Time measurement validity and reliability of the 4 × 10-m shuttle run test in adult population: The ADULT-FIT project.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the time measurement validity and reliability (between raters and test-retest) of the 4 × 10-m shuttle run test to assess motor fitness in adults, according to gender, age, and physical activity levels. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. A total of 230 adults (86 women) aged 18-64 years participated in the study. METHODS: The time taken to complete the 4 × 10-m shuttle run test was recorded simultaneously by a trained and an untrained rater (inter-rater reliability) and by photoelectric cells (time measurement validity). 48-72 h later, the test was repeated under the same conditions (test-retest reliability). RESULTS: The systematic error for trained rater vs. photocell was close to zero (0.0125, p < 0.01), with an effect size of 0.006; and for both, untrained rater vs. photocell and trained rater vs. untrained rater was ∼0.2 s (p < 0.001) with an effect size of 0.09. For the test-retest reliability, the systematic error was 0.05 s (p < 0.001), with an effect size of 0.26, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.998 and the coefficient of variation reported a variability of 0.73 %. Results were not influenced by gender and age, while these improved for active vs. non-active participants. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that measurements with trained raters are a valid and reliable method for assessing the 4 × 10-m shuttle run test in adults. It is highly recommended that raters be trained to minimize the measurement error.

Effectiveness of Land- and Water-based Exercise on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Women With Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Quasi-Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of 24 weeks of land- and water-based exercise on fatigue and sleep quality in women with fibromyalgia, and the persistence of changes 12 weeks after exercise cessation. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: University facilities and fibromyalgia associations. PARTICIPANTS: Women with fibromyalgia (N=250; 50.8±7.6 years old). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were assigned to land-based exercise (n=83), water-based exercise (n=85), or no exercise control (n=82) groups. The intervention groups engaged in a similar multicomponent exercise program for 24 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analyses revealed that, compared with the control group, at week 24: (i) the land-based exercise group improved physical fatigue (mean difference -0.9 units; 95% confidence interval -1.7 to -0.1; Cohen's d=0.4) and (ii) the water-based exercise group improved general fatigue (-0.8; -1.4 to -0.1, d=0.4), and global sleep quality (-1.6; -2.7 to -0.6, d=0.6). Additionally, compared with the land-based exercise group, the water-based exercise group improved global sleep quality (-1.2; -2.2 to -0.1, d=0.4). Changes were generally not sustained at week 36. CONCLUSION: Land-based multicomponent exercise improved physical fatigue, whereas water-based exercise improved general fatigue and sleep quality. The magnitude of the changes was small-to-medium, and no benefits were maintained after exercise cessation.

Effects of the inclusion of physical activity in secondary education academic classes on educational indicators and health markers: rationale and methods of the ACTIVE CLASS study.

Background: Increasing physical activity (PA) levels and reducing sedentary behaviors in children and adolescents is a need, especially in schools. Active breaks and physically active learning are examples of two emerging methodologies that have been shown to be effective in increasing PA levels and additionally produce improvements in children's educational markers. However, the evidence in adolescents is very limited. This paper presents the design, measurements, and interventions implemented in the ACTIVE CLASS study, whose objectives are: (i) evaluate the effects of two interventions on PA levels, sedentary time, health-related physical fitness academic indicators, cognition, and markers of psychological health among secondary education students; (ii) evaluate teachers' and students' experiences about the implementation of these the two school-based PA intervention. Methods: A randomized controlled study is conducted with a total of 292 students aged 12-14 years old from six schools (7th and 8th grade) in Spain (three in Cadiz and three in Caceres). One school from each study provinces is randomly assigned to either the active break intervention group, the physically active learning intervention group, or the control group. The interventions have a duration of 16 weeks. Nine main measurement categories are assessed: PA and sedentary time, health-related physical fitness, academic indicators, cognition, psychological health, motivational variables, dietary patterns, sociodemographic characteristics, as well as qualitative information through semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. Three independent measurements of evaluation are distinguished: pre-intervention, post-intervention (week 16) and retention measurement (4 weeks after the intervention). For quantitative variables, descriptive, correlational, regression and repeated measures ANOVA will be applied. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, the ACTIVE CLASS study is the first of its kind in Spain to evaluate the effects of incorporating active breaks and physically active learning in secondary education. In addition, this project provides important information on the effects of two school-based PA intervention arms on educational variables and health markers in adolescents. This will provide valuable and innovative training to the educational community, enabling them to implement teaching methodologies that have the potential to enhance academic performance and improve the quality of life for their students. Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05891054.

The influence of an exercise program in middle-aged women on dietary habits. The FLAMENCO project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which following an exercise training program can modify dietary habits and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) compared with a counseling group. METHODS: These are secondary analyses from the FLAMENCO (Fitness League Against MENopause COst) project. The present randomized controlled trial included 150 perimenopausal women who were randomized into counseling (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. The counseling group attended conferences on a healthy lifestyle. The exercise group followed concurrently a 4-month (60 min/session, 3 d/wk) training and did not take part in the conferences. A validated food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean diet score were used to assess dietary habits and adherence to the MD, respectively. RESULTS: The fish/shellfish intake was reduced in the counseling group and increased in the exercise group, with a difference between groups of 1.16 servings/wk ( P < 0.01). The counseling group reduced their beer intake, and the exercise group increased it, with a difference between groups of 1.07 servings/wk ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The exercise intervention did not have a significant impact on dietary habits or MD adherence scores in perimenopausal women. Notwithstanding, women in the exercise group increased their beer consumption, which might have been promoted by the social meetings after the exercise training.

Reliability of Field-Based Fitness Tests in Adults: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is a powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality, and is therefore a useful indicator for public health monitoring. To assess physical fitness, field-based tests are time-efficient, inexpensive, have minimal equipment requirements, and can be easily administered to a large number of individuals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to examine the reliability of existing field-based fitness tests used in adults aged 19-64 years. METHODS: A systematic search of two electronic databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) was conducted from inception to 8 June 2021 by two independent researchers. Each study was classified as high, low, or very low quality according to the description of the participants, the time interval between measurements, the description of the results, and the appropriateness of statistics. Three levels of evidence (strong, moderate, and limited) were established according to the number of studies and the consistency of their findings. The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO reference number, CRD42019118480). RESULTS: Of 17,010 records identified, 129 original studies examining the reliability of field-based fitness tests in adults were considered eligible. The reliability was assessed of tests of cardiorespiratory fitness (33 studies: 30 of high quality), musculoskeletal fitness (92 studies: 78 of high quality), and motor fitness (22 studies, all of high quality). There was strong evidence indicating: (i) the high reliability of the cardiorespiratory fitness tests: 20-m shuttle run, 6-min step, and 6-min walk; (ii) the high reliability of the musculoskeletal fitness tests: handgrip strength, back-leg strength, Sorensen, trunk flexion sustained, 5-reps sit-to-stand, sit-and-reach and toe-touch, and moderate reliability bilateral side bridge and prone bridge tests; and (iii) the moderate reliability and low reliability, respectively, of the motor fitness tests T-test and single-leg stand. We found moderate evidence indicating the moderate or high reliability of the following tests: Chester, sit-up, partial curl-up, flexion-rotation trunk, timed stair ascent, pull-up, bent-arm hang, standing broad jump, hop sequence, trunk lift, timed-up-and-go, and hexagon agility. Evidence for the reliability of balance and gait speed tests was inconclusive. Other field-based fitness tests demonstrated limited evidence, mainly due to there being only few studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides an evidence-based proposal of the more reliable field-based fitness tests for adults aged 19-64 years. Our findings identified a need for more high-quality studies designed to assess the reliability of field-based tests of lower and upper body explosive and endurance muscular strength, and motor fitness (i.e., balance and gait speed tests) in adults.

Is active commuting associated with sedentary behaviour and physical activity in women with fibromyalgia? The al-Ándalus project.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the association between active commuting and sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) in women with fibromyalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 420 women with fibromyalgia (aged 30 to 74 years old) from Spain. The participants wore an accelerometer during seven days to record ST and PA. They also self-reported patterns of active commuting. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between commuting and accelerometer outcomes. Age, pressure pain threshold, and accelerometer wear time were used as confounders. RESULTS: There was a negative association between active commuting and ST whereas active commuting was positively associated with moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, total PA, and step count (all p ≤ 0.01). No associations were observed in the older group. CONCLUSION: Younger women with fibromyalgia who were active commuters spent less ST and were involved in greater PA than passive commuters. This study highlights the importance of promoting active commuting to increase PA among young women with fibromyalgia, while other sources of PA might be recommended for older patients if levels of active commuting are not increased.Implications for rehabilitationActive commuting is a source to increase PA in women with fibromyalgia.Active commuting alone does not seem to be enough to increase PA levels in older women with fibromyalgia and additional PA strategies should be implemented.Promotion of active commuting in young women with fibromyalgia is recommended.

Interplay between genetics and lifestyle on pain susceptibility in women with fibromyalgia: the al-Ándalus project.

OBJECTIVES: It is widely acknowledged that the experience of pain is promoted by both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as engaging in physical activity (PA), and that pain-related cognitions are also important. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to test the association of 64 polymorphisms (34 candidate genes) and the gene-gene, gene-PA and gene-sedentary behaviour interactions with pain and pain-related cognitions in women with FM. METHODS: Saliva samples from 274 women with FM [mean (s.d.) age 51.7 (7.7) years] were collected for extracting DNA. We measured PA and sedentary behaviour by accelerometers for a week, pain with algometry and questionnaires, and pain-related cognitions with questionnaires. To assess the robustness of the results, a meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS: The rs6311 and rs6313 polymorphisms (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A, HTR2A) were individually related to algometer scores. The interaction of rs4818 (catechol-O-methyltransferase, COMT) and rs1799971 (opioid receptor µ gene, OPRM1) was related to pain catastrophizing. Five gene-behaviour interactions were significant: the interactions of sedentary behaviour with rs1383914 (adrenoceptor alpha 1A, ADRA1A), rs6860 (charged multivesicular body protein 1A, CHMP1A), rs4680 (COMT), rs165599 (COMT) and rs12994338 (SCN9A) on bodily pain subscale of the Short Form 36. Furthermore, the meta-analysis showed an association between rs4680 (COMT) and severity of FM symptoms (codominant model, P-value 0.032). CONCLUSION: The HTR2A gene (individually), COMT and OPRM1 gene-gene interaction, and the interactions of sedentary behaviour with ADRA1A, CHMP1A, COMT and SCN9A genes were associated with pain-related outcomes. Collectively, findings from the present study indicate a modest contribution of genetics and gene-sedentary behaviour interaction to pain and pain catastrophizing in women with FM. Future research should examine whether reducing sedentary behaviour is particularly beneficial for reducing pain in women with genetic susceptibility to pain.

Fatigue in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Gene-Physical Activity Interaction Study.

Fatigue is a cardinal symptom in fibromyalgia. Fatigue is assumed to be the result of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. We aimed at examining the role of genetic susceptibility for fatigue in southern Spanish women with fibromyalgia, by looking at single nucleotide polymorphisms in 34 fibromyalgia candidate-genes, at the interactions between genes, and at the gene-physical activity interactions. We extracted DNA from saliva of 276 fibromyalgia women to analyze gene-polymorphisms. Accelerometers registered physical activity and sedentary behavior. Fatigue was assessed with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Based on the Bonferroni's and False Discovery Rate values, we found that the genotype of the rs4453709 polymorphism (sodium channel protein type 9 subunit alpha, SCN9A, gene) was related to reduced motivation (AT carriers showed the highest reduced motivation) and reduced activity (AA carriers showed the lowest reduced activity). Carriers of the heterozygous genotype of the rs1801133 (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR, gene) or rs4597545 (SCN9A gene) polymorphisms who were physically active reported lower scores on fatigue compared to their inactive counterparts. Highly sedentary carriers of the homozygous genotype of the rs7607967 polymorphism (AA/GG genotype; SCN9A gene) presented more reduced activity (a dimension of fatigue) than those with lower levels of sedentary behavior. Collectively, findings from the present study suggest that the contribution of genetics and gene-physical activity interaction to fatigue in fibromyalgia is modest.

Changes in and the mediating role of physical activity in relation to active school transport, fitness and adiposity among Spanish youth: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal changes in child and adolescent active school transport (AST), and the mediating role of different intensities of daily physical activity (PA) levels in relation to AST and physical fitness and adiposity indicators is unclear. This study aimed to: 1) describe longitudinal changes in AST, light PA (LPA), moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), physical fitness and adiposity indicators over three time-points; and 2) investigate the mediating role of LPA and MVPA levels on associations between AST and physical fitness and adiposity indicators over three time-points among children and adolescents. METHODS: This longitudinal study comprised 1646 Spanish children and adolescents (48.8% girls, mean age 12.5 years ±2.5) at baseline, recruited from schools in Cádiz and Madrid. Mode of commuting to school was self-reported at baseline (T0, 2011-12), 1-year (T1) and 2-year follow-up (T2). PA was assessed using accelerometers. Handgrip strength, standing long jump and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessed physical fitness. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were measured. Multilevel linear regression analyses assessed changes in AST, PA levels, physical fitness and adiposity indicators over three time-points (T0-T1-T2). Additionally, longitudinal path analysis (n = 453; mean age [years] 12.6 ± 2.4) was used to test the mediating effects of LPA and MVPA levels on the association between AST and physical fitness and adiposity indicators. RESULTS: Multilevel analyses observed decreases in LPA between T0-T1 (ß = - 11.27; p < 0.001) and T0-T2 (ß = - 16.27; p < 0.001) and decreases in MVPA between T0-T2 (ß = - 4.51; p = 0.011). Moreover, changes over time showed increases in handgrip between T0-T1 (ß = 0.78; p = 0.028) and T0-T2 (ß = 0.81; p = 0.046). Path analyses showed that AST was directly positively associated with MVPA at T1 (all, ß ≈ 0.33; p < 0.001). MVPA at T1 mediated associations between AST and CRF at T2 (ß = 0.20; p = 0.040), but not the other outcomes. LPA did not mediate any associations. CONCLUSIONS: Results from longitudinal path analysis suggest that participation in more AST may help attenuate declines in MVPA that typically occur with age and improve CRF. Therefore, we encourage health authorities to promote AST, as a way to increase MVPA levels and CRF among youth.

Body Composition Changes Following a Concurrent Exercise Intervention in Perimenopausal Women: The FLAMENCO Project Randomized Controlled Trial.

We assessed the effects of a 16-week primary-care-based exercise program on body composition in perimenopausal women. The women (n = 150) were randomized into control (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. Exercise was provided in a 16-week (60 min/session, 3 days/week) concurrent program. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. These are secondary analyses of the FLAMENCO Project (Clinical Trials Reference NCT02358109). In the intention-to-treat analyses, the control group showed no changes in body mass index (BMI) between post- and pre-test, whereas the exercise group showed a 0.75 kg/m2 decrease in BMI (95% CI: -1.29 to -0.22; p = 0.006). Gynoid and android fat mass in control group decreased by 98.3 g and 46.1 g after the 16 weeks, whereas they decreased by 213 g and 139 g in the exercise group, respectively (95% CI: -209 to -3.86; p = 0.042 and 95% CI: -164 to -26.9; p = 0.007, respectively). The control group decreased their pelvis bone mineral content by 2.85 g in the post-test compared with the pre-test, whereas the exercise group increased it by 1.13 g (95% CI: 0.93 to 7.81; p = 0.013). Per-protocol analyses showed similar results. These analyses suggest that the exercise intervention decreased fat depositions and BMI. Exercise might improve bone mineral content in specific areas such as the pelvis.

High Levels of Physical Fitness Are Associated With Better Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Project.

BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is a marker of health and is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Identifying which components of physical fitness are associated with HRQoL in people with fibromyalgia may contribute to the development of more specific therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE: The 2 aims of this study were to examine the association of different components of physical fitness (ie, flexibility, muscle strength, speed and agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) with HRQoL and to determine the extent to which any association between the components of physical fitness and HRQoL were of clinical relevance to women with fibromyalgia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: This study included 466 women with fibromyalgia from southern Spain (Andalusia). The Senior Fitness Test battery and the handgrip test were used to assess physical fitness, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL. Tender points, cognitive impairment, anthropometric measurements, and medication usage were also measured. First, multivariate linear regression was used to assess the individual relationship of each physical fitness test with the 8 dimensions of the SF-36. Second, a standardized composite score was computed for each component of physical fitness (flexibility, muscle strength, speed and agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness). A 1-way analysis of covariance to assess the differences in each of the 8 dimensions of the SF-36 across each physical fitness composite score was conducted. Forward stepwise regression was performed to analyze which components of physical fitness were independently associated with the SF-36 physical and mental component scales. RESULTS: Overall, higher levels of physical fitness were associated with higher levels of HRQoL (regardless of the SF-36 subscale evaluated). The effect sizes for HRQoL between participants with the lowest and the highest physical fitness levels ranged from moderate to large (Cohen d = 0.53-0.90). The muscle strength composite score was independently associated with the SF-36 physical component scale, whereas the flexibility composite score and cardiorespiratory fitness were independently associated with the SF-36 mental component scale. LIMITATIONS: A limitation was that the cross-sectional design precluded the establishment of causality. Additionally, only women were included in the study, because fibromyalgia predominantly affects women. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of physical fitness were consistently associated with better HRQoL in women with fibromyalgia; clinically relevant differences were demonstrated between those at extreme physical fitness levels. Muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness were independent indicators of HRQoL. These results warrant further prospective research on the potential of fitness to predict HRQoL in this population.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, physical fitness, and cognitive performance in women with fibromyalgia who engage in reproductive and productive work: the al-Ándalus project.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Reproductive labour refers to activities and tasks directed at caregiving and domestic roles, such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare. Productive labour refers to activities that involve economic remuneration. The aim of the present study was to analyse physical activity, sedentary behaviour, physical fitness, and cognitive performance in women with fibromyalgia who engaged, or did not engage, in productive work. METHOD: This cross-sectional study comprised 276 women with fibromyalgia from Andalusia (southern of Spain). Levels of physical activity (light, moderate, and vigorous) and sedentary behaviour were measured by an accelerometer. Physical fitness and cognitive performance were measured with a battery of performance-based tests. RESULTS: More hours/week of homemaker-related tasks were associated with higher time spend in light physical activity and lower sedentary behaviour (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, in comparison with those who only engaged in reproductive labour, women with fibromyalgia who engaged in productive work showed lower levels of sedentary behaviour and higher levels of light and moderate physical activity, physical fitness (except muscular strength), and cognitive performance (all, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our findings suggest that productive work is consistently related to better physical and cognitive functioning in women with fibromyalgia. If future research corroborates causality of our findings, then, to maintain women with fibromyalgia engaging in productive work may be strived for not only because of societal or economic reasons but also for better health. However, we should keep in mind that people with fibromyalgia have a chronic condition, and therefore, adaptations at the workplace are imperative.Key Points• Women with fibromyalgia, who spend more time in reproductive labour, have higher levels of light physical activity and lower sedentary behaviour; however, it is associated with poorer general health (as lower physical fitness or cognitive performance).• Household tasks are often seen as a responsibility associated with the gender roles that women with fibromyalgia perform, despite the feelings of incapacity they cause. Policies focused on reducing reproductive labour demands for fibromyalgia patients (i.e. social help on housework or childcare) might facilitate the inclusion of daily active behaviours.• People with fibromyalgia who engage in productive work seem to have better health outcomes than those who have not; however, we cannot forget that adaptations and flexibility at the workplace are imperative.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) into Spanish.

Aim: The objective of this study was to translate and transculturally adapt into Spanish the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Methods: The translation procedure included a forward step (translation and synthesis) and a quantitative and qualitative control of the usefulness of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Afterwards, a prefinal version of the Spanish adapted questionnaire was pretested on 58 pregnant women from Granada (south of Spain). The content, semantic, technical, conceptual, and experiential equivalents of cultural adaptation were discussed by the research members at each step. Results: After the pre-test, two items of the original Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were replaced by new items that the team considered more culturally appropriate for Spanish pregnant women. Also, some rewording into the European metric system. The response time ranged from 5 to 15 minutes. These changes were well understood and worked properly in the final version. A final version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was agreed on after a discussion among the research members about the results obtained in the prefinal version. Conclusion: The final Spanish version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire has showed cross-cultural equivalence with the original English version.

Identification of candidate genes associated with fibromyalgia susceptibility in southern Spanish women: the al-Ándalus project.

BACKGROUND: Candidate-gene studies on fibromyalgia susceptibility often include a small number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which is a limitation. Moreover, there is a paucity of evidence in Europe. Therefore, we compared genotype frequencies of candidate SNPs in a well-characterised sample of Spanish women with fibromyalgia and healthy non-fibromyalgia women. METHODS: A total of 314 women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (cases) and 112 non-fibromyalgia healthy (controls) women participated in this candidate-gene study. Buccal swabs were collected for DNA extraction. Using TaqMan™ OpenArray™, we analysed 61 SNPs of 33 genes related to fibromyalgia susceptibility, symptoms, or potential mechanisms. RESULTS: We observed that the rs841 and rs1799971 GG genotype was more frequently observed in fibromyalgia than in controls (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). The rs2097903 AT/TT genotypes were also more often present in the fibromyalgia participants than in their control peers (p = 0.04). There were no differences for the remaining SNPs. CONCLUSIONS: We identified, for the first time, associations of the rs841 (guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 gene) and rs2097903 (catechol-O-methyltransferase gene) SNPs with higher risk of fibromyalgia susceptibility. We also confirmed that the rs1799971 SNP (opioid receptor µ1 gene) might confer genetic risk of fibromyalgia. We did not adjust for multiple comparisons, which would be too stringent and yield to non-significant differences in the genotype frequencies between cases and controls. Our findings may be biologically meaningful and informative, and should be further investigated in other populations. Of particular interest is to replicate the present study in a larger independent sample to confirm or refute our findings. On the other hand, by including 61 SNPs of 33 candidate-genes with a strong rationale (they were previously investigated in relation to fibromyalgia susceptibility, symptoms or potential mechanisms), the present research is the most comprehensive candidate-gene study on fibromyalgia susceptibility to date.

Effects of Hypertrophy Exercise in Bone Turnover Markers and Structure in Growing Male Rats.

The benefits of exercise on bone density, structure and turnover markers are rather controversial. The present study aimed to examine the effects of hypertrophy exercise (HE) on bone. 20 male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in 2 experimental groups, one performing HE and the other untrained over 12 weeks. Plasma parameters, bone mineral content, bone mineral density (BMD), structure, and trabecular and cortical microarchitecture were measured. Femur Mg content was 12% higher (p<0.001), whereas femur length, dry weight, P content, and aminoterminal propeptides of type I procollagen were lower in the HE group (all, p<0.05). Total BMD and cortical/subcortical BMD were higher (both, p<0.01), whereas total cross-sectional and trabecular areas were lower (both, p<0.001), and cortical area and thickness were lower in the HE (both, p<0.05). Trabecular connectivity density, number, mean density of total and bone volume were higher in the HE (all, p<0.05). Cortical volume fraction and the mean density of total volume of the diaphysis were lower, whereas the cortical volume density was higher in the HE (all, p<0.05). This HE protocol may have beneficial effect on cancellous bone microarchitecture, but it induces low bone formation and is associated with hypogonadism in growing male rats. However, this type of training might be inefficient to maintain appropriate cortical thickness.

Effects of a moderately high-protein diet and interval aerobic training combined with strength-endurance exercise on markers of bone metabolism, microarchitecture and turnover in obese Zucker rats.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss is a public health concern in obesity-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome, and the protein level of the diets seem to be crucial for the development and maintenance of bone. The nature of exercise and whether exercise in combination with moderately high-protein dietary interventions could protect against potential bone mass deficits remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a moderately high-protein diet and interval aerobic training combined with strength-endurance exercise (IASE) protocol on bone status, and to assess potential interaction effects (i.e. diet*IASE). METHODS: Male Zucker fatty rats were randomized distributed into 4 groups (n=8): normoprotein+sedentary; normoprotein+exercise; moderately high-protein+sedentary, and moderately high-protein+exercise. Training groups conducted an IASE program, 5days/week for 2months. Markers of bone metabolism were measured in plasma. Parameters of bone mass and 3D outcomes for trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture were assessed by micro-computed tomography. RESULTS: Femur length, plasma osteocalcin, sclerostin, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, insulin, leptin, PTH, uric acid and urinary phosphorus levels were lower in the moderately high-protein compared to the normoprotein groups (all, p<0.05), whereas plasma alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and urinary uric acid concentrations, and cortical total volume (TV) and bone volume (BV) were higher in the moderately high-protein (all, p<0.01). Final body weight and alkaline phosphatase levels were lower in the exercise compared to the sedentary (both, p<0.05), whereas femur length and weight, aminoterminal propeptides of type I procollagen and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen concentrations, and cortical TV and BV were higher in the exercise compared to the sedentary groups (all, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of interventions may be effective to enhance trabecular bone microarchitecture and BMD, and has a partial impact on cortical bone in obese rats. Nevertheless, they do not induce any alteration on the bone turnover markers.

Influence of weight status on physical and mental health in Moroccan perimenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of information about fitness and other health indicators in women from countries such as Morocco. This study aims to explore the association of weight status with physical and mental health in Moroccan perimenopausal women. METHODS: 151 women (45-65 years) from the North of Morocco were analyzed by standardized field-based fitness tests to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, agility and balance. Quality of life was assessed by means of the Short-Form-36 Health Survey. Resting heart rate, blood pressure and plasma fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were also measured. RESULTS: Blood pressure (P=0.001), plasma triglycerides (P=0.041) and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (P<0.001) increased as weight status increased. Levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, upper-body flexibility (both, P<0.001), static balance (P<0.05) and dynamic balance (P<0.01) decreased as weight status increased. Pairwise comparisons showed differences mainly between normal-weight and overweight vs. obese groups. No differences between groups were observed on quality of life. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular and lipid profile and fitness, important indicators of cardiovascular disease risk, worsened as weight status increased, whereas quality of life appears to be independent of weight status. Exercise and nutritional programs focus on weight management may be advisable in this under studied population.

Effects of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise on body composition, glycaemic and lipid profile and aerobic capacity of obese rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise in the same training session on body composition, and glycaemic and lipid profile in obese rats. Sixteen lean Zucker rats and sixteen obese Zucker rats were randomly divided into exercise and sedentary subgroups (4 groups, n = 8). Exercise consisted of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise in the same training session. The animals trained 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. Body composition, lipid and glycaemic profiles and inflammatory markers were assessed. Results showed that fat mass was reduced in both lean and obese rats following the exercise training (effect size (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 1.8 (0.5-3.0)). Plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and fasting glucose were lower in the exercise compared to the sedentary groups (d = 2.0 (0.7-3.2) and 1.8 (0.5-3.0), respectively). Plasma insulin was reduced in exercise compared to sedentary groups (d = 2.1 (0.8-3.4)). Some exercise × phenotype interactions showed that the highest decreases in insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, fasting and postprandial glucose were observed in the obese + exercise group (all, P < 0.01). The findings of this study suggest that interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise would improve body composition, and lipid and glycaemic profiles, especially in obese rats.

Aerobic interval exercise improves parameters of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other alterations of metabolic syndrome in obese Zucker rats.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of metabolic alterations that increase the susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has been described as the liver manifestation of MS. We aimed to test the beneficial effects of an aerobic interval training (AIT) protocol on different biochemical, microscopic, and functional liver alterations related to the MS in the experimental model of obese Zucker rat. Two groups of lean and obese animals (6 weeks old) followed a protocol of AIT (4 min at 65%-80% of maximal oxygen uptake, followed by 3 min at 50%-65% of maximal oxygen uptake for 45-60 min, 5 days/week, 8 weeks of experimental period), whereas 2 control groups remained sedentary. Obese rats had higher food intake and body weight (P < 0.0001) and suffered significant alterations in plasma lipid profile, area under the curve after oral glucose overload (P < 0.0001), liver histology and functionality, and antioxidant status. The AIT protocol reduced the severity of alterations related to glucose and lipid metabolism and increased the liver protein expression of PPARγ, as well as the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (P < 0.001). The training protocol also showed significant effects on the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, although this action was greatly influenced by rat phenotype. The present data suggest that AIT protocol is a feasible strategy to improve some of the plasma and liver alterations featured by the MS.