The Role of Companion Dogs in the VA Maryland Health Care System Whole Health(y) GeroFit Program.

GeroFit is a gym-based exercise program that promotes health and wellness among older sedentary veterans. The aims of the current study were to determine whether providing a companion dog as an alternative to gym-based exercise would similarly affect whole health outcomes. A total of 15 ( = 15) veterans (62 ± 11 years of age; 13 of 15 >54 years of age) underwent physical function testing, completed global and whole health questionnaires, and wore an accelerometer for 7 days before (baseline) and 3 months after a dog came into their home.

Effects of Weight Loss and Aerobic Exercise Training on Adi-Pose Tissue Zinc α2-Glycoprotein and Associated Genes in Obesity.

Zinc α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) has been implicated in fatty acid metabolism and utilization and is lower in obese and higher in cachexic adults compared to those of normal weight. Previous studies suggest that ZAG binds to the beta3-adrenergic receptor (β3AR) to influence fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissue by regulating hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a six-month weight loss (WL) or aerobic exercise (AEX) intervention on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle ZAG mRNA levels and protein expression, as well as the expression of β3AR, and HSL.

Longitudinal analysis of physical function in older adults: The effects of physical inactivity and exercise training.

Lack of exercise contributes to systemic inflammation and is a major cause of chronic disease. The long-term impact of initiating and sustaining exercise in late life, as opposed to sustaining a sedentary lifestyle, on whole-body health measures such as physical performance is not well known. This is an exploratory study to compare changes in physical performance among older adults initiating exercise late in life versus inactive older adults.

A mental workload and biomechanical assessment during split-belt locomotor adaptation with and without optic flow.

Adaptive human performance relies on the central nervous system to regulate the engagement of cognitive-motor resources as task demands vary. Despite numerous studies which employed a split-belt induced perturbation to examine biomechanical outcomes during locomotor adaptation, none concurrently examined the cerebral cortical dynamics to assess changes in mental workload. Additionally, while prior work suggests that optic flow provides critical information for walking regulation, a few studies have manipulated visual inputs during adaption to split-belt walking.

Adherence to Perioperative Behavioral Therapy With Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women Receiving Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe adherence to behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training in women undergoing vaginal reconstructive surgery for organ prolapse and to examine whether adherence was associated with 24-month outcomes.

Methods: Participants were women ≥18 years of age, with vaginal bulge and stress urinary incontinence symptoms, planning to undergo vaginal reconstructive surgery for stages 2 to 4 vaginal or uterine prolapse. They were randomized to either sacrospinous ligament fixation or uterosacral ligament suspension and to perioperative behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training or usual care.

When should an athlete retire or discontinue participating in contact or collision sports following sport-related concussion? A systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review the scientific literature regarding factors to consider when providing advice or guidance to athletes about retirement from contact or collision sport following sport-related concussion (SRC), and to define contraindications to children/adolescent athletes entering or continuing with contact or collision sports after SRC.

Data Sources: Medline, Embase, SPORTSDiscus, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched systematically.

Study Eligibility Criteria: Studies were included if they were (1) original research, (2) reported on SRC as the primary source of injury, (3) evaluated the history, clinical assessment and/or investigation of findings that may preclude participation in sport and (4) evaluated mood disturbance and/or neurocognitive deficits, evidence of structural brain injury or risk factors for increased risk of subsequent SRC or prolonged recovery.

Defining and Measuring Preclinical Mobility Limitation: An Expert Consensus Exercise Informed by a Scoping Review.

Background: Early change in function in older adults has been termed preclinical disability (PCD). PCD has been understudied compared to other stages of disability because it is unlikely to receive comparative priority in clinical settings. It has major implications for prevention and population health as it may be the optimal time to intervene to prevent further decline.

Impact of Race, gait speed and arch height on plantar loading.

Diabetes is a leading cause for death in the United States, with African Americans (AA) being twice as likely to die from diabetes than White Americans (WA). AA are twice as likely to experience diabetes-related foot amputation due to foot ulcers, which are most often caused by high plantar pressure. While it is known that arch height, sex, family history of diabetes, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, and gait speed can impact plantar loading, there is a need to test the hypothesis that race in combination with the previously mentioned variables are significant predictors of plantar loading.

Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Survival in Patients With or Without Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: The association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mortality risk is based mostly on 1 CRF assessment. The impact of CRF change on mortality risk is not well-defined.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate changes in CRF and all-cause mortality.

An Evaluation of Burnout Among US Rheumatology Fellows: A National Survey.

Objective: To evaluate levels of burnout and correlates of burnout among US rheumatology fellows.

Methods: US rheumatology fellows were invited to complete an electronic survey in 2019. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Sex differences in muscle SIRT1 and SIRT3 and exercise + weight loss effects on muscle sirtuins.

The sirtuins, SIRT1 and SIRT3, are involved in the control of cellular processes to maintain metabolic homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 6-month aerobic training + weight loss program and hyperinsulinemia on SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression in skeletal muscle and to compare their expression between men and women. Thirty-five adult men ( = 18) and postmenopausal women ( = 17), (X ± SEM, age: 61 ± 1 years, BMI: 31.

Pacing Dynamics Determines the Arrhythmogenic Mechanism of the CPVT2-Causing CASQ2 Mutation in a Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocyte Computational Model.

Calsequestrin Type 2 (CASQ2) is a high-capacity, low-affinity, Ca-binding protein expressed in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of the cardiac myocyte. Mutations in CASQ2 have been linked to the arrhythmia catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT2) that occurs with acute emotional stress or exercise can result in sudden cardiac death (SCD). CASQ2 is a 16 bp (339-354) deletion CASQ2 mutation that prevents the protein expression due to premature stop codon.

The association between daily sedentary and active bout frequency with mortality risk in older men using accelerometry.

Background: Time awake with advancing age is increasingly spent sedentary and has several negative health consequences. We examined associations between the frequency of daily sedentary and active bouts with all-cause mortality.

Methods: Data are from 2816 men in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study (mean age ± SD: 79.

Frailty and Aging in HIV- Status Post 13 Years of National Awareness.

The People aged 50 years and above comprise over 50% of people living with HIV (PLWH) in the US. Despite the advances made with anti-retroviral therapy in increasing their life span, PLWH are plagued with non-AIDS associated conditions which increase their risk for morbidity and mortality. Frailty, a decline in physical and functional reserve, is one of the manifestations of aging, has a prevalence of 5-30%, and occurs up to 2 decades earlier in people aging with HIV (PAWH).

Medical therapies, comorbid conditions, and functional performance in people with peripheral artery disease enrolled in clinical trials between 2004 and 2021.

This study describes changes over time in baseline comorbidities, leg symptoms, functional impairment, and medications of people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) randomized into clinical trials designed to improve walking performance.

Non-surgical management of hip and knee osteoarthritis; comparison of ACR/AF and OARSI 2019 and VA/DoD 2020 guidelines.

Background And Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are several available recently updated guidelines for the management of hip and knee OA. Herein, we describe the similarities and differences among the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation (ACR/AF), the 2019 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), and the 2020 Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) treatment guidelines.

Combining exercise, protein supplementation and electric stimulation to mitigate muscle wasting and improve outcomes for survivors of critical illness-The ExPrES study.

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with high protein supplementation (HPRO) to preserve muscle mass and function has not been assessed in ICU patients. We compared the effects of combining NMES and HPRO with mobility and strength rehabilitation (NMES+HPRO+PT) to standardized ICU care.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of combined NMES+HPRO+PT in mitigating sarcopenia as evidenced by CT volume and cross-sectional area when compared to usual ICU care.

Achieving and sustaining behavior change for older adults: A Research Centers Collaborative Network workshop report.

Modifying unhealthy behaviors and/or environments may improve or maintain an older adult's health. However, achieving and sustaining behavior change is challenging and depends upon clinical, social, psychological, and political domains. In an effort to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of behavior change, the NIA Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) held a two-day workshop, Achieving and sustaining behavior change for older adults.

Exertional rhabdomyolysis: an analysis of 321 hospitalised US military service members and its relationship with heat illness.

Introduction: Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome of muscle breakdown following exercise. This study describes laboratory and demographic trends of service members hospitalised for exertional rhabdomyolysis and examines the relationships with heat illness.

Methods: We queried the US Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center's Defence Medical Epidemiology Database for hospitalised cases of rhabdomyolysis associated with physical exertion from January 2010 July 2013.

The Impact of Obesity on C1q/TNF-Related Protein-9 Expression and Endothelial Function following Acute High-Intensity Interval Exercise vs. Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise.

C1q-TNF-related protein-9 (CTRP9) increases endothelial nitric oxide synthase and reduces vasoconstrictors. There is limited information regarding exercise-mediated CTRP9 in obesity. The purpose of this study was to compare high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME) on the CTRP9 response and an indicator of endothelial function (FMD) in obese participants.

Reliability, responsiveness, and validity of slow walking speed in community dwelling older adults.

Background: Independent ambulation requires adaptability. Self-selected and maximum walking speeds are often both assessed to demonstrate the ability to adapt speed to different tasks and environments. However, purposefully walking at a slow speed (slowWS) could also be an appropriate adaptation in certain situations but has rarely been investigated.

Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries After Concussion in Collegiate Student-Athletes.

Background: An association has been identified between concussion and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury (LEMSKI) after return to sports participation. However, the collegiate student-athlete studies have relied on relatively small single-institution studies, which limits generalizability.

Purpose: To assess odds of, and time to, LEMSKI after concussion in US collegiate athletes, using the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP).