Effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral visual diaphragm biofeedback under low back pain: influence of age and sex.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral visual diaphragm biofeedback (BFB) from ultrasonography in conjunction with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on diaphragmatic thickness during normal breathing and respiratory and clinical outcomes in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) and determine the influence of age and sex. A single-blind randomized clinical trial was carried out (NCT04582812). A total sample of 96 patients with NSLBP was recruited and randomized by sex-based stratification into IMT ( = 48) and BFB + IMT ( = 48) interventions over 8 weeks.

A Secondary Analysis of Gender Respiratory Features for Ultrasonography Bilateral Diaphragm Thickness, Respiratory Pressures, and Pulmonary Function in Low Back Pain.

The aim of the present study was to determine the gender respiratory differences of bilateral diaphragm thickness, respiratory pressures, and pulmonary function in patients with low back pain (LBP). A sample of 90 participants with nonspecific LBP was recruited and matched paired by sex (45 women and 45 men). Respiratory outcomes included bilateral diaphragm thickness by ultrasonography, respiratory muscle strength by maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures, and pulmonary function by forced expiratory volume during 1 s (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV/FVC spirometry parameters.

Ultrasonographic reliability and repeatability of simultaneous bilateral assessment of diaphragm muscle thickness during normal breathing.

Background: The diaphragm is considered the main muscle involved in breathing and also linked to trunk stabilization functions. Up to date, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) has been the most used technique to evaluate unilaterally the transcostal diaphragm thickness. Nevertheless, the inspiratory activity of both hemi-diaphragms is bilaterally performed at the same time, and its simultaneous evaluation with a thoracic orthosis could improve its assessment as well as its re-education with visual biofeedback of both hemi-diaphragms at the same time.

POWERbreathe Inspiratory Muscle Training in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Inspiratory muscle training may benefit respiratory function, cardiocirculatory parameters, quality of life and functionality in neuromuscular diseases. This pilot study aimed to demonstrate the POWERbreathe® inspiratory muscle training effects on maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), heart rate (HR) and HR variability, as well as the quality of life impairment and functionality in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A pilot single-blinded, non-randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out.

Effectiveness of Ultrasonography Visual Biofeedback of the Diaphragm in Conjunction with Inspiratory Muscle Training on Muscle Thickness, Respiratory Pressures, Pain, Disability, Quality of Life and Pulmonary Function in Athletes with Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Diaphragmatic weakness and thickness reduction have been detected in athletes with lumbopelvic pain (LPP). Strength training of inspiratory muscles may be necessary for athletes with LPP. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and visual biofeedback by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) have been proposed as possible interventions.

Exercise Training and Interventions for Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) may be considered a main cause of mortality and the prevalence of CAD is increasing nowadays, leading to high health costs in many countries. Despite the fact of the regression of the atherosclerotic plaque, the decrease in blood viscosity and the growth of collateral vessels have been proposed as improvements that CAD patients may obtain under exercise performance. Thus, the present narrative review aimed to carry out a brief specific analysis of the results achieved when performing endurance, strength or inspiratory muscle training.

Exercise Physiology at "Conversational Level" Is Not Impaired in Healthy Young Subjects Wearing Masks or Respirators.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of both surgical masks and FFP2 respirators on the inspiratory muscle strength, metabolic parameters, heart rate, subjective perceived exertion, and dyspnea perception, before and during 30 min stable load exercise at "conversational level".

Methods: A randomized cross-over study was carried out. Nineteen healthy adults completed 3 conditions (without a mask, with a surgical mask or an FFP2 respirator) during a 30-min steady-state test at the lactate threshold intensity.

The Main Role of Diaphragm Muscle as a Mechanism of Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics to Improve Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) has been stated as one of the main health concerns in the XXI century due to its high incidence.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of an 8-week program of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics (HAG) on inspiratory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness, disability and pain in patients suffering from non-specific chronic LBP.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with chronic LBP were randomly divided into two groups.

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Manual Versus Specific Device Transcostal Measurements for Breathing Diaphragm Thickness by Ultrasonography in Lumbopelvic Pain Athletes.

The use of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) to evaluate diaphragm thickness during breathing in athletes who suffer from non-specific lumbopelvic pain presents some measurement errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intra- and inter-sessions, intra- and inter-rater reliabilities, and concurrent validity of diaphragm thickness measurements during breathing using transcostal RUSI with a novel thoracic orthotic device that was used to fix the US probe versus those measurements obtained using manual fixation. A total of 37 athletes with non-specific lumbopelvic pain were recruited.

Unraveling the Role of Respiratory Muscle Metaboloreceptors under Inspiratory Training in Patients with Heart Failure.

Exercise intolerance may be considered a hallmark in patients who suffer from heart failure (HF) syndrome. Currently, there is enough scientific evidence regarding functional and structural deterioration of skeletal musculature in these patients. It is worth noting that muscle weakness appears first in the respiratory muscles and then in the musculature of the limbs, which may be considered one of the main causes of exercise intolerance.

Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: Prior systematic reviews and meta-analysis addressed that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improved inspiratory muscle weakness, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life similar to conventional exercise training as a first alternative in deconditioned patients with heart failure (HF) lead to a better adaptation to posterior exercise training. The heterogeneity and variability in a wide range of new studies about this topic led to the necessity of an updated and comprehensive narrative review. The present review aimed to analyze and update the most relevant studies about IMT in patients who suffer from HF.

Antireflux ureteral stent proof of concept assessment after minimally invasive treatment of obstructive uropathy in animal model.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a new anti-reflux intraureteral stent design in a swine model after minimally invasive treatment of ureteral stricture to reduce ureteral stent morbidity, previous to manufacture this design in a biodegradable fashion.

Methods: Twenty-eight female pigs were included. The study began with a cystoscopic, nephrosonographic and contrast fluoroscopic assessment.

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of the Novel Antimalarials 5-Pyridinyl-4(1 H)-Pyridones.

Malaria is still one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in the world, with half of the world's population at risk for malaria. The effectiveness of current antimalarial therapies, even that of the most recent class of antimalarial drugs (artemisinin-combination therapies, ACTs), is under continuous threat by the spread of resistant Plasmodium strains. As a consequence, there is still an urgent requirement for new antimalarial drugs.

Effects of high-intensity interval versus continuous exercise training on post-exercise heart rate recovery in coronary heart-disease patients.

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) has been considered a prognostic and mortality indicator in both healthy and coronary patients. Physical exercise prescription has shown improvements in VOpeak and HRR, but most of the studies have been carried out applying continuous training at a moderate intensity, being very limited the use of protocols of high intensity interval training in coronary patients. We aimed to compare the effects of a moderate continuous training (MCT) versus a high intensity interval training (HIIT) programme on VOpeak and HRR.

Load-, Force-, and Power-Velocity Relationships in the Prone Pull-Up Exercise.

Purpose: To analyze the load-, force-, and power-velocity relationships and determine the load that optimizes power output on the pull-up exercise.

Methods: Eighty-two resistance-trained men (age 26.8 ± 5.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in a triathlete: Again intense endurance exercise as a thrombogenic risk.

Triathlon followers increase each year and long-distance events have seen major growth worldwide. In the cycling phase, athletes must maintain an aerodynamic posture on the bike for long periods of time. We report a case of a 38-year-old triathlete with symptoms of an axillary vein thrombosis 48h after a long triathlon competition.

Isoxazole mediated synthesis of 4-(1H)pyridones: improved preparation of antimalarial candidate GSK932121.

A new synthesis of the antimalarial clinical candidate GSK932121 is described. This approach has two key reactions, the selective acylation of an unprotected 3-hydroxymethyl-5-methyl isoxazole and the reductive N-O bond cleavage of the previously functionalized isoxazole derivative, to give the 4-(1H)pyridone ring present in the final structure. The complete synthesis consists of 5 steps (versus 10 steps in previously published reports) and has enabled the preparation of the material in kilogram scale to support clinical studies.

Lactate minimum test during incremental running after a submaximal cycling exercise: a novel test with training applications for triathletes.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether running speed determined in a lactate minimum test (lactate minimum intensity, LMI) during a treadmill incremental exercise performed just after submaximal cycling corresponds to the speed of a respiratory exchange ratio of 1.00 (RER-1) and, by extension, to the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) previously obtained in a standard incremental exercise test.

Methods: Eighteen moderately trained triathletes (15 men, 3 women) underwent two exercise sessions 72 h apart in random order: 1) a standard incremental treadmill test to identify the speed corresponding to RER-1, and 2) a submaximal exercise test on a bicycle-ergometer to obtain the LT (lactate threshold) followed by the incremental portion of the lactate minimum test on the treadmill.

Impact of a physical activity program on cerebral vasoreactivity in sedentary elderly people.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a physical activity program on the hemodynamic response of the brain (vasoreactivity) in elderly people.

Methods: Eighteen men and 25 women (aged 62-67 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental (EXP, N.=22, 12 women) and a control (CON, N.

[Emotional responsiveness of substance abusers under outpatient treatment].

The emotions predispose to action providing information from both internal and external environment. There is evidence indicating that the emotional response in drugdependent patients is different from that of the not consuming population. The present work analyzed the emotions of drugdependent under ambulatory treatment (N=57), following the Lang's theory of emotion, considering the dimensions of valence, arousal and dominance or control, across the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), individually applied.

Potent antimalarial 4-pyridones with improved physico-chemical properties.

Antimalarial 4-pyridones are a novel class of inhibitors of the plasmodial mitochondrial electron transport chain targeting Cytochrome bc1 (complex III). In general, the most potent 4-pyridones are lipophilic molecules with poor solubility in aqueous media and low oral bioavailability in pre-clinical species from the solid dosage form. The strategy of introducing polar hydroxymethyl groups has enabled us to maintain the high levels of antimalarial potency observed for other more lipophilic analogues whilst improving the solubility and the oral bioavailability in pre-clinical species.

Plantar pressures in children with and without sever's disease.

Background: a case-control study was conducted to compare static plantar pressures and distribution of body weight across the two lower limbs, as well as the prevalence of gastrocnemius soleus equinus, in children with and without calcaneal apophysitis (Sever's disease).

Methods: the participants were 54 boys enrolled in a soccer academy, of which eight were lost to follow-up. Twenty-two boys with unilateral Sever's disease comprised the Sever's disease group and 24 healthy boys constituted a control group.