Associations between health-related fitness and patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients experience symptoms that may affect their quality of life, treatment outcomes, and survival. Preventing and managing breast cancer-related symptoms soon after diagnosis is essential. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between health-related fitness (HRF) and patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. METHODS: This study utilized baseline data from the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Cohort Study that were collected within 90 days of diagnosis. HRF measures included peak cardiopulmonary fitness (VO2peak), maximal muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Symptom measures included depression, sleep quality, and fatigue. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was performed for analyses. RESULTS: Of 1458 participants, 51.5% reported poor sleep quality, 26.5% reported significant fatigue, and 10.4% reported moderate depression. In multivariable-adjusted models, lower relative VO2peak was independently associated with a greater likelihood of all symptom measures, including moderate depression (p < 0.001), poor sleep quality (p = 0.009), significant fatigue (p = 0.008), any symptom (p < 0.001), and multiple symptoms (p < 0.001). VO2peak demonstrated threshold associations with all symptom measures such that all 3 lower quartiles exhibited similar elevated risk compared to the highest quartile. The strength of the threshold associations varied by the symptom measure with odds ratios ranging from ∼1.5 for poor sleep quality to ∼3.0 for moderate depression and multiple symptoms. Moreover, lower relative upper body muscular endurance was also independently associated with fatigue in a dose-response manner (p = 0.001), and higher body weight was independently associated with poor sleep quality in an inverted-U pattern (p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Relative VO2peak appears to be a critical HRF component associated with multiple patient-reported symptoms in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Other HRF parameters may also be important for specific symptoms. Exercise interventions targeting different HRF components may help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients manage specific symptoms and improve outcomes.

Social-cognitive, demographic, clinical, and health-related correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in newly diagnosed women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Identifying correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour allows for the identification of factors that may be targeted in future behaviour change interventions. This study sought to determine the social-cognitive, demographic, clinical, and health-related correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in individuals recently diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS: Data were collected from 1381 participants within 90 days of diagnosis in the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Cohort Study. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured with ActiGraph GT3X+® and activPALTM devices, respectively, for seven consecutive days. Correlates were collected via a self-reported questionnaire, medical record extraction, or measured by staff. RESULTS: Multivariable models were fitted for sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Greater sedentary behaviour was associated with higher body fat percentage (BF%) (ß=0.044; p<0.001) and being single (ß=0.542; p<0.002). Lower light physical activity was associated with higher BF% (ß=-0.044; p<0.001), higher body mass index (ß=-0.039; p<0.001), greater disease barrier influence (ß=-0.006; p<0.001), a HER2-positive diagnosis (ß=-0.278; p=0.001), and being single (ß=-0.385; p= 0.001). Lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher BF% (ß =-0.011; p=0.001), greater disease barrier influence (ß=-0.002; p<0.001), and being of Asian (ß=-0.189; p=0.002) or Indian/South American (ß=-0.189; p=0.002) descent. Greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with having greater intentions (ß=0.049; p=0.033) and planning (ß=0.026; p=0.015) towards physical activity. CONCLUSION: Tailoring interventions to increase physical activity for individuals recently diagnosed with breast cancer may improve long-term outcomes across the breast cancer continuum.

Depression, happiness, and satisfaction with life in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: Associations with device-measured physical activity and sedentary time.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined depression after a cancer diagnosis and before initiating adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic treatments. In this study, we present baseline data on device-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, depression, happiness, and satisfaction with life in newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors. PURPOSE: To examine associations of accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary time with depression symptoms and prevalence, happiness, and satisfaction with life. METHODS: Shortly after diagnosis, 1425 participants completed depression, happiness, and satisfaction with life measures and wore an ActiGraph® device on their hip to measure physical activity and the activPALTM inclinometer on their thigh for 7 days to measure sedentary time (sitting/lying) and steps (1384 completed both device measures). ActiGraph® data were analysed using a hybrid machine learning method (R Sojourn package, Soj3x), and activPALTM data using activPALTM algorithms (PAL Software version 8). We used linear and logistic regression to examine associations of physical activity and sedentary time with depression symptom severity (0-27) and depression prevalence, happiness (0-100), and satisfaction with life (0-35). For the logistic regression analysis, we compared participants with none-minimal depression (n = 895) to participants with some depression (that is, mild, moderate, moderately-severe, or severe depression [n = 530]). RESULTS: Participants reported a mean depression symptom severity score of 4.3 (SD = 4.1), a satisfaction with life score of 25.7 (SD = 7.2), and a happiness score of 70 (SD = 21.8). Higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with reduced depression symptom severity scores (ß = -0.51, 95% CI: -0.87 to -0.14, p = 0.007). A 1 hour increase in MVPA was associated with a reduced odds of at least mild or worse depression by 24% (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.94, p = 0.012). Higher daily step counts were associated with lower depression symptom severity scores (ß = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.24 to -0.10, p < 0.001). Perceptions of happiness was associated with higher MVPA (ß = 2.17, 95% CI: 0.17-4.17, p = 0.033). Sedentary time was not associated with depression severity, but higher sedentary time was associated with lower perceptions of happiness (ß = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.48 to -0.11, p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Higher physical activity was associated with fewer depression symptom severity scores and reduced odds of mild or worse depression in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Higher physical activity and daily step counts were also associated with stronger perceptions of happiness and satisfaction with life, respectively. Sedentary time was not associated with depression symptom severity or odds of having depression, but was associated with stronger perceptions of happiness.

A qualitative study examining newly diagnosed breast cancer patients' experiences of participating in the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Decisions to participate in cancer trials are associated with uncertainty, distress, wanting to help find a cure, the hope for benefit, and altruism. There is a gap in the literature regarding research examining participation in prospective cohort studies. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of newly diagnosed women with breast cancer participating in the AMBER Study to identify potential strategies to support patients' recruitment, retention, and motivation. METHODS: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were recruited from the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) cohort study. Data were collected using semi-structured conversational interviews with 21 participants from February to May 2020. Transcripts were imported into NVivo software for management, organization, and coding. Inductive content analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: Five main concepts associated with recruitment, retention, and motivation to participate were identified. These main concepts included: (1) personal interest in exercise and nutrition; (2) investment in individual results; (3) personal and professional interest in research; (4) burden of assessments; (5) importance of research staff. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors participating in this prospective cohort study had numerous reasons for participating and these reasons could be considered in future studies to enhance participant recruitment and retention. Improving recruitment and retention in prospective cancer cohort studies could result in more valid and generalizable study findings that could improve the care of cancer survivors.

Associations between health-related fitness and quality of life in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients face substantial stress and uncertainty that may undermine their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between health-related fitness (HRF) and QoL in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer Study. METHODS: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with early-stage disease (n = 1458) were recruited between 2012 and 2019 in Edmonton and Calgary, Canada to complete baseline HRF and QoL assessments within 90 days of diagnosis. HRF assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak treadmill test), muscular fitness (upper and lower body strength and endurance tests), and body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry). QoL was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) version 2. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between quartiles of HRF and poor/fair QoL (bottom 20%) after adjusting for key covariates. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, the least fit groups compared to the most fit groups for relative upper body strength (OR = 3.19; 95% CI = 1.98-5.14), lean mass percentage (OR = 2.31; 95% CI = 1.37-3.89), and relative VO2peak (OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.21-3.57) were independently at a significantly higher risk of poor/fair physical QoL. No meaningful associations were found for mental QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The three main components of HRF (muscular fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition) were independently associated with physical QoL in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Exercise interventions designed to improve these components of HRF may optimize physical QoL and help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients better prepare for treatments and recovery.

Effects of a Computerized Prescriber Order Entry System on Pharmacist Prescribing.

Background: In Alberta, pharmacists are eligible to obtain additional prescribing authority (APA). At the University of Alberta Hospital, a transition was made from a paper-based prescriber order entry system to a computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) system. Objectives: The primary objective was to quantify any change in pharmacist prescribing after CPOE implementation. The secondary objective was to compare the paper-based and CPOE systems in terms of drug schedule, order type, medication class, and the pharmacist's area of clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective comparative review of pharmacist orders was completed using 2-week periods of data from each of the paper-based order entry system and the CPOE system, spaced 1 year apart (in January 2019 and January 2020). Results: Pharmacists prescribed a mean of 3.76 (95% confidence interval 1.97-5.96) more orders per day within the CPOE system than in the paper-based system (p < 0.001). Schedule I medications accounted for a higher proportion of pharmacists' prescriptions in the CPOE system than in the paper-based system (77.7% versus 70.5%, p < 0.001). In terms of order type, discontinuation orders accounted for a much higher proportion of pharmacists' orders in the CPOE system than in the paper-based order entry system (58.0% versus 19.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that a CPOE system resulted in more use of APA by pharmacists, with schedule I medications accounting for a higher proportion of pharmacists' prescriptions. With the CPOE system, pharmacists used their prescribing privileges to discontinue a higher proportion of orders than was the case with the paper-based system. Therefore, the CPOE system is a potential facilitator of pharmacist prescribing.

Contexte: En Alberta, les pharmaciens peuvent obtenir des pouvoirs de prescription supplémentaires (PPS). À l'hôpital de l'Université de l'Alberta, le système de saisie des ordonnances est passé d'un système sur papier à un système de saisie électronique des ordonnances (SSEO) par les prescripteurs. Objectifs: L'objectif principal consistait à quantifier tout changement dans la prescription des pharmaciens après la mise en place du SSEO. L'objectif secondaire visait à comparer le système sur papier et le SSEO en matière d'annexe des médicaments, de type d'ordonnance, de catégorie de médicament et de domaine de pratique clinique du pharmacien. Méthodes: Un examen comparatif rétrospectif des ordonnances des pharmaciens a été réalisé à l'aide de périodes de données de 2 semaines provenant de chacun des systèmes (papier et électronique), avec un intervalle d'un an (janvier 2019 et janvier 2020). Résultats: Les pharmaciens prescrivaient en moyenne 3,76 (intervalle de confiance à 95 % 1,97­5,96) ordonnances de plus par jour avec le SSEO qu'avec le système sur papier (p < 0,001). La part des ordonnances de médicaments de l'annexe I était plus importante avec le SSEO qu'avec le système sur papier (77,7 % contre 70,5 %, p < 0,001). En ce qui concerne le type d'ordonnance, la part des ordonnances de cessation était beaucoup plus élevée avec le SSEO qu'avec le système de saisie sur papier (58,0 % contre 19,8 %, p < 0,001). Conclusions: Cette étude a démontré un plus grand recours au PPS lorsque les pharmaciens utilisaient un SSEO et les médicaments de l'annexe I représentant une proportion plus élevée des ordonnances. Avec le SSEO, les pharmaciens ont utilisé leur pouvoir de prescription pour interrompre une part plus élevée d'ordonnances que ce n'était le cas avec le système sur papier. Le SSEO est donc un facilitateur potentiel de la prescription par les pharmaciens.

Associations of device-measured physical activity and sedentary time with quality of life and fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients: Baseline results from the AMBER cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study examined associations of device-measured physical activity and sedentary time with quality of life (QOL) and fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) cohort study. METHODS: After diagnosis, 1409 participants completed the SF-36 version 2 and the Fatigue Scale, wore an ActiGraph device on their right hip to measure physical activity, and an activPAL device on their thigh to measure sedentary time (sitting/lying) and steps. ActiGraph data was analyzed using a hybrid machine learning method (R Sojourn package, Soj3x) and activPAL data were analyzed using activPAL algorithms (PAL Software version 8). Quantile regression was used to examine cross-sectional associations of QOL and fatigue with steps, physical activity, and sedentary hours at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the QOL and fatigue distributions. RESULTS: Total daily moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) hours was positively associated with better physical QOL at the 25th (ß = 2.14, p = <.001), 50th (ß = 1.98, p = <.001), and 75th percentiles (ß = 1.25, p = .003); better mental QOL at the 25th (ß = 1.73, p = .05) and 50th percentiles (ß = 1.07, p = .03); and less fatigue at the 25th (ß = 4.44, p < .001), 50th (ß = 3.08, p = <.001), and 75th percentiles (ß = 1.51, p = <.001). Similar patterns of associations were observed for daily steps. Total sedentary hours was associated with worse fatigue at the 25th (ß = -0.58, p = .05), 50th (ß = -0.39, p = .06), and 75th percentiles (ß = -0.24, p = .02). Sedentary hours were not associated with physical or mental QOL. CONCLUSIONS: MVPA and steps were associated with better physical and mental QOL and less fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Higher sedentary time was associated with greater fatigue symptoms.

Contrasting impacts of mixed nonionic surfactant micelles on plant growth in the delivery of fungicide and herbicide.

HYPOTHESIS: Nonionic alkyl ethoxylate surfactants are widely used in agrochemicals to facilitate the permeation of systemic herbicides and fungicides across the plant waxy film. Industrial grade surfactants are often highly mixed and how the mixing affects their interactions with pesticides and wax films remains largely unexplored. A better understanding could enable design of mixed nonionic surfactants for herbicides and fungicides to maximize their efficiency and reduce wastage whilst controlling their impact on plant wax films. EXPERIMENT: In this study, nonionic surfactants with general structure n-oxyethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12En) were used to form surfactant mixtures with the same average ethoxylate numbers but different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values. Their mixed micellar systems were then used to solubilize a herbicide diuron (DN) and a fungicide cyprodinil (CP), followed by plant wax solubilization upon contact with wax films. These processes were monitored by 1H NMR and SANS. FINDING: Pesticide solubilization made surfactant micelles effectively more hydrophobic but subsequent wax dissolution caused pesticide release and the restoration of the micellar amphiphilicity. Nonionic surfactants with lower HLBs form larger nanoaggregates, show enhanced wettability, and have better ability to solubilize and permeate pesticides across the wax film, but may cause significant damage to plant growth. These observations help explain why herbicides applied on weeds would benefit from surfactants with lower HLB values while fungicides require surfactants with HLBs to balance between delivery efficiency and potential phytotoxicity risks.

The Alberta moving beyond breast cancer (AMBER) cohort study: baseline description of the full cohort.

PURPOSE: The Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Study is an ongoing prospective cohort study investigating how direct measures of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and health-related fitness (HRF) are associated with survival after breast cancer. METHODS: Women in Alberta with newly diagnosed stage I (≥ T1c) to IIIc breast cancer were recruited between 2012 and 2019. Baseline assessments were completed within 90 days of surgery. Measurements included accelerometers to measure PA and SB; a graded treadmill test with gas exchange analysis to measure cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak); upper and lower body muscular strength and endurance; dual-X-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition; and questionnaires to measure self-reported PA and SB. RESULTS: At baseline, the 1528 participants' mean age was 56 ± 11 years, 59% were post-menopausal, 62% had overweight/obesity, and 55% were diagnosed with stage II or III disease. Based on device measurements, study participants spent 8.9 ± 1.7 h/day sedentary, 4.4 ± 1.2 h/day in light-intensity activity, 0.9 ± 0.5 h/day in moderate-intensity activity, and 0.2 ± 0.2 h/day in vigorous-intensity activity. For those participants who reached VO2peak, the average aerobic fitness level was 26.6 ± 6 ml/kg/min. Average body fat was 43 ± 7.1%. CONCLUSION: We have established a unique cohort of breast cancer survivors with a wealth of data on PA, SB, and HRF obtained through both direct and self-reported measurements. Study participants are being followed for at least ten years to assess all outcomes after breast cancer. These data will inform clinical and public health guidelines on PA, SB, and HRF for improving breast cancer outcomes.

Development and Reliability of a 7×15m Repeated On-Ice Sprint Test for Female Ice Hockey Players.

The purpose of this investigation was to design and examine the reliability of a 7×15m repeated on-ice skating sprint test for female ice hockey players. Seventeen women (X̄ ± SD age, height and body mass = 21 ± 2 years, 166.2 ± 6.4 cm and 61.9 ± 7.7 kg, respectively) completed 7 consecutive on-ice sprints of 15m repeated every 15s. Two trials of the test were performed on the same day and then repeated on a different day approximately 1 week later for a total of 4 trials. The fastest 15m time, mean time for 7 sprints and total sprint time collapsed across all 4 trials was 2.96 ± 0.12s, 3.05 ± 0.13s and 21.35 ± 0.89s, respectively. There were no significant differences between trials for any variable. Typical error (TE), coefficient of variation (%CV) and intra-class coefficients (ICC) for the fastest 15m time, mean of 7 sprints, and total time were ICC = 0.77, TE = 0.06s and %CV = 2.1; ICC = 0.91; TE = 0.04s and %CV = 1.4; and, ICC = 0.91; TE = 0.29 and %CV = 1.4 for all 4 trials, respectively. Players in the forward position had a faster mean 15m time and lower total time compared to those in the defensive position (p < 0.05). These findings show that a 7×15m repeated on-ice sprint test for varsity women ice hockey players was reliable. It was also found that forwards had a better mean of 7 sprint time and faster total time compared to players in the defensive position.

What happens when pesticides are solubilised in binary ionic/zwitterionic-nonionic mixed micelles?

HYPOTHESIS: Surfactants have been widely used as adjuvants in agri-sprays to enhance the solubility of pesticides in foliar spray deposits and their mobility through leaf cuticles. Previously, we have characterised pesticide solubilisation in nonionic surfactant micelles, but what happens when pesticides become solubilised in anionic, cationic and zwitterionic and their mixtures with nonionic surfactants remain poorly characterised. EXPERIMENTS: To facilitate characterisations by SANS and NMR, we used nonionic surfactant hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E6), anionic sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine (C12PC) as model adjuvant systems to solubilise 3 pesticides, Cyprodinil (CP), Azoxystrobin (AZ) and Difenoconazole (DF), representing different structural features. The investigation focused on the influence of solubilisates in driving changes to the micellar nanostructures in the absence or presence of electrolytes. NMR and NOESY were applied to investigate the solubility and location of each pesticide in the micelles. SANS was used to reveal subtle changes to the micellar structures due to pesticide solubilisation with and without electrolytes. FINDINGS: Unlike nonionic surfactants, the ionic and zwitterionic surfactant micellar structures remain unchanged upon pesticide solubilisation. Electrolytes slightly elongate the ionic surfactant micelles but have no effect on nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants. Pesticide solubilisation could alter the structures of the binary mixtures of ionic/zwitterionic and ionic/nonionic micelles by causing elongation, shell shrinkage and dehydration, with the exact alteration being determined by the molar ratio in the mixture.

How does substrate hydrophobicity affect the morphological features of reconstituted wax films and their interactions with nonionic surfactant and pesticide?

HYPOTHESIS: Surfactants are widely used in agri-sprays to improve pesticide efficiency, but the mechanism underlying their interactions with the surface wax film on plants remains poorly understood. To facilitate physical characterisations, we have reconstituted wheat cuticular wax films onto an optically flat silicon substrate with and without octadecyltrimethoxysilane modification to control surface hydrophobicity. EXPERIMENTS: Imaging techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) unravelled morphological features of the reconstituted wax films similar to those on leaves, showing little impact from the different substrates used. Neutron reflection (NR) established that reconstituted wax films were comprised of an underlying wax film decorated with top surface wax protrusions, a common feature irrespective of substrate hydrophobicity and highly consistent with what was observed from natural wax films. NR measurements, with the help of isotopic H/D substitutions to modify the scattering contributions of the wax and solvent, revealed different wax regimes within the wax films, illustrating the impact of surface hydrophilicity on the nanostructures within the wax films. FINDINGS: It was observed from both spectroscopic ellipsometry and NR measurements that wax films formed on the hydrophobic substrate were more robust and durable against attack by nonionic surfactant C12E6 solubilised with pesticide Cyprodinil (CP) than films coated on the bare hydrophilic silica. Thus, the former could be a more feasible model for studying the wax-surfactant-pesticide interactions.

Whey protein isolate or concentrate combined with concurrent training does not augment performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, or strength adaptations.

BACKGROUND: Protein supplementation alters both strength and endurance training adaptations individually; however less is known regarding protein supplementation during concurrent training. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of whey protein supplementation during six weeks of concurrent training on performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, and maximal strength adaptations, as well as acute hormonal and immune responses. A secondary purpose was to explore the effects of two types of whey protein powders on these latter variables. METHODS: Thirty-one participants were randomly assigned to supplement with a placebo (PLA; N.=10), whey protein isolate (WPI; N.=10), or whey protein concentrate (WPC; N.=11) in addition to their habitual diet. Total protein intake was 1.2, 3.5, and 3.5 g/kg/day for PLA, WPI, WPC groups, respectively. Exercise testing was performed before and after 6 weeks of concurrent training. Blood samples were obtained at rest, and 5 and 60 minutes after a simulated 2000 m rowing race prior to and after training. RESULTS: There were similar but significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (PLA +7.5%; WPI +3.9%; WPC +6.9%), upper body strength (PLA +5.5%; WPI +5.1%; WPC +6.7%), lower body strength (PLA +13.6%; WPI +9.4%; WPC +14.1%) and 2000m rowing performance (PLA -2.5%; WPI -2.3%; WPC -2.3%) in all groups, P<0.05. As well, hormonal and immune responses to acute exercise were similar over time and between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Whey protein supplementation did not differentially influence performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, upper and lower body strength, immune or hormonal adaptations following 6 weeks of concurrent training.

How does solubilisation of plant waxes into nonionic surfactant micelles affect pesticide release?

HYPOTHESIS: Nonionic surfactants are used as adjuvants in agri-sprays to stabilise pesticides, but what happens when pesticide-loaded micelles are brought into direct contact with plant leaves? As pesticide solubilisation dehydrates the micellar shell and increases the effective hydrophobicity of the surfactant, we hypothesise that these micelles would uptake plant waxes and alter the amount of pesticide solubilized as a result of the re-equilibrating process. EXPERIMENTS: The solubility of the pesticide cyprodinil (CP) and its effect on the shape of hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E6) micelles were studied using changes in cloud point, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Similarly, the solubility of wheat leaf waxes was examined, as was the effect of adding leaf waxes to pre-dissolved cyprodinil in micellar C12E6. FINDINGS: Wax solubilisation caused pesticide release and shell hydration, and shortened the length of the cylindrical micelles of the CP loaded C12E6. Temperature increase led to a significant rise in the amount of the dissolved waxes, increased pesticide release, increased micellar length, and caused shrinkage and dehydration of the shell. This study indicates that agrochemical sprays are capable of dissolving leaf waxes, and may trigger pesticide release from surfactant micelles upon contact with plant surfaces.

The influence of energy metabolism on postpartum weight retention.

BACKGROUND: Profiling postpartum energy metabolism may assist in optimizing weight management following childbirth. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to profile total energy expenditure (TEE), resting energy expenditure (REE), exercise energy expenditure, sleep energy expenditure, and respiratory quotient in women at 3 and 9 mo postpartum (3M-PP, 9M-PP, respectively), and to examine the association between energy metabolism and postpartum weight retention (PPWR). METHODS: In this cohort study, 1-h REE (measured in a whole body calorimetry unit, WBCU) and body composition (BC, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were measured at 3M-PP and 9M-PP (n = 49). Cardiorespiratory fitness [measured by the predicted maximal volume of oxygen consumption (p$\dot{V}$O2 max), n = 47] and 24-h TEE (WBCU, n = 43) were assessed only at 9M-PP. Women were stratified as high (>4.8 kg) or low (≤ 4.8 kg) weight retainers. Two-way mixed repeated-measures ANOVA and longitudinal regression models were applied. Linear regression was used to generate an equation at 3M-PP from the BC data, to predict the REE at 9M-PP. RESULTS: The fat mass at 3M-PP was positively associated with PPWR at 3M-PP (mean ± SE ß: 0.09 ± 0.03; P = 0.005) and 9M-PP (ß: 0.11 ± 0.04; P = 0.008), and negatively associated with REE at 3M-PP (ß: -0.16 ± 0.02; P < 0.001) and TEE at 9M-PP (ß: -0.15 ± 0.03; P < 0.001). REE was negatively associated with PPWR (ß: -0.74; 95% CI: -1.29, -0.19; P = 0.0087). REE was 2 kcal/kg higher in low- vs. high-retainers at 3M-PP, and REE and TEE were both 4 kcal/kg higher in low- vs. high-retainers at 9M-PP. Low-retainers demonstrated an increase in REE greater than expected for changes in BC. PPWR was negatively associated with TEE (ß: -0.08 ± 0.02; P = 0.0009) and p$\dot{V}$O2 max (ß: -0.02 ± 0.01; P = 0.047); p$\dot{V}$O2 max was 7 mL · kg-1 · min-1 higher in low- vs. high-retainers (P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Energy metabolism, BC, and cardiorespiratory fitness may be associated with weight regulation and its trajectory during the postpartum period. This provides the foundation for future strategies to promote appropriate postpartum weight management.

Whey Protein Isolate Supplementation While Endurance Training Does Not Alter Cycling Performance or Immune Responses at Rest or After Exercise.

This study examined whey protein isolate supplementation combined with endurance training on cycling performance, aerobic fitness and immune cell responses. Eighteen male cyclists were randomly assigned to either placebo (PLA) or whey protein supplementation (WS; 1.0 g·kg body mass-1·d-1 in addition to their dietary intake). Both groups completed the identical endurance training program, 4 days per week for 6 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at rest and after 5 and 60 min of recovery from a simulated 40 km cycling time trial (TT) and were repeated after training. Baseline dietary intake of protein prior to supplementation was 1.52 ± 0.45 and 1.46 ± 0.44 g·kg body mass-1·d-1 for the WS and PLA groups, respectively. There were similar improvements in TT performance (WS: 71.47 ± 12.17 to 64.38 ± 8.09 min; PLA: 72.33 ± 12.79 to 61.13 ± 8.97 min), and peak oxygen uptake (WS: 52.3 ± 6.1 to 56.1 ± 5.4 mL·kg-1·min-1; PLA: 50.0 ± 7.1 to 54.9 ± 5.1 mL·kg-1·min-1) after training in both groups. White blood cells (WBC) and neutrophil counts were elevated 5 min after the TT and further increased after 60 min (P < 0.05). The exercise-induced increase in WBC and neutrophil counts at 5 and 60 min after the TT were attenuated after training compared to before training (P < 0.05). Lymphocytes increased 5 min after the TT and decreased below rest after 60 min of recovery (P < 0.05). Following training lymphocytes were lower after 60 min of recovery compared to before training. There was no change in natural killer cell activity with exercise, training or between groups. It was concluded that whey protein isolate supplementation while endurance training did not differentially change cycling performance or the immune response at rest or after exercise. However, endurance training did alter performance, aerobic fitness and some post exercise immune cell counts.

What happens when pesticides are solubilized in nonionic surfactant micelles.

Nonionic surfactants have been widely used in agri-sprays to enhance the solubility and mobility of pesticides, but what happens when pesticides become solubilized into surfactant micelles remains poorly characterized. To facilitate physical characterisations, we used the nonionic surfactant hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E6) as a model system to solubilize 4 pesticides including Cyprodinil (CP), Diuron (DN), Azoxystrobin (AZ) and Difenoconazole (DF). The investigation focused on the influence of solubilizate and temperature in driving changes to the micellar nanostructures. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements were used to reveal changes to the micellar structure before and after pesticide solubilisation. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was also applied to investigate the solubility and location of each pesticide in the micelles. Pesticides clearly altered the micellar structure, by increasing the aggregation number and micellar lengths, whilst shrinking and dehydrating the shells, leading to a consequent decrease in the dispersion cloud points. Increases in temperature affected micellar structures in a similar way. Thus, temperature increases and the solubilisation of pesticides can both make the surfactant effectively more hydrophobic, altering the micellar nanostructures and shifting the pesticide location within the micelles. These changes subsequently implicate how pesticides are delivered into plants through the natural wax films.

Structural Features of Reconstituted Cuticular Wax Films upon Interaction with Nonionic Surfactant C12E6.

The interaction of nonionic surfactant hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E6) with a reconstituted cuticular wheat wax film has been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry and neutron reflection (NR) to help understand the role of the leaf wax barrier during pesticide uptake, focusing on the mimicry of the actions adjuvants impose on the physical integrity and transport of the cuticular wax films against surfactant concentration. As the C12E6 concentration was increased up to the critical micelle concentration (CMC = 0.067 mM), an increasing amount of surfactant mass was deposited onto the wax film. Alongside surface adsorption, C12E6 was also observed to penetrate the wax film, which is evident from the NR measurements using fully protonated and chain-deuterated surfactants. Furthermore, surfactant action upon the model wax film was found to be physically reversible below the CMC, as water rinsing could readily remove the adsorbed surfactant, leaving the wax film in its original state. Above the CMC, the detergency action of the surfactant became dominant, and a significant proportion of the wax film was removed, causing structural damage. The results thus reveal that both water and C12E6 could easily penetrate the wax film throughout the concentration range measured, indicating a clear pathway for the transport of active ingredients while the removal of the wax components above the CMC must have enhanced the transport process. As the partial removal of the wax film could also expose the underlying cutaneous substrate to the environment and undermine the plant's health, this study has a broad implication to the roles of surfactants in crop care.

Lipid remodeling and an altered membrane-associated proteome may drive the differential effects of EPA and DHA treatment on skeletal muscle glucose uptake and protein accretion.

In striated muscle, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have differential effects on the metabolism of glucose and differential effects on the metabolism of protein. We have shown that, despite similar incorporation, treatment of C2C12 myotubes (CM) with EPA but not DHA improves glucose uptake and protein accretion. We hypothesized that these differential effects of EPA and DHA may be due to divergent shifts in lipidomic profiles leading to altered proteomic profiles. We therefore carried out an assessment of the impact of treating CM with EPA and DHA on lipidomic and proteomic profiles. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) analysis revealed that both EPA and DHA led to similar but substantials changes in fatty acid profiles with the exception of arachidonic acid, which was decreased only by DHA, and docosapentanoic acid (DPA), which was increased only by EPA treatment. Global lipidomic analysis showed that EPA and DHA induced large alterations in the cellular lipid profiles and in particular, the phospholipid classes. Subsequent targeted analysis confirmed that the most differentially regulated species were phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines containing long-chain fatty acids with five (EPA treatment) or six (DHA treatment) double bonds. As these are typically membrane-associated lipid species we hypothesized that these treatments differentially altered the membrane-associated proteome. Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomics of the membrane fraction revealed significant divergence in the effects of EPA and DHA on the membrane-associated proteome. We conclude that the EPA-specific increase in polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction is associated with an altered membrane-associated proteome and these may be critical events in the metabolic remodeling induced by EPA treatment.

Glycemic and Metabolic Effects of Two Long Bouts of Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Men with Normal Glucose Tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The glycemic and insulinemic responses following 30-60 min of exercise have been extensively studied, and a dose-response has been proposed between exercise duration, or volume, and improvements in glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity. However, few studies have examined the effects of longer bouts of exercise in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Longer bouts may have a greater potential to affect glucagon, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and incretin hormones [i.e., glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP)]. AIM: To examine the effect of two bouts of long-duration, moderate-intensity exercise on incretins, glucagon, and IL-6 responses before and after exercise, as well as in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conducted the following day. METHODS: Twelve men, six with and six without T2D, participated in two separate conditions (i.e., exercise vs. rest) according to a randomized crossover design. On day 1, participants either rested or performed two 90 min bouts of treadmill exercise (separated by 3.5 h) at 80% of their ventilatory threshold. All participants received standardized meals on day 1. On day 2 of each condition, glucose and hormonal responses were measured during a 4-h OGTT. RESULTS: On day 1, exercise increased IL-6 at the end of the first bout of exercise (exercise by time interaction p = 0.03) and GIP overall (main effect of exercise p = 0.004). Glucose was reduced to a greater extent in T2D following exercise (exercise by T2D interaction p = 0.03). On day 2, GIP and active GLP-1 were increased in the fasting state (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively), while plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations were reduced during the OGTT (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) in the exercise compared to the rest condition for both healthy controls and T2D. Postprandial glucose was elevated in T2D compared to healthy control (p < 0.05) but was not affected by exercise. CONCLUSION: Long-duration, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase IL-6. On the day following exercise, fasting incretins remained increased but postprandial insulin and glucagon were decreased without affecting postprandial glucose. This long duration of exercise may not be appropriate for some people, and further research should investigate why next day glucose tolerance was unchanged.