For advanced COPD, a simple exercise program is effective: Thai study

 

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

 Thorac Dis. 2015 Apr;7(4):637-43. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.04.13.
Efficacy of a simple and inexpensive exercise training program for advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in community hospitals.
Pothirat C1, Chaiwong W1, Phetsuk N1.
Author information

  

1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Exercise training is an important part of pulmonary rehabilitation; however it may not be appropriate for large-scale practice in community hospitals due to the complexity of the program and expensive training equipment, including cycle ergometry and treadmills. This study therefore aims to evaluate the efficacy of a more simplified exercise training program with inexpensive training equipment.

METHODS:

A multicentre study of a mild to moderate intensity exercise training program was conducted based on incremental strength and endurance with two 35-40-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. The program was performed by 30 outpatients from five community hospitals. Patients were monitored regularly for various parameters including strength of trained muscles, level of dyspnea, 6-minute walk distance, and quality of life (QoL) at baseline at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Unpaired t-tests were applied to determine the progress of trained muscle strength and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were used to assess clinical outcomes.

RESULTS:

Thirty patients (13 males, 17 females) were enrolled with a mean age of 69.1±8.9 years, body mass index 20.5±4.4 kg/m(2), and mean % of predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) 45.1±10.8. According to GOLD classification, eight (26.7%) cases were in stage II, 20 (66.7%) cases in stage III, and two (6.6%) cases in stage IV. Limb and chest wall muscle strength, dyspnea level, exercise capacity and QoL showed statistically significant improvements throughout the 12-month follow-up (P<0.01). There were clinically significant improvements in QoL throughout the 12-month follow-up, exercise capacity from months 2 to 12, and dyspnea levels at months 2, 3 and 9.

CONCLUSIONS:

The implementation of a simplified and inexpensive exercise training program was shown to be effective for advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in community hospitals.

Source

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Skipping breakfast can hurt your evening workout: UK study

 

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 13  0  5  2 Share0  6

  

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of Breakfast Omission on Energy Intake and Evening Exercise Performance.
Clayton DJ1, Barutcu A, Machin C, Stensel DJ, James LJ.
Author information

  

1School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Breakfast omission may reduce daily energy intake. Exercising fasted impairs performance compared to exercising after breakfast, but the effect breakfast omission has on evening exercise performance is unknown. This study assessed the impact of omitting breakfast on evening exercise performance, as well as within-day energy intake.

METHODS:

Ten male, habitual breakfast eaters completed two trials, in randomised, counterbalanced order. Subjects arrived at the laboratory overnight fasted, and either consumed or omitted a 733 ± 46 kcal (3095 ± 195 kJ) breakfast. Ad-libitum energy intake was assessed at 4.5 h (lunch) and 11 h (dinner). At 9 h subjects completed 30 min cycling exercise at ∼60% VO2peak, followed by a 30 min maximal cycling performance test. Food was not permitted for subjects once they left the laboratory after dinner until 08:00 the following morning. Acylated ghrelin, GLP-1(7-36), glucose and insulin were assessed at 0, 4.5 and 9 h. Subjective appetite sensations were recorded throughout.

RESULTS:

Energy intake was 199 ± 151 kcal greater at lunch (P<0.01) after breakfast omission compared to breakfast consumption and tended to be greater at dinner after consuming breakfast (P=0.052). Consequently, total ad-libitum energy intake was similar between trials (P=0.196), with 24 h energy intake 19 ± 5 % greater after consuming breakfast (P<0.001). Total work completed during the exercise performance test was 4.5 % greater after breakfast (314 ± 53 kJ vs. 300 ± 56 kJ; P<0.05). Insulin was greater during BC at 4.5 h (P<0.05), with no other interaction effect for hormone concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS:

Breakfast omission might be an effective means of reducing daily energy intake, but may impair performance later that day, even after consuming lunch.

Source
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Follow these topics: Exercise: Capacity, Nutrition: Breakfast

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Yoga and Chronic Pain Have Opposite Effects on Brain Gray Matter: American Pain Society

 

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

Newswise — PALM SPRINGS, May 15, 2015 — Chronic pain is known to cause brain anatomy changes and impairments, but yoga can be an important tool for preventing or even reversing the effects of chronic pain on the brain, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) official speaking at the American Pain Society’s annual meeting today, www.americanpainsociety.org.
M. Catherine Bushnell, PhD, scientific director, Division of Intramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NIH, explained in a plenary session address that many chronic pain patients show associated anxiety and depression as well as deficits in cognitive functions. In addition, brain imaging studies in rats and humans have shown alterations in gray matter volume and white matter integrity in the brain caused by the effects of chronic pain.
“Imaging studies in multiple types of chronic pain patients show their brains differ from healthy control subjects,” said Bushnell. “Studies of people with depression show they also have reduced gray matter, and this could contribute to the gray matter changes in pain patients who are depressed. Our research shows that gray matter loss is directly related to the pain when we take depression into account,” said Bushnell.
Gray matter is brain tissue with numerous cell bodies and is located in the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas. The impact of gray matter loss depends on where it occurs in brain. Decreased gray matter can lead to memory impairment, emotional problems and decreased cognitive functioning.

  

Bushnell said there is compelling evidence from studies conducted at NIH/NCCIH and other sites that mind-body techniques, such as yoga and meditation, can counteract the brain anatomy affects of chronic pain. “Practicing yoga has the opposite effect on the brain as does chronic pain,” said Bushnell.
She said the studies show yoga practitioners have more gray matter than controls in multiple brain regions, including those involved in pain modulation. “Some gray matter increases in yogis correspond to duration of yoga practice, which suggests there is a causative link between yoga and gray matter increases,” Bushnell noted.
Assessing the impact of brain anatomy on pain reduction, Bushnell said gray matter changes in the insula or internal structures of the cerebral cortex are most significant for pain tolerance. “Insula gray matter size correlates with pain tolerance, and increases in insula gray matter can result from ongoing yoga practice,” said Bushnell.
“Brain anatomy changes may contribute to mood disorders and other affective and cognitive comorbidities of chronic pain. The encouraging news for people with chronic pain is mind-body practices seem to exert a protective effect on brain gray matter that counteracts the neuroanatomical effects of chronic pain,” Bushnell added.
About the American Pain Society
Based in Chicago, the American Pain Society (APS) is a multidisciplinary community that brings together a diverse group of scientists, clinicians and other professionals to increase the knowledge of pain and transform public policy and clinical practice to reduce pain-related suffering. APS is the professional home for investigators involved in all aspects of pain research including basic, translational, clinical and health services research to obtain the support and inspiration they need to flourish professionally. APS strongly advocates expansion of high quality pain research to help advance science to achieve effective and responsible pain relief. For more information on APS, visit www.americanpainsociety.org.

Follow these topics: Brain, Fitness: Yoga, Mind-Body Connection, Pain

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The erosion of physical activity in Western societies: an economic death march

 

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

  

Diabetologia. 2015 May 8. [Epub ahead of print]
The erosion of physical activity in Western societies: an economic death march.
Booth FW1, Hawley JA.
Author information
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MI, USA.

Abstract

  

By 2030 type 2 diabetes and associated complications will be the seventh leading cause of death globally. In this context, obesity and physical inactivity have emerged as major risk factors for several chronic metabolic disorders. While exercise training exerts numerous health-related benefits in terms of the prevention and treatment of many disease states, including type 2 diabetes, it is currently under-prescribed and under-valued. We contend that unless urgent action is taken to curb the tidal wave of inactivity-related metabolic diseases, the worldwide economic burden associated with the rise in the number of diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes will trigger the start of an economic death march for both industrial and developing nations alike. In this commentary we look ahead to 2065 and consider the impact that lifestyle interventions and associated strategies are likely to have in curbing the epidemic tide of type 2 diabetes. This is one of a series of commentaries under the banner ’50 years forward’, giving personal opinions on future perspectives in diabetes, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Diabetologia (1965-2015).

Source

Follow these topics: Diabetes, Exercise: Benefits, Obesity, World Health: Diabetes

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Sodium phosphate supplementation may improve repeated-sprint performance: School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia

 

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

J Sci Med Sport. 2015 Apr 24. pii: S1440-2440(15)00083-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2015.04.001. [Epub ahead of print]
Effects of sodium phosphate and caffeine ingestion on repeated-sprint ability in male athletes.
Kopec BJ1, Dawson BT1, Buck C1, Wallman KE2.
Author information
1School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
2School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: karen.wallman@uwa.edu.au.


Abstract

  

OBJECTIVES:


To assess the effects of sodium phosphate (SP) and caffeine supplementation on repeated-sprint performance.


DESIGN:


Randomized, double-blind, Latin-square design.

METHODS:

Eleven team-sport males participated in four trials: (1) SP (50mgkg-1 of free fat-mass daily for six days) and caffeine (6mgkg-1 ingested 1h before exercise); SP+C, (2) SP and placebo (for caffeine), (3) caffeine and placebo (for SP) and (4) placebo (for SP and caffeine). After loading, participants performed a simulated team-game circuit (STGC) consisting of 2×30min halves, with 6×20-m repeated-sprint sets performed at the start, half-time and end of the STGC.

RESULTS:

There were no interaction effects between trials for first-sprint (FS), best-sprint (BS) or total-sprint (TS) times (p>0.05). However, SP resulted in the fastest times for all sprints, as supported by moderate to large effect sizes (ES; d=0.51-0.83) and ‘likely’ to ‘very likely’ chances of benefit, compared with placebo. Compared with caffeine, SP resulted in ‘possible’ to ‘likely’ chances of benefit for FS, BS and TS for numerous sets and a ‘possible’ chance of benefit compared with SP+C for BS (set 2). Compared with placebo, SP+C resulted in moderate ES (d=0.50-0.62) and ‘possible’ to ‘likely’ benefit for numerous sprints, while caffeine resulted in a moderate ES (d=0.63; FS: set 3) and ‘likely’ chances of benefit for a number of sets.

CONCLUSIONS:

While not significant, ES and qualitative analysis results suggest that SP supplementation may improve repeated-sprint performance when compared with placebo.

Source

Follow these topics: Nutrition: Salt, Sports Medicine: Nutrition

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Exercise ameliorates high fat diet induced cardiac dysfunction by increasing interleukin 10

 

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

Front Physiol. 2015 Apr 22;6:124. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2015.00124. eCollection 2015.
Exercise ameliorates high fat diet induced cardiac dysfunction by increasing interleukin 10.
Kesherwani V1, Chavali V1, Hackfort BT1, Tyagi SC2, Mishra PK3.
Author information
1Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE, USA.
2Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville Louisville, KY, USA.
3Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE, USA ; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE, USA.


Abstract

  

Increasing evidence suggests that a sedentary lifestyle and a high fat diet (HFD) leads to cardiomyopathy. Moderate exercise ameliorates cardiac dysfunction, however underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Increased inflammation due to induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and attenuation of anti-inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) contributes to cardiac dysfunction in obese and diabetics. We hypothesized that exercise training ameliorates HFD- induced cardiac dysfunction by mitigating obesity and inflammation through upregulation of IL-10 and downregulation of TNF-α. To test this hypothesis, 8 week old, female C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFD and exercised (swimming 1 h/day for 5 days/week for 8 weeks). The four treatment groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + exercise (HFD + Ex) and ND + Ex were analyzed for mean body weight, blood glucose level, TNF-α, IL-10, cardiac fibrosis by Masson Trichrome, and cardiac dysfunction by echocardiography. Mean body weights were increased in HFD but comparatively less in HFD + Ex. The level of TNF-α was elevated and IL-10 was downregulated in HFD but ameliorated in HFD + Ex. Cardiac fibrosis increased in HFD and was attenuated by exercise in the HFD + Ex group. The percentage ejection fraction and fractional shortening were decreased in HFD but comparatively increased in HFD + Ex. There was no difference between ND and ND + Ex for the above parameters except an increase in IL-10 level following exercise. Based on these results, we conclude that exercise mitigates HFD- induced cardiomyopathy by decreasing obesity, inducing IL-10, and reducing TNF-α in mice.


Source

Follow these topics: Exercise: Benefits, Heart Health, Nutrition: Fat

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Zinc deficiency has serious wide-ranging health consequences

 

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

Nutrients. 2015 May 6;7(5):3252-3263.
Determination of Zinc Status in Humans: Which Indicator Should We Use?
Wieringa FT1, Dijkhuizen MA2, Fiorentino M3, Laillou A4, Berger J5.
Author information
1Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR Nutripass IRD-UM2-UM1, 911 Avenue d’Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France. franck.wieringa@ird.fr.
2Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), Copenhagen University, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark. madijkhuizen@gmail.com.
3Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR Nutripass IRD-UM2-UM1, 911 Avenue ’Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France. marionfiorentino@hotmail.com.
4UNICEF, Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Section, No.11 street 75, 12200 Phnom Penh, Cambodia. alaillou@unicef.org.
5Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR Nutripass IRD-UM2-UM1, 911 Avenue d’Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France. Jacques.Berger@ird.fr.

Abstract

  

Zinc deficiency has serious wide-ranging health consequences and is thought to be one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in the world. However, reliable indicators or biomarkers to assess zinc status are not available at present. Indirect indicators such as the prevalence of stunting or anemia, iron deficiency, as well as more direct indicators such as plasma zinc concentrations are being used at present to estimate the prevalence of zinc deficiency in populations. However, as this paper shows by using data from a recent national micronutrient survey in Vietnam, the estimates of the prevalence of zinc deficiency using these different indicators can vary widely, leading to inconsistencies. In this paper, zinc deficiency among children is four times more prevalent than iron deficiency and 2.3 times more than stunting prevalence for example. This can lead not only to confusion concerning the real extent of the prevalence of zinc deficiency in populations, but also makes it hard to inform policy on whether action is needed or not. Moreover, evaluation of programs is hampered by the lack of a clear indicator. Efforts should be made to identify the most suitable indicator to evaluate the impact of programs aimed at improving zinc status and health of populations.

Source

Follow these topics: Nutrition: Zinc

  

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