Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction: Current Insights and Future Directions.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) refers to temporary lower airway narrowing that occurs during or after vigorous physical exertion, with a high incidence in athletes and individuals with pre-existing asthma. The pathophysiology of EIB is not completely understood, but it is thought to involve a complex interplay among airway epithelial changes, immune responses, and environmental interactions. Phenotypic differences are apparent among those affected by EIB.

Unsupervised field-based exercise challenge tests to support the detection of exercise-induced lower airway dysfunction in athletes.

Background: Athletes are at risk for developing exercise-induced lower airway narrowing. The diagnostic assessment of such lower airway dysfunction (LAD) requires an objective bronchial provocation test (BPT).

Objectives: Our primary aim was to assess if unsupervised field-based exercise challenge tests (ECTs) could confirm LAD by using app-based spirometry.

Differences in lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and respiratory health between elite athletes competing in different sports.

The aim of this study was to examine lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and exercise-induced respiratory symptoms in elite athletes performing different sports. Norwegian national-team athletes (30 swimmers, 32 cross-country skiers, 16 speed-skaters, 11 rowers/paddlers, 17 handball players and 23 soccer players) completed a validated questionnaire, measured exhaled nitric oxide (FE), spirometry, methacholine provocation (PD) and skin prick test. Three cut-off levels defined BHR; i.

Prevalence of Asthma among Norwegian Elite Athletes.

Objective: Asthma is a common problem among elite athletes and represents a health risk interfering with the athlete's performance status. This study aimed to evaluate the asthma prevalence among Norwegian summer and winter elite athletes and asthma prevalence across sport categories. We also aimed to examine whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), lung function, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FE), and allergy status differed between asthmatic and non-asthmatic elite athletes.

Recommendations for Determining the Validity of Consumer Wearables and Smartphones for the Estimation of Energy Expenditure: Expert Statement and Checklist of the INTERLIVE Network.

Background: Consumer wearables and smartphone devices commonly offer an estimate of energy expenditure (EE) to assist in the objective monitoring of physical activity to the general population. Alongside consumers, healthcare professionals and researchers are seeking to utilise these devices for the monitoring of training and improving human health. However, the methods of validation and reporting of EE estimation in these devices lacks rigour, negatively impacting on the ability to make comparisons between devices and provide transparent accuracy.

Validity of Estimating the Maximal Oxygen Consumption by Consumer Wearables: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Expert Statement of the INTERLIVE Network.

Background: Technological advances have recently made possible the estimation of maximal oxygen consumption (VO) by consumer wearables. However, the validity of such estimations has not been systematically summarized using meta-analytic methods and there are no standards guiding the validation protocols.

Objective: The aim was to (1) quantitatively summarize previous studies investigating the validity of the VO estimated by consumer wearables and (2) provide best-practice recommendations for future validation studies.

Does Cold-Water Endurance Swimming Affect Pulmonary Function in Healthy Adults?

The acute effects of cold-water endurance swimming on the respiratory system have received little attention. We investigated pulmonary responses to cold-water endurance swimming in healthy recreational triathletes. Pulmonary function, alveolar diffusing capacity (L), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE) and arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO) were assessed in 19 healthy adults one hour before and 2.

Recommendations for determining the validity of consumer wearable heart rate devices: expert statement and checklist of the INTERLIVE Network.

Assessing vital signs such as heart rate (HR) by wearable devices in a lifestyle-related environment provides widespread opportunities for public health related research and applications. Commonly, consumer wearable devices assessing HR are based on photoplethysmography (PPG), where HR is determined by absorption and reflection of emitted light by the blood. However, methodological differences and shortcomings in the validation process hamper the comparability of the validity of various wearable devices assessing HR.

Recommendations for determining the validity of consumer wearable and smartphone step count: expert statement and checklist of the INTERLIVE network.

Consumer wearable and smartphone devices provide an accessible means to objectively measure physical activity (PA) through step counts. With the increasing proliferation of this technology, consumers, practitioners and researchers are interested in leveraging these devices as a means to track and facilitate PA behavioural change. However, while the acceptance of these devices is increasing, the validity of many consumer devices have not been rigorously and transparently evaluated.

Aerobic performance among healthy (non-asthmatic) adults using beta2-agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To examine the effect of beta2-agonists on aerobic performance in healthy, non-asthmatic study participants.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eligibility Criteria: We searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) for randomised controlled trials published until December 2019.

Can β2-agonists have an ergogenic effect on strength, sprint or power performance? Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the effect of β2-agonists on anaerobic performance in healthy non-asthmatic subjects.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eligibility Criteria: We searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) for randomised controlled trials, published until December 2019, examining the effect of β2-agonists on maximal physical performance lasting 1 min or shorter.

Motivation for physical activity in adolescents with asthma.

Objective: We explored motivation for physical activity (PA) and exercise in adolescents with asthma who entered and continued a 10-week play-based exercise intervention.

Methods: Eighteen adolescents with asthma, aged 13-17 years, participated in a 10-week play- and interval-based indoor exercise intervention during winter and autumn months. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted in weeks 2 and 8, focusing on motivation for PA and exercise, as well as field observations of exercise sessions in weeks 2, 6, and 8.

Lung function and oxygen saturation after participation in Norseman Xtreme Triathlon.

Objectives: To examine evidence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) defined as ≥10% reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV ) and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) defined as ≥4% reduction in oxygen saturation (SpO ) from before to after participation in the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon. Secondarily, to assess whether changes in FEV and SpO are related to respiratory symptoms, training volume, and race time.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental non-controlled study, we included 63 triathletes (50♂/13♀) aged 40.

The Role of Airway Inflammation and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Athlete's Asthma.

Purpose: Asthma is frequently reported in endurance athletes. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term airway inflammatory response to endurance exercise in high-level athletes with and without asthma.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 20 asthmatic athletes (10 swimmers and 10 cross-country skiers), 19 athletes without asthma (10 swimmers and 9 cross-country skiers), and 24 healthy nonathletes completed methacholine bronchial challenge, lung function tests, and sputum induction on two separate days.

Parasympathetic Activity and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Athletes.

Purpose: A high prevalence of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is reported in swimmers and cross-country skiers. It has been suggested that increased parasympathetic nervous activity is involved in asthma development in endurance athletes. We aimed to assess the associations of BHR to parasympathetic activity in healthy and asthmatic swimmers and cross-country skiers and healthy nonathletes.

Voluntary Movement Frequencies in Submaximal One- and Two-Legged Knee Extension Exercise and Pedaling.

Understanding of behavior and control of human voluntary rhythmic stereotyped leg movements is useful in work to improve performance, function, and rehabilitation of exercising, healthy, and injured humans. The present study aimed at adding to the existing understanding within this field. To pursue the aim, correlations between freely chosen movement frequencies in relatively simple, single-joint, one- and two-legged knee extension exercise were investigated.

Two distinct phenotypes of asthma in elite athletes identified by latent class analysis.

Introduction: Clusters of asthma in athletes have been insufficiently studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize asthma phenotypes in elite athletes using latent class analysis (LCA) and to evaluate its association with the type of sport practiced.

Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, an analysis of athletes' records was carried out in databases of the Portuguese National Anti-Doping Committee and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.

Assessment of Parasympathetic Activity in Athletes: Comparing Two Different Methods.

Introduction: A variety of methods are used to assess parasympathetic activity in athletes targeting different organs; however, the reliability of or interchangeability between measurement procedures is not clear.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the repeatability of two parasympathetic activity measurement procedures, the HR variability during a 4-s exercise test (4sET), and the contractile properties of the pupil (pupillometry), and to assess their agreement. The secondary objective of this study is to assess their relationship with the bronchodilating effect of inhaled ipratropium bromide (iIB), blocking parasympathetic signals to the lungs.

Exhaled nitric oxide concentration in the period of 60 min after submaximal exercise in the cold.

Background: Fractional expired nitric oxide (FENO ) is decreased after exercise. The effect of exercise in the cold upon FENO is unknown.

Purpose: To examine changes in FENO after a short, high intensive exercise test in a cold and in a temperate environment.

Exhaled nitric oxide after high-intensity exercise at 2800 m altitude.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) concentration in exhaled gas is a marker of some inflammatory processes in the lung, and endogenous NO plays a role in the physiological responses to exercise and altitude. The aim of this study was to compare changes in exhaled NO concentration 5-60 mins after high-intensity exercise at 2800 m and at 180 m altitude.

Methods: Twenty trained healthy volunteers (12 men), aged 19-28 years, were included in this open, crossover study.