Regular Strength and Sprint Training Counteracts Bone Aging: A 10-Year Follow-Up in Male Masters Athletes

Cross-sectional and interventional studies suggest that high-intensity strength and impact-type training provide a powerful osteogenic stimulus even in old age. However, longitudinal evidence on the ability of high-intensity training to attenuate age-related bone deterioration is currently lacking. This follow-up study assessed the role of continued strength and sprint training on bone aging in 40- to 85-year-old male sprinters (n = 69) with a long-term training background. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT)-derived bone structural, strength, and densitometric parameters of the distal tibia and tibia midshaft were assessed at baseline and 10 years later. The groups of well-trained (actively competing, sprint training including strength training ≥2 times/week; n = 36) and less-trained (<2 times/week, no strength training, switched to endurance training; n = 33) athletes were formed according to self-reports at follow-up. Longitudinal changes in bone traits in the two groups were examined using linear mixed models. Over the 10-year period, group-by-time interactions were found for distal tibia total bone mineral content (BMC), trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), and compressive strength index, and for mid-tibia cortical cross-sectional area, medullary area, total BMC, and BMC at the anterior and posterior sites (polar mass distribution analysis) (p < 0.05). These interactions reflected maintained (distal tibia) or improved (mid-tibia) bone properties in the well-trained and decreased bone properties in the less-trained athletes over the 10-year period. Depending on the bone variable, the difference in change in favor of the well-trained group ranged from 2% to 5%. The greatest differences were found in distal tibia trabecular vBMD and mid-tibia posterior BMC, which remained significant (p < 0.05) after adjustment for multiple testing. In conclusion, our longitudinal findings indicate that continued strength and sprint training is associated with maintained or even improved tibial properties in middle-aged and older male sprint athletes, suggesting that regular, intensive exercise counteracts bone aging. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Markers of vulnerability for cervical cancer in HIV-infected women

This study identifies the dimensions and markers of vulnerability among women infected with HIV regarding the development of cervical cancer. A total of 76 HIV-infected women cared for in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil from October 2007 to June 2008 participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect socio-demographic, clinical, and sexual data, as well as situations related to health care follow-up and the prevention of cervical cancer. Identified situations were grouped according to the dimensions and markers of vulnerability. HIV-infected women experience different situations linked to individual, programmatic and social dimensions that leave them vulnerable to the development of cervical cancer. The conclusion is that this population is vulnerable to cervical cancer and specific preventive actions are necessary to supply information associated with early detection, improve knowledge, encourage self-care, and improve the quality of health services directed to this population.Se objetivó identificar las dimensiones y los marcadores de vulnerabilidad entre mujeres infectadas por el HIV, en el caso del desarrollo del cáncer cérvico uterino. Participaron 76 mujeres, infectadas por el HIV, de octubre de 2007 a junio de 2008, atendidas en Fortaleza, estado de Ceará, en Brasil. La entrevista semiestructurada propició evaluar datos sociodemográficos, clínicos, sexuales y situaciones relacionadas al seguimiento en salud y a la prevención contra cáncer cérvico uterino. Los datos posibilitaron el agrupamiento de situaciones indicadas en las dimensiones y marcadores de vulnerabilidad. Las mujeres infectadas por el HIV presentan diferentes situaciones que las tornan vulnerables al desarrollo del cáncer de cuello uterino, ligadas a las dimensiones individual, programática y social. Se concluye que esta población es vulnerable al cáncer de cuello uterino y que son necesarias acciones preventivas específicas, para ofrecer informaciones asociadas a la detección precoz de la enfermedad, mejorar el nivel de conocimiento, estimular el autocuidado y mejorar la calidad de los servicios de salud destinados a esa clientela.Objetivou-se identificar as dimensões e os marcadores de vulnerabilidade entre mulheres infectadas pelo HIV, para o desenvolvimento do câncer cérvico-uterino. Participaram 76 mulheres, infectadas pelo HIV, de outubro de 2007 a junho de 2008, atendidas em Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. Entrevista semiestruturada propiciou avaliar dados sociodemográficos, clínicos, sexuais e situações relacionadas ao seguimento em saúde e à prevenção contra câncer cérvico-uterino. Os dados possibilitaram o agrupamento de situações indicadas nas dimensões e marcadores de vulnerabilidade. As mulheres infectadas pelo HIV possuem diferentes situações que as tornam vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento do câncer de colo uterino, ligadas às dimensões individual, programática e social. Conclui-se ser essa população vulnerável ao câncer de colo do útero e serem necessárias ações preventivas específicas, para fornecer informações associadas à detecção precoce da doença, melhoria do nível de conhecimento, estímulo ao autocuidado e melhoria da qualidade dos serviços de saúde destinados a essa clientela

Linking like with like: optimising connectivity between environmentally-similar habitats

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To minimise the effect of fragmentation on biodiversity, connectivity between otherwise isolated habitats should be promoted. However, the identification of linkages favouring connectivity is not trivial. Firstly, they compete with other land uses, so they need to be cost-efficient. Secondly, linkages for one species might be barriers for others, so they should effectively account for distinct mobility requirements. Thirdly, detailed information on the auto-ecology of most of the species is lacking, so linkages need being defined based on surrogates. In order to address these challenges we develop a framework that (a) identifies environmentally-similar habitats; (b) identifies environmental barriers (i.e., regions with a very distinct environment from the areas to be linked), and; (c) determines cost-efficient linkages between environmentally-similar habitats, free from environmental barriers. The assumption is that species with similar ecological requirements occupy the same environments, so environmental similarity provides a rationale for the identification of the areas that need to be linked. A variant of the classical minimum Steiner tree problem in graphs is used to address c). We present a heuristic for this problem that is capable of handling large datasets. To illustrate the framework we identify linkages between environmentally-similar protected areas in the Iberian Peninsula. The Natura 2000 network is used as a positive ‘attractor’ of links while the human footprint is used as ‘repellent’ of links.Wecompare the outcomes of our approach with cost-efficient networks linking protected areas that disregard the effect of environmental barriers. As expected, the latter achieved a smaller area covered with linkages, but with barriers that can significantly reduce the permeability of the landscape for the dispersal of some species