Attitudes towards air quality during outdoor exercise amongst habitual exercisers.

The effects of air pollution on health outcomes are well-established. However, little is known about perceptions of air pollution and how it may influence exercise behaviours. The aim of this study was to understand the perceived importance of air pollution during planned exercise, and where relevant, explore how those perceptions may differ between those living in different locations.

Utility, feasibility, and socio-demographic considerations in the diagnosis of bacterial RTI's by GC-IMS breath analysis.

Diagnosis of respiratory tract infections (RTIs), especially in primary care, is typically made on clinical features and in the absence of quick and reliable diagnostic tests. Even in secondary care, where diagnostic microbiology facilities are available, these tests take 24-48 h to provide an indication of the etiology. This multicentre study used a portable gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometer (GC-IMS) for the diagnosis of bacterial RTIs.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and childhood asthma: a European collaborative analysis.

Objectives: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in early childhood with asthma and reduced lung function in later childhood within a large collaborative study.

Design: Pooling of longitudinal data from collaborating birth cohorts using meta-analysis of separate cohort-specific estimates and analysis of individual participant data of all cohorts combined.

Setting: Children aged 0-18 years from 26 European birth cohorts.

Non-communicable airway disease and air pollution in three African Countries: Benin, Cameroon and The Gambia.

Background: Air pollution exposure can increase the risk of development and exacerbation of chronic airway disease (CAD). We set out to assess CAD patients in Benin, Cameroon and The Gambia and to compare their measured exposures to air pollution.

Methodology: We recruited patients with a diagnosis of CAD from four clinics in the three countries.

A Review of the Validity and Reliability of Accelerometer-Based Metrics From Upper Back-Mounted GNSS Player Tracking Systems for Athlete Training Load Monitoring.

Dawson, L, Beato, M, Devereux, G, and McErlain-Naylor, SA. A review of the validity and reliability of accelerometer-based metrics from upper back-mounted GNSS player tracking systems for athlete training load monitoring. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): e459-e474, 2024-Athlete load monitoring using upper back-mounted global navigation satellite system (GNSS) player tracking is common within many team sports.

A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Single Ascending Dose Trial of AWZ1066S, an Anti-Wolbachia Candidate Macrofilaricide.

AWZ1066S has been developed as a potential treatment for the neglected tropical diseases lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. AWZ1066S targets the Wolbachia bacterial endosymbiont present in the causative nematode parasites. This phase 1, first-in-human study aimed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of AWZ1066S in healthy human participants.

Bisoprolol in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at High Risk of Exacerbation: The BICS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Observational studies report that β-blocker use may be associated with reduced risk of COPD exacerbations. However, a recent trial reported that metoprolol did not reduce COPD exacerbations and increased COPD exacerbations requiring hospital admission.

Household carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in a large African city: An unquantified public health burden?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels that is linked to mortality and morbidity. Household air pollution from burning fuels on poorly ventilated stoves can lead to high concentrations of CO in homes. There are few datasets available on household concentrations of CO in urban areas of sub-Saharan African countries.

Practitioner Usage, Applications, and Understanding of Wearable GPS and Accelerometer Technology in Team Sports.

Dawson, L, McErlain-Naylor, SA, Devereux, G, and Beato, M. Practitioner usage, applications, and understanding of wearable GPS and accelerometer technology in team sports. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): e373-e382, 2024-Monitoring training load is essential for optimizing the performance of athletes, allowing practitioners to assess training programs, monitor athlete progress, and minimize the risk of injury and overtraining.

On-field rehabilitation in football: current practice and perceptions. A survey of the English Premier League and Football League.

Introduction: Return to play related research is increasing rapidly, with two recent competency-based frameworks offering conceptualised support for on-field rehabilitation (OFR) decision-making. It is still unknown, however, who is responsible for OFR and how they typically select, monitor, and progress OFR processes.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate current OFR practice within English professional football to support practitioners with decision-making and highlight opportunities for future research related to the design, monitoring, and progression of OFR.

Preterm birth, birth weight, infant weight gain and their associations with childhood asthma and spirometry: a cross-sectional observational study in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the origins of asthma and high prevalence of abnormal lung function remain unclear. In high-income countries (HICs), associations between birth measurements and childhood asthma and lung function highlight the importance of antenatal and early life factors in the aetiology of asthma and abnormal lung function in children. We present here the first study in sub-Saharan Africa to relate birth characteristics to both childhood respiratory symptoms and lung function.

Dual bronchodilators in Bronchiectasis study (DIBS): protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, placebo-controlled, three-arm, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial studying bronchodilators in preventing exacerbations of bronchiectasis.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a long-term lung condition, with dilated bronchi, chronic inflammation, chronic infection and acute exacerbations. Recurrent exacerbations are associated with poorer clinical outcomes such as increased severity of lung disease, further exacerbations, hospitalisations, reduced quality of life and increased risk of death. Despite an increasing prevalence of bronchiectasis, there is a critical lack of high-quality studies into the disease and no treatments specifically approved for its treatment.

Asthma symptoms, spirometry and air pollution exposure in schoolchildren in an informal settlement and an affluent area of Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Although 1 billion people live in informal (slum) settlements, the consequences for respiratory health of living in these settlements remain largely unknown. This study investigated whether children living in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya are at increased risk of asthma symptoms.

Methods: Children attending schools in Mukuru (an informal settlement in Nairobi) and a more affluent area (Buruburu) were compared.

Identification of key opportunities for optimising the management of high-risk COPD patients in the UK using the CONQUEST quality standards: an observational longitudinal study.

Background: This study compared management of high-risk COPD patients in the UK to national and international management recommendations and quality standards, including the COllaboratioN on QUality improvement initiative for achieving Excellence in STandards of COPD care (CONQUEST). The primary comparison was in 2019, but trends from 2000 to 2019 were also examined.

Methods: Patients identified in the Optimum Patient Care Research Database were categorised as newly diagnosed (≤12 months after diagnosis), already diagnosed, and potential COPD (smokers having exacerbation-like events).

Improving access to affordable quality-assured inhaled medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

Access to affordable inhaled medicines for chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) is severely limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), causing avoidable morbidity and mortality. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease convened a stakeholder meeting on this topic in February 2022. Focused group discussions were informed by literature and presentations summarising experiences of obtaining inhaled medicines in LMICs.

Use of the oral beta blocker bisoprolol to reduce the rate of exacerbation in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a randomised controlled trial (BICS).

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Beta blockers are well-established drugs widely used to treat cardiovascular conditions. Observational studies consistently report that beta blocker use in people with COPD is associated with a reduced risk of COPD exacerbations.

Effect of a high-intensity short-duration cycling elevation training mask on V̇O and anaerobic power. A randomized controlled trial.

This study investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) cycling elevation training mask (ETM) in moderately trained participants on both aerobic (V̇O) and anaerobic power performance. Sixteen participants, five females (25.8 ± 7.

Modeling Wheezing Spells Identifies Phenotypes with Different Outcomes and Genetic Associates.

Longitudinal modeling of current wheezing identified similar phenotypes, but their characteristics often differ between studies. We propose that a more comprehensive description of wheeze may better describe trajectories than binary information on the presence/absence of wheezing. We derived six multidimensional variables of wheezing spells from birth to adolescence (including duration, temporal sequencing, and the extent of persistence/recurrence).

Chronic respiratory disease in adult outpatients in three African countries: a cross-sectional study.

The greatest burden of chronic respiratory disease is in low- and middle-income countries, with recent population-based studies reporting substantial levels of obstructive and restrictive lung function. To characterise the common chronic respiratory diseases encountered in hospital outpatient clinics in three African countries. This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive adult patients with chronic respiratory symptoms (>8 weeks) attending hospital outpatient departments in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan.

Spirometric phenotypes from early childhood to young adulthood: a Chronic Airway Disease Early Stratification study.

Background: The prevalences of obstructive and restrictive spirometric phenotypes, and their relation to early-life risk factors from childhood to young adulthood remain poorly understood. The aim was to explore these phenotypes and associations with well-known respiratory risk factors across ages and populations in European cohorts.

Methods: We studied 49 334 participants from 14 population-based cohorts in different age groups (≤10, >10-15, >15-20, >20-25 years, and overall, 5-25 years).