sarcopenia were compared using a t-test, and ANOVA was used for subgroup analysis. Participants with sarcopenia had significantly lower inspiratory muscle strength (p < 0.001), functional capacity (p = 0.032), PA (p < 0.001), and higher depression scores (p < 0.001) than those without sarcopenia. Respiratory muscle strength and PA were significantly reduced in those with severe sarcopenia, followed by those with sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia, and no sarcopenia. Older adults with severe sarcopenia had higher depression scores than those with sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia, or no sarcopenia. Older adults with sarcopenia may exhibit lower cardiorespiratory performance, less PA, and higher depression than those without sarcopenia.

Persisting exercise ventilatory inefficiency in subjects recovering from COVID-19. Longitudinal data analysis 34 months post-discharge

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection has raised concerns about long-term health repercussions. Exercise ventilatory inefficiency (EVin) has emerged as a notable long-term sequela, potentially impacting respiratory and cardiovascular health. This study aims to assess the long-term presence of EVin after 34 months and its association with cardiorespiratory health in post-COVID patients.MethodsIn a longitudinal study on 32 selected post-COVID subjects, we performed two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) at 6 months (T0) and 34 months (T1) after hospital discharge. The study sought to explore the long-term persistence of EVin and its correlation with respiratory and cardiovascular responses during exercise. Measurements included also V̇O2peak, end-tidal pressure of CO2 (PETCO2) levels, oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and other cardiorespiratory parameters, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The presence of EVin at both T0 and T1 defines a persisting EVin (pEVin).ResultsOut of the cohort, five subjects (16%) have pEVin at 34 months. Subjects with pEVin, compared to those with ventilatory efficiency (Evef) have lower values of PETCO2 throughout exercise, showing hyperventilation. Evef subjects demonstrated selective improvements in DLCO and oxygen pulse, suggesting a recovery in cardiorespiratory function over time. In contrast, those with pEvin did not exhibit these improvements. Notably, significant correlations were found between hyperventilation (measured by PETCO2), oxygen pulse and OUES, indicating the potential prognostic value of OUES and Evin in post-COVID follow-ups.ConclusionsThe study highlights the clinical importance of long-term follow-up for post-COVID patients, as a significant group exhibit persistent EVin, which correlates with altered and potentially unfavorable cardiovascular responses to exercise. These findings advocate for the continued investigation into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19, especially regarding persistent ventilatory inefficiencies and their implications on patient health outcomes.

Postnatal cytomegalovirus infection and pulmonary vascular disease in extremely premature infants: A case series.

Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) is a major determinant of both morbidity and mortality in extremely low birth weight infants. It is biologically plausible that postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection may lead to PVD in premature infants secondary to pneumonitis or via derangement of pulmonary vascular development directly through endothelial dysfunction. Uncertainty remains, however, regarding thresholds for intervention in premature infants with cardiorespiratory instability and presumed CMV infection likely secondary to the limited understanding of the natural history of the disease. We describe four cases of premature infants with clinical and echocardiography features of PVD, in the setting of postnatally acquired CMV. All patients had atypical PVD trajectories, refractory to vasodilator treatment, which improved after initiation of CMV treatment. We highlight the need to consider postnatally acquired CMV infection in patients with PVD non-responsive to standard pulmonary vasodilator therapies or disease severity which is out of proportion of the usual clinical trajectory. Treatment of extremely premature infants with CMV-associated PVD may have positive impact on cardiorespiratory health, although duration of therapy remains uncertain.

RETHINKING THE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES-RELATED FOOT ULCERS FROM AN AEP PERSPECTIVE: AN UPDATE FROM THE DFUEX STUDY

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS Current treatments for people with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) focus on foot outcomes - potentially at the expense of broader health and wellbeing considerations. There are barriers to exercise for people with DFU and hesitancy in promoting physical activity by clinicians. AEPs may have the clinical skills to help people with DFUs engage in safe and effective exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of AEP supervised exercise intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness, health and wound healing in adults with DFU. METHODS Using a randomised control trial design (ANZTR registration: 12622000885796p) adults aged 18 to 70 years (n=32) with active DFU are being recruited from an interdisciplinary High-Risk Foot Service (iHRFS) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney Australia, and randomised to receive 12 weeks of supervised exercise (aerobic and resistance) training (Exercise) with usual care or usual care (Control) Measurements including fitness, metabolic and wound outcomes are acquired at baseline and after 12 weeks. RESULTS Preliminary baseline demographic, fitness and health data will be presented. Consideration for the scope of practice for AEPs in the multidisciplinary management of DFUs will be discussed incorporating observations and guidance on implementing exercise in a high risk DFU population, where there is limited patient and practitioner knowledge about safe and effective exercise options, and historical avoidance of physical activity to lessen the risk of wound deterioration. This will include consideration of aspects around exercise which are unique to people with DFUs, such as working with iHRFS, patient ambulation and transport, wound type and location, diversity of wound offloading devices and individual facilitators and barriers to exercise participation. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for robust evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of exercise intervention, and a need for strategies to engage AEPs into the multidisciplinary care of people with DFUs. Supported by the Exercise and Sports Science Australia Research Grant.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong and consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality among adults: an overview of meta-analyses representing over 20.9 million observations from 199 unique cohort studies

ObjectiveTo examine and summarise evidence from meta-analyses of cohort studies that evaluated the predictive associations between baseline cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and health outcomes among adults.DesignOverview of systematic reviews.Data sourceFive bibliographic...

Schrödinger spectrum and slim CNN architecture-based signal quality estimation for Photoplethysmogram signals

Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal comprises physiological information related to cardiorespiratory health. However, these signals are often contaminated by motion artifacts, resulting in low-quality noise-enriched signals. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure high-quality signals to extract accurate cardiorespiratory information. Although several rule-based and Machine-Learning (ML) - based approaches exist for PPG signal quality estimation but their effectiveness is questionable during evaluation in diverse datasets. This study proposes a lightweight, slim CNN architecture that utilizes a novel Quantum Pattern Recognition (QPR) technique for signal quality assessment. The proposed algorithm is initially validated on the University of Queensland database (clinical) and a noisy PPG database (non-clinical) collected from the ‘Welltory app’. A total of 28366, 5 s signal segments are preprocessed and transformed into image files of 20 × 500 pixels. The image files and heart rate obtained from the PPG signals are treated as input to the 2D slim CNN architecture. The developed model classifies the PPG signal as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ with an accuracy of 98.5%, 99.2% sensitivity, 97.5% specificity, and 99% F1-score. The classified database is further used for cuffless Blood Pressure estimation, and estimation error is reduced ≥ 1 mmHg w.r.t. reference BP signals. Finally, the proposed scheme is validated in STM32 series board for a resource-constrained wearable implementation. The computational load of the algorithm is reduced by network pruning and quantization for edge-device implementation, and it achieves an accuracy of 94.3%. This extensive analysis concludes that a slim architecture, along with a novel spatio–temporal pattern recognition technique, improves the system’s performance.

The impact of sprint interval training versus moderate intensity continuous training on blood pressure and cardiorespiratory health in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although aerobic exercise is the primary modality recommended for the treatment of hypertension, it remains unclear whether high-intensity all-out sprint interval training (SIT) can result in greater reductions of blood pressure (BP) and cardiorespiratory health. This systematic review aims to compare the impact of SIT versus Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on improvements in resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) among adults. We conducted a systematic search of three online databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) from January 2000 to July 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the chronic effects of SIT versus MICT on BP in participants with high or normal blood pressure. We extracted information on participant characteristics, exercise protocols, BP outcomes, and intervention settings. Furthermore, the changes in VO2 max between the two groups were analyzed using a meta-analysis. The pooled results were presented as weighted means with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Out of the 1,874 studies initially were found, eight were included in this review, totaling 169 participants. A significant decrease in SBP (MD = -2.82 mmHg, 95% CI [-4.53 to -1.10], p=0.08, I2 =45%) was observed in the SIT group compared to before the training, but no significant decrease in DBP (MD = -0.75 mmHg, 95% CI [-1.92 to 0.42], p=0.16, I2 = 33%) was observed. In contrast, both SBP (MD = -3.00 mmHg, 95% CI [-5.31 to -0.69], p=0.68, I2 = 0%) and DBP (MD = -2.11 mmHg, 95% CI [-3.63 to -0.60], p=0.72, I2 = 0%) significantly decreased in the MICT group with low heterogeneity. No significant difference was found in resting SBP and DBP between SIT and MICT after the intervention. Both SIT and MICT significantly increased VO2 peak, with SIT resulting in a mean difference (MD) of 1.75 mL/kg/min (95% CI [0.39-3.10], p=0.02, I2 = 61%), and MICT resulting in a mean difference of 3.10 mL/kg/min (95% CI [1.03-5.18], p=0.007, I2 = 69%). MICT was more effective in improving VO2 peak (MD = -1.36 mL/kg/min, 95% CI [-2.31 to 0.40], p=0.56, I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis of duration and single sprint time showed that SIT was more effective in reducing SBP when the duration was ≥8 weeks or when the sprint time was <30 s. Our meta-analysis showed that SIT is an effective intervention in reducing BP and improving cardiorespiratory fitness among adults. Consequently, SIT can be used in combination with traditional MICT to increase the variety, utility, and time efficiency of exercise prescriptions for different populations.

Social jet lag impairs exercise volume and attenuates physiological and metabolic adaptations to voluntary exercise training.

Social jet lag (SJL) is a misalignment between sleep and wake times on workdays and free days. SJL leads to chronic circadian rhythm disruption and may affect nearly 70% of the general population, leading to increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. This study investigated the effects of SJL on metabolic health, exercise performance, and exercise-induced skeletal muscle adaptations in mice. Ten-week-old C57BL/6J mice (n = 40) were allocated to four groups: control sedentary (CON-SED), control exercise (CON-EX), social jet lag sedentary (SJL-SED), and social jet lag exercise (SJL-EX). CON mice were housed under a 12:12-h light-dark cycle. SJL was simulated by implementing a 4-h phase delay for 3 days to simulate "weekends," followed by a 4-h phase advance back to "weekdays," for 6 wk. EX mice had free access to a running wheel. Graded exercise tests (GXTs) and glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) were performed at baseline and after intervention to monitor the effects of exercise and social jet lag on cardiorespiratory and metabolic health, respectively. SJL led to alterations in activity and running patterns and clock gene expression in skeletal muscle and decreased average running distance (P < 0.05). SJL-SED mice gained significantly more weight compared with CON-SED and SJL-EX mice (P < 0.01). SJL impaired fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance compared with CON mice (P < 0.05), which was partially restored by exercise in SJL-EX mice. SJL also blunted improvements in exercise performance and mitochondrial content in the quadriceps. These data suggest that SJL blunted some cardiometabolic adaptations to exercise and that proper circadian hygiene is necessary for maintaining health and performance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In mice, disrupting circadian rhythms with social jet lag for 6 wk caused significant weight gain, higher fasting blood glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance compared with control. Voluntary exercise in mice experiencing social jet lag prevented weight gain, though the mice still experienced increased fasting blood glucose and impaired exercise performance compared with trained mice not experiencing social jet lag. Social jet lag seems to be a potent circadian rhythm disruptor that impacts exercise-induced training adaptations.

Cardiorespiratory effects of indoor ozone exposure during sleep and the influencing factors: A prospective study among adults in China

Ambient ozone (O3) is recognized as a significant air pollutant with implications for cardiorespiratory health, yet the effects of indoor O3 exposure have received less consideration. Furthermore, while sleep occupies one-third of life, research on the health consequences of O3 exposure during this crucial period is scarce. This study aimed to investigate associations of indoor O3 during sleep with cardiorespiratory function and potential predisposing factors. A prospective study among 81 adults was conducted in Beijing, China. Repeated measurements of cardiorespiratory indices reflecting lung function, airway inflammation, cardiac autonomic function, blood pressure, systemic inflammation, platelet and glucose were performed on each subject. Real-time concentrations of indoor O3 during sleep were monitored. Associations of O3 with cardiorespiratory indices were evaluated using linear mixed-effect model. Effect modification by baseline lifestyles (diet, physical activity, sleep-related factors) and psychological status (stress and depression) were investigated through interaction analysis. The average indoor O3 concentration during sleep was 20.3 μg/m3, which was well below current Chinese indoor air quality standard of 160 μg/m3. O3 was associated with most respiratory indicators of decreased airway function except airway inflammation; whereas the cardiovascular effects were only manifested in autonomic dysfunction and not in others. An interquartile range increases in O3 at 6-h average was associated with changes of −3.60 % (95 % CI: −6.19 %, −0.93 %) and −9.60 % (95 % CI: −14.53 %, −4.39 %) in FVC and FEF25–75, respectively. Further, stronger effects were noted among participants with specific dietary patterns, poorer sleep and higher level of depression. This study provides the first general population-based evidence that low-level exposure to indoor O3 during sleep has greater effects on the respiratory system than on the cardiovascular system. Our findings identify the respiratory system as an important target for indoor O3 exposure, and particularly highlight the need for greater awareness of indoor air quality, especially during sleep.