Cardiovascular training vs. resistance training for improving quality of life and physical function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of cardiovascular training (CT) with resistance training (RT) in improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants randomly allocated to either a CT (n = 21), RT (n = 21), or control group (n = 21). The outcomes assessed were: HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), severity of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), disease activity using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and aerobic capacity using a 12-minute walk test (T12). RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (61 women and two men), aged 42.9 ± 14.4 years, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.7 ± 10.6 kg/m(2), disease duration of 3.8 ± 3.3 years, and not physically active participated in the study. HRQoL improved for both exercise groups but was superior in the RT group. There was no significant difference in physical function between the intervention groups, except for aerobic capacity. Neither training programme was associated with a change in disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise intervention proved to be better than not exercising. CT was better than RT in improving HRQoL.

Associations between air pollutants and blood pressure in an ethnically diverse cohort of adolescents in London, England.

Longitudinal evidence on the association between air pollution and blood pressure (BP) in adolescence is scarce. We explored this association in an ethnically diverse cohort of schoolchildren. Sex-stratified, linear random-effects modelling was used to examine how modelled residential exposure to annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and ozone (O3), measures in µg/m3, associated with blood pressure. Estimates were based on 3,284 adolescents; 80% from ethnic minority groups, recruited from 51 schools, and followed up from 11-13 to 14-16 years old. Ethnic minorities were exposed to higher modelled annual average concentrations of pollution at residential postcode level than their White UK peers. A two-pollutant model (NO2 & PM2.5), adjusted for ethnicity, age, anthropometry, and pubertal status, highlighted associations with systolic, but not diastolic BP. A µg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with a 0.30 mmHg (95% CI 0.18 to 0.40) decrease in systolic BP for girls and 0.19 mmHg (95% CI 0.07 to 0.31) decrease in systolic BP for boys. In contrast, a 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with 1.34 mmHg (95% CI 0.85 to 1.82) increase in systolic BP for girls and 0.57 mmHg (95% CI 0.04 to 1.03) increase in systolic BP for boys. Associations did not vary by ethnicity, body size or socio-economic advantage. Associations were robust to adjustments for noise levels and lung function at 11-13 years. In summary, higher ambient levels of NO2 were associated with lower and PM2.5 with higher systolic BP across adolescence, with stronger associations for girls.