Development of Continuous Assessment of Muscle Quality and Frailty in Older Patients Using Multiparametric Combinations of Ultrasound and Blood Biomarkers: Protocol for the ECOFRAIL Study.

Background: Frailty resulting from the loss of muscle quality can potentially be delayed through early detection and physical exercise interventions. There is a demand for cost-effective tools for the objective evaluation of muscle quality, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments. Literature suggests that quantitative analysis of ultrasound data captures morphometric, compositional, and microstructural muscle properties, while biological assays derived from blood samples are associated with functional information.

Association between Phase Angle and Subjective Perceptions of Health Variables in Cancer Patients.

The phase angle, an increasingly studied healthcare tool, was studied to explore its relationship with psychological factors in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the phase angle (PhA), obtained by the bioimpedance analysis of body composition, and psychological factors measured by questionnaire in cancer patients. The study included 311 patients who underwent bioimpedance testing to determine their PhA value; their psychological profiles were assessed using SF-36, FACIT, QLQ-C30, and GHQ-12 questionnaires.

Effects of Socioeconomic Environment on Physical Activity Levels and Sleep Quality in Basque Schoolchildren.

The socioeconomic and built environment of an area are interrelated with health data and have a direct influence on children's development. There are facilitators and barriers for schools to promote physical activity depending on the socioeconomic status of the school. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between physical activity and sleep and the socioeconomic level of children in the Basque Country.

Physical Activity Levels and Sleep in Schoolchildren (6-17) with and without School Sport.

There is strong evidence to support the association between daily physical activity and sleep parameters in children and adolescents. Physical activity and outdoor play are favourably associated with most sleep outcomes in school children. The aim is to find out the levels of physical activity and the quality of sleep in Basque schoolchildren aged between six and seventeen and to analyse the possible differences between those who carry out some kind of physical sports activity and those who do not.

Association between PhA and Physical Performance Variables in Cancer Patients.

Maintaining the physical performance of cancer patients is increasingly considered due to the growing number of cancer patients and the aggressiveness of the treatments. For this reason, bioimpedance is now being used to record patients' body composition by obtaining the phase angle (PhA). Although there is a direct relationship between PhA, age, sex and disease prognosis, it has not been measured as an analysis of physical performance in oncology patients and is a valid tool in the follow-up of cancer patients.

Physiological and mental health changes in cancer patients during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Backgrounds: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently facing, many governments across the world have declared a state of emergency and even confinements. This stressful situation, in addition to prolonged stays at home, may imply a radical change in lifestyle behavior and physical activity (PA). The aim of this study is to evaluate the physiological and psychological effects in cancer patients who changed their PA habits during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Spain.

Physiological stress in flat and uphill walking with different backpack loads in professional mountain rescue crews.

This study aimed to determine the interactive physiological effect of backpack load carriage and slope during walking in professional mountain rescuers. Sixteen mountain rescuers walked on a treadmill at 3.6 km/h for 5 min in each combination of three slopes (1%, 10%, 20%) and five backpack loads (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% body weight).

Level of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep in the Child and Adolescent Population in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (6-17 Years Old): Protocol for the Mugikertu Study.

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are increasingly common problems in the general population, which can lead to overweight, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and decreased motor and cognitive capacity among children and adolescents. Establishing healthy habits in childhood on the basis of the World Health Organization's 2020 Physical Activity Guidelines is essential for proper physical, motor, and cognitive development.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to describe the level of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep of the child and adolescent population from 6 to 17 years of age in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC).

Effects of a Physical Exercise Intervention on Pain in Workplaces: A Case Study.

Interventions that promote physical activity and healthy habits in workplaces have proven to be effective in reducing risk factors associated with numerous pathologies. This study examines the effects of an individualized physical exercise program that lasts five minutes for 30 working days on the perceived pain of workers, as well as analyzing adherence to it within workplaces. Data were collected through a visual analog scale of 1-10 of the perception of pain by anatomical areas, and, thus, we could observe variations in the perceived pain of workers through a program of five individualized exercises for one minute each based on the analysis of the worker and the job position.

Implementing Exercise in Standard Cancer Care (Bizi Orain Hybrid Exercise Program): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Despite the established benefits of regular exercise for patients with cancer to counteract the deleterious effects of the disease itself and treatment-related adverse effects, most of them do not engage in sufficient levels of physical activity and there is a paucity of data on the integration of efficacious exercise programs that are accessible and generalizable to a large proportion of patients with cancer into routine cancer care.

Objective: We intend to examine the effects attributable to the implementation of a community-based exercise program on cardiorespiratory functional capacity and quality of life for patients with cancer.

Methods: This will be a hybrid study.

[Reference values for SPPB in people over 60 years of age in the Basque Country].

Purpose: To provide reference values of Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) in adults and older adults in the Basque Country by identifying cut-off points for measuring fragility and comparing the values with other populations in Spain.

Location: Bilbao capital, Basque Country (Spain).

Participants: 1923 people over 60 years old included in the Health Program for the Elderly of the City of Bilbao participated in the study.

Reference Values for Handgrip Strength in the Basque Country Elderly Population.

Strength training is currently the most recommended primary therapeutic strategy to prevent and reverse the decline of muscle mass, strength, and functional deterioration associated with age. The aim is to provide reference values of handgrip strength (HGS) in the Basque Country population and compare the values with other populations. A total of 1869 subjects from the health-promoting programme for adults and older adults run by the Bilbao City Council were assessed using HGS with a digital dynamometer and anthropometric data measured by Tanita to obtain the mean values according to age distribution.

Physical Activity Change during COVID-19 Confinement.

The lockdown and social distancing caused by COVID-19 may influence common health behavior. The unprecedent worldwide confinement, in which Spain has been one of the most affected-with severe rules governing confinement-may have changed physical activity (PA) and sedentary habits due to prolonged stays at home. The aim of this study is to evaluate how self-reported PA and sedentary time (ST) have changed during confinement in the Spanish population.

Using trunk posture to monitor heat strain at work.

This study aimed to determine if trunk posture during walking is related to increases in rectal temperature (T). 24 males treadmill walked in one of four conditions (1): 30 min at 3.0 mph and 0% grade, 20 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH), wearing healthcare worker (HCW) PPE; (2): 30 min at 3.

Comparison of Thermal Manikin Modeling and Human Subjects' Response During Use of Cooling Devices Under Personal Protective Ensembles in the Heat.

Unlabelled: IntroductionPersonal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for use in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak increased risk for heat illness, and countermeasures addressing this issue would be valuable.Hypothesis/ProblemThe purpose of this study was to examine the physiological impact and heat perception of four different personal cooling devices (PCDs) under impermeable PPE during low-intensity exercise in a hot and humid environment using thermal manikin modeling and human testing.

Methods: Six healthy male subjects walked on a treadmill in a hot/humid environment (32°C/92% relative humidity [RH]) at three metabolic equivalents (METs) for 60 minutes wearing PPE recommended for use in West Africa and one of four different personal cooling devices (PCDs; PCD1, PCD2, PCD3, and PCD4) or no PCD for control (CON).

Effects of 5-Day Heat Acclimation on Workers Wearing Personal Protective Clothing.

Introduction: Elevated ambient temperature and personal protective clothing (PPC) induce physiological strain which may be counteracted by heat acclimation. The purpose of this study was to determine if 5-day heat acclimation training (HAT) improves thermal and perceptual responses while wearing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) PPC.

Methods: Nine healthy men completed a heat stress test (walking for one hour with CBRN PPC) in 35°C and 50% relative humidity (RH) before and after 5-day HAT.

Prediction of WBGT-based clothing adjustment values from evaporative resistance.

Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is used by many professionals in combination with metabolic rate and clothing adjustments to assess whether a heat stress exposure is sustainable. The progressive heat stress protocol is a systematic method to prescribe a clothing adjustment value (CAV) from human wear trials, and it also provides an estimate of apparent total evaporative resistance (R). It is clear that there is a direct relationship between the two descriptors of clothing thermal effects with diminishing increases in CAV at high R.

Umbilical temperature correlation with core and skin temperatures at rest, in the heat and during physical activity.

Purpose: to determine the correlation of umbilical temperatures (T) with simultaneously recorded chest wall temperature (T) and rectal temperature (T) in adults during rest, heat exposure and exercise.

Methods: A total of 28 healthy men, wearing different types of clothing (athletic garb, a spandex full body heating garment, firefighter bunker gear) had average and peak umbilical, chest wall and rectal temperature measurements taken during sedentary temperature stabilisation stages, heat exposure periods and active exercise phases.

Results: Curvilinear relationships were noted between T and T compared with T and their association became noticeably positive and linear at approximately 35.

Physiological Evaluation of Personal Protective Ensembles Recommended for Use in West Africa.

Objective: Personal protective equipment (PPE) provides health care workers with a barrier to prevent human contact with viruses like Ebola and potential transmission of the disease. However, PPE can also introduce an additional physiological burden from potentially increased heat stress. This study evaluated the human physiological and subjective responses to continuous light exercise within environmental conditions similar to those in West Africa while wearing 3 different, commonly used PPE ensembles (E1, E2, and E3).

Physiological Evaluation of Cooling Devices in Conjunction With Personal Protective Ensembles Recommended for Use in West Africa.

Objective: Cooling devices (CDs) worn under personal protective equipment (PPE) can alleviate some of the heat stress faced by health care workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Methods: Six healthy, young individuals were tested while wearing 4 different CDs or no cooling (control) under PPE in an environmental chamber (32°C/92% relative humidity) while walking (3 METs, 2.5 mph, 0% grade) on a treadmill for 60 minutes.

Comparison of estimated core body temperature measured with the BioHarness and rectal temperature under several heat stress conditions.

Monitoring and measuring core body temperature is important to prevent or minimize physiological strain and cognitive dysfunction for workers such as first responders (e.g., firefighters) and military personnel.

Baseline Evaluation With a Sweating Thermal Manikin of Personal Protective Ensembles Recommended for Use in West Africa.

Objective: Experience with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) ensembles by health care workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in the hot, humid conditions of West Africa has prompted reports of significant issues with heat stress that has resulted in shortened work periods.

Methods: A sweating thermal manikin was used to ascertain the time to achievement of a critical core temperature of 39 °C while wearing 4 different PPE ensembles similar to those recommended by the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) at 2 different ambient conditions (32 °C/92% relative humidity and 26 °C/80% relative humidity) compared with a control ensemble.

Results: PPE ensembles that utilized coveralls with moderate to high degrees of impermeability attained the critical core temperature in significantly shorter times than did other ensembles.

What do firefighters desire from the next generation of personal protective equipment? Outcomes from an international survey.

The purpose of this study was to investigate smart features required for the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters in Australia, Korea, Japan, and the USA. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 167 Australian, 351 Japanese, 413 Korean, and 763 U.S.

Effect of short-term heat acclimation training on kinetics of lactate removal following maximal exercise.

Background: Heat acclimation (HA) evokes numerous physiological adaptations, improves heat tolerance and has also been shown to enhance lactate (LA) responses during exercise, similar to that seen with endurance training. The purpose of this study was to examine whether HA improves the body's ability to remove LA during recovery following maximal exercise.

Methods: Ten healthy men completed two trials of maximal treadmill exercise (pre- and post-HA) separated by 5 days of HA.

Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: A meta-analysis.

Objectives: Although ergogenic, acute caffeine ingestion may increase urine volume, prompting concerns about fluid balance during exercise and sport events. This meta-analysis evaluated caffeine induced diuresis in adults during rest and exercise.

Design: Meta-analysis.