Running Through the Haze: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being.

Background: With a warming climate, extreme wildfires are more likely to occur, which may adversely affect air quality, physical activity (PA), and therefore, mental well-being.

Methods: We assessed PA engagement and mental well-being between periods with and without wildfire smoke, and whether there were associations between changes in PA behavior and mental well-being. Questionnaires on PA and mental well-being during a period of wildfire smoke were completed by 348 participants; of these participants, 162 also completed a follow-up PA and mental well-being questionnaire during a period without wildfire smoke.

Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain.

Background: Until recently, treatments for chronic pain commonly relied on in-person interventions, and despite more hybrid care options today, capacity for delivery remains challenged. Digital programs focusing on the psychosocial aspects of pain may provide low-barrier alternatives.

Aims: Through a randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application.

Effects of air pollution exposure on inflammatory and endurance performance in recreationally trained cyclists adapted to traffic-related air pollution.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on markers of inflammatory, neuroplasticity, and endurance performance-related parameters in recreationally trained cyclists who were adapted to TRAP during a 50-km cycling time trial (50-km cycling TT). Ten male cyclists performed a 50-km cycling TT inside an environmental chamber located in downtown Sao Paulo (Brazil), under TRAP or filtered air conditions. Blood samples were obtained before and after the 50-km cycling TT to measure markers of inflammatory [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)] and neuroplasticity [brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)].

When physical activity meets the physical environment: precision health insights from the intersection.

Background: The physical environment can facilitate or hinder physical activity. A challenge in promoting physical activity is ensuring that the physical environment is supportive and that these supports are appropriately tailored to the individual or group in question. Ideally, aspects of the environment that impact physical activity would be enhanced, but environmental changes take time, and identifying ways to provide more precision to physical activity recommendations might be helpful for specific individuals or groups.

Does Higher Self-Reported Cardiorespiratory Fitness Reduce the Odds of Hospitalization From COVID-19?

Background: Regular physical activity and higher cardiorespiratory (CR) fitness enhance immune function, possibly reducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection severity. The aim was to assess the association between physical activity and self-reported CR fitness on COVID-19 infection characteristics.

Methods: Participants formerly testing positive for COVID-19 completed an online questionnaire measuring COVID-19 infection characteristics and complications, self-reported CR fitness level, physical activity, and sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.

Blueberry supplementation reduces the blood lactate response to running in normobaric hypoxia but has no effect on performance in recreational runners.

Background: Blueberries are concentrated with anthocyanins possessing antioxidant properties. As these properties counter fatigue, blueberry supplementation may improve performance and recovery, particularly in hypoxia, where oxidative stress is elevated.

Methods: This study examined the effects of blueberry supplementation on running performance, physiological responses, and recovery in normobaric hypoxia.

Effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust exposure on soluble P-selectin, E-selectin, I-CAM-1, VCAM-1 and complete blood count.

Background: Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 μm or less (PM) that contains transition metals may play a role in systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. Exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) can increase adhesion molecules, which are important in the inflammatory response; however, it is unclear how exercising in DE affects adhesion molecules and how exercise intensity modulates this response.

Four Days of Blueberry Powder Supplementation Lowers the Blood Lactate Response to Running But Has No Effect on Time-Trial Performance.

Blueberries are abundant with anthocyanins possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As these properties combat fatigue and promote recovery, blueberry supplementation may enhance performance and recovery. Thus, the objectives were to examine the effects of two blueberry supplementation protocols on running performance, physiological responses, and short-term recovery.

The pulmonary and autonomic effects of high-intensity and low-intensity exercise in diesel exhaust.

Background: Exposure to air pollution impairs aspects of pulmonary and autonomic function and causes pulmonary inflammation. However, how exercising in air pollution affects these indices is poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust (DE) exposure on pulmonary function, heart rate variability (HRV), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), norepinephrine and symptoms.

The effect of low and high-intensity cycling in diesel exhaust on flow-mediated dilation, circulating NOx, endothelin-1 and blood pressure.

Introduction: Exposure to air pollution impairs aspects of endothelial function such as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Outdoor exercisers are frequently exposed to air pollution, but how exercising in air pollution affects endothelial function and how these effects are modified by exercise intensity are poorly understood.

Objectives: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust (DE) exposure on FMD, blood pressure, plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx) and endothelin-1.

Physiological responses to diesel exhaust exposure are modified by cycling intensity.

Background: Outdoor exercisers are frequently exposed to diesel exhaust (DE) that contains particulate matter (PM) air pollution. How the respiratory and metabolic responses to exercise are affected by DE exposure and how these responses change with exercise intensity are unknown.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the respiratory and metabolic responses to low- and high-intensity cycling with DE exposure containing high levels of PM.

The health effects of exercising in air pollution.

The health benefits of exercise are well known. Many of the most accessible forms of exercise, such as walking, cycling, and running often occur outdoors. This means that exercising outdoors may increase exposure to urban air pollution.

The effect of pre-exercise diesel exhaust exposure on cycling performance and cardio-respiratory variables.

Purpose: To determine the effect of pre-exercise exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) on 20-km cycling performance, pulmonary function, and cardio-respiratory variables during exercise.

Methods: Eight endurance-trained males participated in the study. Test days consisted of a 60-min exposure to either filtered air (FA) or DE, followed by a 20 km cycling time trial.

The effects of exercise in hypoxic and normoxic conditions on endothelin-1 and arterial compliance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of short-term normoxic and hypoxic exercise on plasma endothelin-1 and nitric oxide levels, and the relationship of arterial compliance and pulmonary artery pressure to endothelin-1. Seven endurance-trained males completed two incremental and two steady-state exercise tests performed at ventilatory threshold in normoxia and hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen = 0.14).

From good intentions to proven interventions: effectiveness of actions to reduce the health impacts of air pollution.

Background: Associations between air pollution and a multitude of health effects are now well established. Given ubiquitous exposure to some level of air pollution, the attributable health burden can be high, particularly for susceptible populations.

Objectives: An international multidisciplinary workshop was convened to discuss evidence of the effectiveness of actions to reduce health impacts of air pollution at both the community and individual level.

The effects of lower body positive and negative pressure on the hypoxic ventilatory decline.

Purpose: Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) augments the acute hypoxic ventilatory response (AHVR) in humans, presumably through altered central integration of baro- and chemoreceptor afferents. This study investigated the effects of LBNP and lower body positive pressure (LBPP) on hypoxic ventilatory decline (HVD) in humans.

Methods: Nine individuals (4 females and 5 males) were tested in a supine position with the lower body supported inside a hypo/hyperbaric chamber.

Performance of a compact end-tidal forcing system.

The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a new compact, portable end-tidal forcing (ETF) system capable of reliably controlling end-tidal gases. The system consists of compressed gas sources (air, N(2) and CO(2)) that are connected via three solenoid valves to a humidification chamber and an inspiratory reservoir bag from which the participant breathes. This computer-controlled system compares actual end-tidal gas partial pressures with target pressures and mixes the gases on a breath-by-breath basis.

The physiology of rock climbing.

In general, elite climbers have been characterised as small in stature, with low percentage body fat and body mass. Currently, there are mixed conclusions surrounding body mass and composition, potentially because of variable subject ability, method of assessment and calculation. Muscular strength and endurance in rock climbers have been primarily measured on the forearm, hand and fingers via dynamometry.