Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Objectively recorded physical activity in early pregnancy: A multiethnic population‐based study

This study aimed to compare objectively recorded physical activity (PA) levels and walking steps among pregnant women. Cross‐sectional data from a multiethnic cohort (n = 823) of pregnant women consisting of 44% from Western countries, 24% from South Asia, 14% from Middle East, and 18% from other countries. PA and steps were recorded by the activity monitor SenseWear™ Pro3 Armband. A total of 678 women were included in the analysis. Western women walked significantly more steps and had higher moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity physical activity (MVPA) levels compared with South Asian women per weekday and weekend day. Interaction terms (P = 0.008) between ethnicity (Western vs South Asian) and parity, and education, respectively, were identified: having ≥1 children was positively associated with steps during weekends in South Asians in contrast to Western women. Having <12 years education was associated with more MVPA time among South Asians in contrast to Western women. South Asian women are prone to low levels of PA during pregnancy and South Asian women without children and with higher education may have an elevated risk for an inactive lifestyle during pregnancy.
Real‐time feedback on knee abduction moment does not improve frontal‐plane knee mechanics during jump landings

Excessive knee abduction loading is a contributing factor to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a double‐leg landing training program with real‐time visual feedback improves frontal‐plane mechanics during double‐ and single‐leg landings. Knee abduction angles and moments and vertical ground reaction forces (GRF) of 21 recreationally active women were quantified for double‐ and single‐leg landings before and after the training program. This program consisted of two sessions of double‐leg jump landings with real‐time visual feedback on knee abduction moments for the experimental group and without real‐time feedback for the control group. No significant differences were found between training groups. In comparison with pre‐training data, peak knee abduction moments decreased 12% post‐training for both double‐ and single‐leg landings; whereas peak vertical GRF decreased 8% post‐training for double‐leg landings only, irrespective of training group. Real‐time feedback on knee abduction moments, therefore, did not significantly improve frontal‐plane knee mechanics during landings. The effect of the training program on knee abduction moments, however, transferred from the double‐leg landings (simple task) to single‐leg landings (more complex task). Consequently, ACL injury prevention efforts may not need to focus on complex tasks during which injury occurs.
Effects of sprint interval training on VO2max and aerobic exercise performance: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Recently, several studies have examined whether low‐volume sprint interval training (SIT) may improve aerobic and metabolic function. The objective of this study was to systematically review the existing literature regarding the aerobic and metabolic effects of SIT in healthy sedentary or recreationally active adults. A systematic literature search was performed (Bibliotek.dk, SPORTDiscus, Embase, PEDro, SveMed+, and Pubmed). Meta‐analytical procedures were applied evaluating effects on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Nineteen unique studies [four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nine matched‐controlled trials and six noncontrolled studies] were identified, evaluating SIT interventions lasting 2–8 weeks. Strong evidence support improvements of aerobic exercise performance and VO2max following SIT. A meta‐analysis across 13 studies evaluating effects of SIT on VO2max showed a weighted mean effects size of g = 0.63 95% CI (0.39; 0.87) and VO2max increases of 4.2–13.4%. Solid evidence support peripheral adaptations known to increase the oxidative potential of the muscle following SIT, whereas evidence regarding central adaptations was limited and equivocal. Some evidence indicated changes in substrate oxidation at rest and during exercise as well as improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity following SIT. In conclusion, strong evidence support improvement of aerobic exercise performance and VO2max following SIT, which coincides with peripheral muscular adaptations. Future RCTs on long‐term SIT and underlying mechanisms are warranted.
Metabolic and mechanical involvement of arms and legs in simulated double pole skiing

We evaluated arm and leg work rate and metabolism during double pole ergometer skiing. Thermodilution arm and leg blood flow was determined together with the arterial to venous difference for oxygen, while the work rate was assessed in eight male recreational skiers [24 (SD 7) years]. When work rate increased from 82 (SE 4) to 117 (7) W, leg power increased by 43% (enhanced vertical force and displacement of the body). The elbow angle tended to increase [from 71 (11.3)° to 75 (10.9)°; P = 0.07] and arm oxygen uptake increased by 20 (5)% [from 0.65 (0.07) to 0.78 (0.08) L/min; P < 0.05] because two‐arm blood flow increased [from 5.4 (0.6) to 6.3 (0.7) L/min; P < 0.05] with no significant change in oxygen extraction [from 59 (2.3)% to 60 (1.9)%] accompanied with net arm lactate and potassium release. In contrast, two‐leg blood flow [from 5.8 (0.5) to 8.0 (0.5) L/min] and oxygen extraction [from 67 (1.3)% to 75 (1.5)%] increased (P < 0.05), resulting in a 53 (8)% increase in leg oxygen uptake [from 0.82 (0.06) to 1.24 (0.07) L/min; P < 0.05]. In conclusion, during double poling on an ergometer, arm muscle metabolism and work rate increase only marginally and an increase in work intensity is covered mainly by the leg muscles.
Do soccer and Zumba exercise improve fitness and indicators of health among female hospital employees? A 12‐week RCT

This randomized controlled study investigated the effectiveness of soccer and Zumba on fitness and health indicators in female participants recruited from a workplace. One hundred seven hospital employees were cluster‐randomized to either a soccer group (SG), Zumba group (ZG), or control group (CG). Intervention effects for the two training groups were compared with CG. The training was conducted outside working hours as 2–3 1‐h sessions per week for 12 weeks. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), fat percentage, fat mass, bone mineral content, and plasma osteocalcin were measured before and after the intervention period. Based on intention‐to‐treat‐analyses, SG significantly improved the VO2peak relative to body mass (5%; P = 0.02) and decreased heart rate during 100‐W cycle exercise (−7 bpm; P = 0.01), total body fat percentage (−1.1%; P = 0.002), and total body fat mass (−1.0 kg; P = 0.001) compared with CG. ZG significantly improved the VO2peak relative to body mass (5%; P = 0.03) and decreased total fat mass (−0.6 kg; P < 0.05) compared with CG. Plasma osteocalcin increased in SG (21%; P < 0.001) and ZG (10%; P = 0.01) compared with CG. The present study indicates that workplace initiated short‐term soccer training as well as Zumba outside working hours may result in fitness and modest health benefits among female hospital employees.
Achilles tendon rupture – treatment and complications: A systematic review

Achilles tendon rupture is a frequent injury with an increasing incidence. Until now, there is no consensus regarding optimal treatment. The aim of this review was to illuminate and summarize randomized controlled trials comparing surgical and non‐surgical treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures during the last 10 years. Seven articles were found and they were all acceptable according to international quality assessment guidelines. Primary outcomes were re‐ruptures, other complications, and functional outcomes. There was no significant difference in re‐ruptures between the two treatments, but a tendency to favoring surgical treatment. Further, one study found an increased risk of soft‐tissue‐related complications after surgery. Patient satisfaction and time to return to work were significantly different in favor of surgery in one study, and there was also better functional outcome after surgery in some studies. These seven studies indicate that surgical patients have a faster rehabilitation. However, the differences between surgical and non‐surgical treatment appear to be subtle and it could mean that rehabilitation is more important, rather than the actual initial treatment. Therefore, further studies will be needed in regard to understanding the interplay between acute surgical or non‐surgical treatment, and the rehabilitation regimen for the overall outcome after Achilles tendon ruptures.
Rate of force development as a measure of muscle damage

This study tested the hypothesis that rate of force development (RFD) would be a more sensitive indirect marker of muscle damage than maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) peak torque. Ten men performed one concentric cycling and two eccentric cycling (ECC1, ECC2) bouts for 30 min at 60% of maximal concentric power output with 2 weeks between bouts. MVC peak torque, RFD, and vastus lateralis electromyogram amplitude and mean frequency were measured during a knee extensor MVC before, immediately after and 1–2 days after each bout. The magnitude of decrease in MVC peak torque after exercise was greater (P < 0.05) for ECC1 (11–25%) than concentric cycling (2–12%) and ECC2 (0–16%). Peak RFD and RFD from 0–30 ms, 0–50 ms, 0–100 ms, to 0–200 ms decreased (P < 0.05) immediately after all cycling bouts without significant differences between bouts, but RFD at 100–200 ms interval (RFD100–200) decreased (P < 0.05) at all time points after ECC1 (24–32%) and immediately after ECC2 (23%), but did not change after CONC. The magnitude of decrease in RFD100–200 was 7–19% greater than that of MVC peak torque after ECC1 (P < 0.05). It is concluded that RFD100–200 is a more specific and sensitive indirect marker of eccentric exercise‐induced muscle damage than MVC peak torque.
Fatness is not a factor of fitness: analysis of cardiorespiratory data from healthy children over an 8-year period

Abstract Purpose To evaluate exercise performance and body mass index in healthy children over an 8-year period in order to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness has decreased relative to changes in body mass index in our patient population. Method This study is a retrospective review of anthropometric and cardiorespiratory fitness data from our hospital's Exercise Physiology Laboratory's database on 1201 healthy children (6–18 years) with structurally normal hearts who performed one cycle ergometry test between 1999 and 2006. Subjects were stratified by gender and age. Body mass index was compared between 1999–2002 (Early Group) and 2003–2006 (Late Group) and with national averages. Exercise outcome variables were maximal oxygen consumption, anaerobic threshold, physical working capacity indexed to body weight. Analysis of variance was used to detect differences between groups for each outcome variable. Results Body mass index was not significantly different from national data (p-value equals 0.79) or between groups. A negative trend (p-value greater than 0.15 less than 0.20) was observed among most indices of exercise performance between Early and Late Groups. Significantly lower anaerobic threshold was found among males between Early and Late Group (25.7 plus or minus 0.9 versus 23.4 plus or minus 1.6 millilitres per kilogram per minute, p-value less than 0.01), and in physical working capacity among females between Early and Late Groups (2.9 plus or minus 0.1 versus 2.7 plus or minus 0.1, p-value less than 0.05). Conclusions Cardiorespiratory fitness in males and working capacity in females declined over time independent of body mass index. This suggests that other measures may need to be evaluated for promotion of overall cardiovascular health.
Correlation of phospholipid metabolites with prostate cancer pathologic grade, proliferative status and surgical stage – impact of tissue environment

This study investigates the relationship between phospholipid metabolite concentrations, Gleason score, rate of cellular proliferation and surgical stage in malignant prostatectomy samples by performing one‐ and two‐dimensional, high‐resolution magic angle spinning, total correlation spectroscopy, pathology and Ki‐67 staining on the same surgical samples. At radical prostatectomy, surgical samples were obtained from 49 patients [41 with localized TNM stage T1 and T2, and eight with local cancer spread (TNM stage T3)]. Thirteen of the tissue samples were high‐grade prostate cancer [Gleason score: 4 + 3 (n = 7); 4 + 4 (n = 6)], 22 low‐grade prostate cancer [Gleason score: 3 + 3 (n = 17); 3 + 4 (n = 5)] and 14 benign prostate tissues. This study demonstrates that high‐grade prostate cancer shows significantly higher Ki‐67 staining and concentrations of phosphocholine (PC) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) than does low‐grade prostate cancer (2.4 ± 2.8% versus 7.6 ± 3.5%, p < 0.005, and 0.671 ± 0.461 versus 1.87 ± 2.15 mmolal, p < 0.005, respectively). In patients with local cancer spread, increases in [PC + GPC + PE + GPE] (PE, phosphoethanolamine; GPE, glycerophosphoethanolamine] and Ki‐67 index approached significance (4.2 ± 2.5 versus 2.7 ± 2.4 mmolal, p = 0.07, and 5.3 ± 3.8% versus 2.9 ± 3.8%, p = 0.07, respectively). PC and Ki‐67 were significantly lower and GPC higher in prostate tissues when compared with cell cultures, presumably because of a lack of important stromal–epithelial interactions in cell cultures. The findings of this study will need to be validated in a larger cohort of surgical patients with clinical outcome data, but support the role of in vivo 1H MRSI in discriminating between low‐ and high‐grade prostate cancer based on the magnitude of elevation of the in vivo total choline resonance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrodynamic profile of young swimmers: Changes over a competitive season

The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in the hydrodynamic profile of young swimmers over a competitive season and to compare the variations according to a well‐designed training periodization. Twenty‐five swimmers (13 boys and 12 girls) were evaluated in (a) October (M1); (b) March (M2); and (c) June (M3). Inertial and anthropometrical measures included body mass, swimmer's added water mass, height, and trunk transverse surface area. Swimming efficiency was estimated by the speed fluctuation, stroke index, and approximate entropy. Active drag was estimated with the velocity perturbation method and the passive drag with the gliding decay method. Hydrodynamic dimensionless numbers (Froude and Reynolds numbers) and hull velocity (i.e., speed at Froude number = 0.42) were also calculated. No variable presented a significant gender effect. Anthropometrics and inertial parameters plus dimensionless numbers increased over time. Swimming efficiency improved between M1 and M3. There was a trend for both passive and active drag increase from M1 to M2, but being lower at M3 than at M1. Intra‐individual changes between evaluation moments suggest high between‐ and within‐subject variations. Therefore, hydrodynamic changes over a season occur in a non‐linear fashion way, where the interplay between growth and training periodization explain the unique path flow selected by each young swimmer.
Skeletal muscle water and electrolytes following prolonged dehydrating exercise

We studied if dehydrating exercise would reduce muscle water (H2Omuscle) and affect muscle electrolyte concentrations. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected prior, immediately after, and 1 and 4 h after prolonged dehydrating exercise (150 min at 33 ± 1 °C, 25% ± 2% humidity) on nine endurance‐trained cyclists (VO2max = 54.4 ± 1.05 mL/kg/min). Plasma volume (PV) changes and fluid shifts between compartments (Cl− method) were measured. Exercise dehydrated subjects 4.7% ± 0.3% of body mass by losing 2.75 ± 0.15 L of water and reducing PV 18.4% ± 1% below pre‐exercise values (P < 0.05). Right after exercise H2Omuscle remained at pre‐exercise values (i.e., 398 ± 6 mL/100 g dw muscle−1) but declined 13% ± 2% (342 ± 12 mL/100 g dw muscle−1; P < 0.05) after 1 h of supine rest. At that time, PV recovered toward pre‐exercise levels. The Cl− method corroborated the shift of fluid between extracellular and intracellular compartments. After 4 h of recovery, PV returned to pre‐exercise values; however, H2Omuscle remained reduced at the same level. Muscle Na+ and K+ increased (P < 0.05) in response to the H2Omuscle reductions. Our findings suggest that active skeletal muscle does not show a net loss of H2O during prolonged dehydrating exercise. However, during the first hour of recovery H2Omuscle decreases seemly to restore PV and thus cardiovascular stability.
11th Annual William J. Rashkind Memorial Lecture in paediatric cardiology – a short history of progress: Where we've been, where we are, where we're going *

I N MY FINAL YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL, I HAD THE GREAT fortune of meeting Dr William Rashkind when I was completing an elective in Pediatric Cardiology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1981. It was one of those moments when I realised – ‘‘I want to do what he does’’, and ‘‘I want to enjoy my work as much as he does’’. Dr Rashkind was an innovator, teacher, humanitarian, humorist, and above all a superb clinician and role model. In most ways, he embodies the field of paediatric cardiology in the early years, a field that was led by a few forward-thinking leaders who taught the next generation of physicians. I was honoured that the Organizing Committee of Cardiology 2012 asked me to give the 11th Annual Lecture in Pediatric Cardiology in his honour. Approximately 1 year before Cardiology 2012 in Orlando, another extremely accomplished individual *Presented at: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiology 2012, 16th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, Orlando, Florida, February 22–26, 2012.
Quadriceps neural alterations in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients: A 6‐month longitudinal investigation

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate differences in quadriceps corticospinal excitability, spinal‐reflexive excitability, strength, and voluntary activation before, 2 weeks post and 6 months post‐anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr). This longitudinal, case‐control investigation examined 20 patients scheduled for ACLr (11 females, 9 males; age: 20.9 ± 4.4 years; height:172.4 ± 7.5 cm; weight:76.2 ± 11.8 kg) and 20 healthy controls (11 females, 9 males; age:21.7 ± 3.7 years; height: 173.7 ± 9.9 cm; weight: 76.1 ± 19.7 kg). Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), central activation ratio (CAR), normalized Hoffmann spinal reflexes, active motor threshold (AMT), and normalized motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes at 120% of AMT were measured in the quadriceps muscle at the specific time points. ACLr patients demonstrated bilateral reductions in spinal‐reflexive excitability compared with controls before surgery (P = 0.02) and 2 weeks post‐surgery (P ≤ 0.001). ACLr patients demonstrated higher AMT at 6 months post‐surgery (P ≤ 0.001) in both limbs. No MEP differences were detected. Quadriceps MVIC and CAR were lower in both limbs of the ACLr group before surgery and 6 months post‐surgery (P ≤ 0.05) compared with controls. Diminished excitability of spinal‐reflexive and corticospinal pathways are present at different times following ACLr and occur in combination with clinical deficits in quadriceps strength and activation. Early rehabilitation strategies targeting spinal‐reflexive excitability may help improve postoperative outcomes, while later‐stage rehabilitation may benefit from therapeutic techniques aimed at improving corticospinal excitability.
The heritable path of human physical performance: from single polymorphisms to the “next generation”

Human physical performance is a complex multifactorial trait. Historically, environmental factors (e.g., diet, training) alone have been unable to explain the basis of all prominent phenotypes for physical performance. Therefore, there has been an interest in the study of the contribution of genetic factors to the development of these phenotypes. Support for a genetic component is found with studies that shown that monozygotic twins were more similar than were dizygotic twins for many physiological traits. The evolution of molecular techniques and the ability to scan the entire human genome enabled association of several genetic polymorphisms with performance. However, some biases related to the selection of cohorts and inadequate definition of the study variables have complicated the already difficult task of studying such a large and polymorphic genome, often resulting in inconsistent results about the influence of candidate genes. This review aims to provide a critical overview of heritable genetic aspects. Novel molecular technologies, such as next‐generation sequencing, are discussed and how they can contribute to improving understanding of the molecular basis for athletic performance. It is important to ensure that the large amount of data that can be generated using these tools will be used effectively by ensuring well‐designed studies.
Cytogenetic effects of ethanol on chronic alcohol users.

AIM Alcoholism is a significant public health problem that is also associated with a complex genetic trait. Fragile sites (FS) are potentially informative endpoints for the study of clinical disorders. We aimed to find chromosomal damages in chronic alcohol users for the purpose of finding the correlation between alcohol and chromosomal anomalies. METHODS The potential roles/effects of ethanol on chromosome(s) were assessed in this study by investigating its cytotoxic effects in lymphocyte cultures from chronic alcoholics and controls. RESULTS Alcoholics revealed a significantly higher frequency of FS and chromosomal aberrations (CA), and the FS clusters in specific chromosomal regions: 1q12, 1q21, 1q32, 2p13, 2q21, 2q31, 3p14, 3p25, 3q21, 4q21, 4q31, 5q31, 6p21, 7q22, 7q32, 9q13, 9q22, 10q22, 11q23, and 12q13. We also observed a significantly greater number of numerical and structural CA in alcoholics. The most frequent exchange types were deletions and polymorphic variations. CA could be due to the cumulative effect of both alcohol and smoking. The loci 1q12, 3p25, 4q31, 6p21, and 12q13 were not reported previously in alcoholics and may be hot spots for alcoholism. The overall FS frequencies were not statistically different between smoker and non-smoker controls, but smoking significantly increased the expression of 1p36, 3q21, and 5p15 sites. These sites have important clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS Chronic alcohol abuse and the smoking habit can lead to chromosome damages that are especially influential on oncogenic regions, which may persist for a long time, and constitute a relevant factor of risk for the development of neoplasias.