Sedentary Time Accumulated in Bouts is Positively Associated with Disease Severity in Fibromyalgia: The Al-andalus Project

To examine the associations of prolonged sedentary time (ST) with disease severity in women with fibromyalgia, and to analyse the combined association of total ST and prolonged ST with the disease severity in this population. Women (n = 451; 51.3 +/- 7.6 years old) with fibromyalgia participated. Sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using triaxial accelerometry and ST was processed into 30- and 60-min bouts. Dimensions of fibromyalgia (function, overall, symptoms) and the overall disease impact were assessed with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Body fat percentage was assessed using a bio-impedance analyser, and physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Tests Battery. Greater percentage of ST in 30-min bouts and 60-min bouts were associated with worse function, overall, symptoms and the overall impact of the disease (all, P 60-min bouts) presented lower overall impact compared to participants with high levels of total ST and prolonged ST (mean difference = 6.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.83 to 11.29, P = 0.002). Greater percentage of ST accumulated in 30- and 60-min bouts and a combination of high levels of total and prolonged ST are related to worse disease severity. Although unable to conclude on causality, results suggest it might be advisable to motivate women with fibromyalgia to break prolonged ST and reduce their total daily ST

Exercise Strengthens Central Nervous System Modulation of Pain in Fibromyalgia

To begin to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the benefits of exercise for chronic pain, we assessed the influence of exercise on brain responses to pain in fibromyalgia (FM). Complete data were collected for nine female FM patients and nine pain-free controls (CO) who underwent two functional neuroimaging scans, following exercise (EX) and following quiet rest (QR). Brain responses and pain ratings to noxious heat stimuli were compared within and between groups. For pain ratings, there was a significant (p \u3c 0.05) Condition by Run interaction characterized by moderately lower pain ratings post EX compared to QR (d = 0.39–0.41) for FM but similar to ratings in CO (d = 0.10–0.26), thereby demonstrating that exercise decreased pain sensitivity in FM patients to a level that was analogous to pain-free controls. Brain responses demonstrated a significant within-group difference in FM patients, characterized by less brain activity bilaterally in the anterior insula following QR as compared to EX. There was also a significant Group by Condition interaction with FM patients showing less activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex following QR as compared to post-EX and CO following both conditions. These results suggest that exercise appeared to stimulate brain regions involved in descending pain inhibition in FM patients, decreasing their sensitivity to pain. Thus, exercise may benefit patients with FM via improving the functional capacity of the pain modulatory system

Models of classroom assessment for course-based research experiences

Course-based research pedagogy involves positioning students as contributors to authentic research projects as part of an engaging educational experience that promotes their learning and persistence in science. To develop a model for assessing and grading students engaged in this type of learning experience, the assessment aims and practices of a community of experienced course-based research instructors were collected and analyzed. This approach defines four aims of course-based research assessment—(1) Assessing Laboratory Work and Scientific Thinking; (2) Evaluating Mastery of Concepts, Quantitative Thinking and Skills; (3) Appraising Forms of Scientific Communication; and (4) Metacognition of Learning—along with a set of practices for each aim. These aims and practices of assessment were then integrated with previously developed models of course-based research instruction to reveal an assessment program in which instructors provide extensive feedback to support productive student engagement in research while grading those aspects of research that are necessary for the student to succeed. Assessment conducted in this way delicately balances the need to facilitate students’ ongoing research with the requirement of a final grade without undercutting the important aims of a CRE education

Cytokine responses across submaximal exercise intensities in women with major depressive disorder

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with chronic inflammation. Exercise training can treat depression in adults with MDD, potentially through reducing inflammatory activity. This improvement may occur through adaptations to repeated acute inflammatory responses. Cytokine responses to acute steady-state exercise of varying intensities were determined in women with different levels of depression. Methods: This analysis included 19 women with MDD who each participated in four sessions consisting of 30 ​min of quiet rest, light, moderate, or hard intensity exercise. Blood samples were collected pre- and within 10 ​min post-session. Changes in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF were evaluated in each session. Results: Serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF were all significantly elevated following vigorous exercise (i.e., hard) compared to the quiet rest session. No changes in cytokine levels occurred after light and moderate exercise. Depression severity did not appear to influence the acute inflammatory response to exercise. Limitations: The sample size was small, all female, and from a secondary data analysis, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: Repeat, acute increases in inflammatory activity following hard exercise sessions may prompt adaptations and lead to reductions in chronic inflammation over time. This dose-response study identified an exercise intensity threshold to induce acute inflammatory responses in women with MDD

Dose-response effects of acute exercise intensity on state anxiety among women with depression

Anxiety is common in people with major depressive disorder (MDD), yet the  anxiolytic effects of acute exercise in MDD are unknown. The purpose of this  analysis was to determine a potentially optimal acute exercise intensity for  reducing state anxiety in women with MDD, the duration of the response, and the  potential influences of depression severity and preferred-intensity exercise. Using a  within-subject, randomized, counter-balanced design, 24 participants completed  five separate visits including 20  min of steady-state bicycling at prescribed (via RPE) light, moderate, or hard intensities, a preferred/self-selected session, or a  quiet rest (QR) session. State anxiety was measured via the State–Trait Anxiety  Inventory (STAI-Y1) and anxiety visual analog scale (VAS) at pre-, immediately  (VAS only), 10  min, and 30  min post-exercise. Depression was measured via the  Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) pre-exercise. Moderate exercise resulted in  a moderate state anxiety reduction compared to QR 10 min (STAI-Y1: g = 0.59,  padj = 0.040) and 30 min post-exercise (STAI-Y1: g = 0.61, padj = 0.032). Pairwise  differences indicated each exercise session decreased state anxiety pre to 10 min  and 30 min post-exercise (all padj < 0.05) for the STAI-Y1, and for moderate and  hard exercise from pre to each time point post-exercise (all padj < 0.05) for the  VAS. Depression severity was associated with state anxiety (p < 0.01) but did not  influence the overall results. Prescribed moderate intensity exercise led to greater  reductions in state anxiety compared to preferred at 30 m (STAI-Y1: g = 0.43,  p = 0.04). These findings suggest steady-state prescribed moderate exercise  reduces state anxiety in women with MDD for at least 30 min following exercise  regardless of their depression severity </p

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome

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