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 Cadiz 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 (beta = - 11.27; p < 0.001) and T0-T2 (beta = - 16.27; p < 0.001) and decreases in MVPA between T0-T2 (beta = - 4.51; p = 0.011). Moreover, changes over time showed increases in handgrip between T0-T1 (beta = 0.78; p = 0.028) and T0-T2 (beta = 0.81; p = 0.046). Path analyses showed that AST was directly positively associated with MVPA at T1 (all, beta approximate to 0.33; p < 0.001). MVPA at T1 mediated associations between AST and CRF at T2 (beta = 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

Environmental vs psychosocial barriers to active commuting to university: which matters more?

Objectives The aims of this study were (1) to examine the differences in the mode of commuting and barriers to active commuting to university between the sexes (men and women) and in different countries (Chile and Spain); and (2) to analyse the association between the mode of commuting and the perceived barriers for male and female university students in Chile and Spain. Study design This cross-sectional study took place between April 2017 and May 2018 in Chile and Spain. Methods The study population included 2269 university students (53.0% women). The mode of commuting and barriers to active commuting to university were assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations. Results In both sexes, public and private transport were the main modes of commuting used in Chile and Spain, respectively, followed by active commuting in all participants, except for female students in Spain. Women perceived more environmental and psychosocial barriers compared to men (Chile: P < 0.001; Spain: P = 0.006). Perceived environmental barriers showed higher significant differences between students in Chile and Spain (P < 0.05). Private commuters reported a larger proportion of psychosocial barriers compared to active commuters (Chile: men P = 0.001, women P < 0.001; Spain: men P < 0.001, women P = 0.036). Conclusions The study findings suggest that the mode of commuting and the barriers to active commuting to university may be influenced by sex and country.National Agency for Research and Development (ANID)/Scholarship Program/DOCTORADO BECAS CHILE/2020 72210020University of Cadiz, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2017 PR2017-08

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&lt;0.001) increased as weight status increased. Levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, upper-body flexibility (both, P&lt;0.001), static balance (P&lt;0.05) and dynamic balance (P&lt;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.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Ergogenic effects of quercetin supplementation in trained rats

[Background] Quercetin is a natural polyphenolic compound currently under study for its ergogenic capacity to improve mitochondrial biogenesis. Sedentary mice have exhibited increased endurance performance, but results are contradictory in human models. [Methods] We examined the effects of six weeks of endurance training and quercetin supplementation on markers of endurance performance and training in a rodent model. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: placebo+sedentary (PS), quercetin+sedentary (QS), placebo+endurance training (PT) and quercetin+endurance training (QT). Quercetin was administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg on alternate days. During six weeks of treatment volume parameters of training were recorded, and after six weeks all groups performed a maximal graded VO2 max test and a low-intensity endurance run-to-fatigue test. [Results] No effects were found in VO2 peak (p>0.999), nor in distance run during low-intensity test, although it was 14% greater in QT when compared with PT (P = 0.097). Post-exercise blood lactate was increased in QT when compared with PT (p=0.023) and also in QS compared with PS (p=0.024). [Conclusions] This study showed no effects in VO2 peak, speed at VO2 peak or endurance time to exhaustion after six weeks of quercetin supplementation compared with placebo in trained rats. Quercetin was show to increase blood lactate production after high-intensity exercise

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

We assessed the efects 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

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

Первичная сексуально−эротическая дезадаптация как причина внебрачных связей супругов

Показаны закономерности развития, проявления и течения сексуально−эротической формы первичной дезадаптации супругов, имеющиеся у них варианты и разновидности сексуальной дезадаптации. Описаны причины, частота и характер обусловленных этой формой дезадаптации внебрачных связей, моральные качества и личностные особенности супругов, способствующие совершению ими супружеских измен. Дается рекомендация учитывать полученные в исследовании данные при психотерапевтической коррекции сексуально−эротической дезадаптации и разработке системы психопрофилактики сопровождающего ее внебрачного секса.The regularities of development, manifestations and course of sexual−erotic form of primary spouse dysadaptation as well as the variants and varieties of dysadaptation are shown. The causes, frequency and character of extramarital relations due to this form of dysadaptation, moral qualities and personality peculiarities of the spouses providing marital unfaithfulness are described. It is recommended to consider the received information in psychopreventive correction of sexual−erotic dysadaptation and working out the system of psychoprevention of the extramarital sex

The Erasmus+ EUMOVE project-a school-based promotion of healthy lifestyles to prevent obesity in European children and adolescents

The aim of this study was to describe the goals, activities, and methods of EUMOVE project in developing a set of resources targeting both primary and secondary schools that allow the entire educational community to promote healthy lifestyles (HL). The EUMOVE project is an Erasmus+ program based in the Creating Active Schools (CAS) framework. The project lasted 3 years and was developed by 14 academic and non-governmental institutions from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and the UK. EUMOVE was divided into three phases. In the first phase, several work packages were carried out aimed to ensure the coordination/management of the project activities. In the second phase, seven educational resources strengthened by rigorous scientific research were developed to promote HL from schools. During the last phase, all the resources were disseminated through scientific seminars, workshops with families and teachers, and the online promotion by the non-governmental institutions of each country. The EUMOVE project developed and promoted a smartphone APP, video/activity repository of physically active lessons, active break virtual platform, learning units, and parent/teachers/school-leaders' guidelines to promote physical activity, active commuting, active school playgrounds, healthy diet, and sleep habits. To our knowledge, EUMOVE is the first European project to provide a set of practical tools based on scientific evidence to help schools or future school-wide interventions implement a paradigm shift based on the CAS framework for the promotion of HL. Future research will need to investigate the implementation, effectiveness, and scalability of this proposal. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association.

Una dieta alta en proteína produce estrés oxidativo en el cerebro de ratas: acción protectora del ejercicio de alta intensidad sobre peroxidación lipídica

diets as well as aerobic exercise could promote antioxidant capacity and consequently reduce free radicals overproduction on brain. However, little is know regarding to the high-protein diets and high intensity exercise on oxidative stress production. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of high-protein diets and high-intensity exercise (HIE) on brain oxidative stress markers. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in 4 experimental groups (n=10): normal-protein or high-protein diets with or without HIE for an experimental period of 12 weeks. Main oxidative damage markers in brain such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) and protein carbonyl content (PCC) were assessed. In addition, brain manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), cooper/ zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes activity, and protein level of Nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) were measured. Results and discussion: Brain TBARs, PCC, tSOD, Mn-SOD, CuZn-SOD and CAT levels were higher in the high-protein compared to the normal-protein groups (all, p<0.05). In addition, the expression of Nrf2 protein was higher in the high-protein and HIE groups compared to the normal-protein and sedentary groups, respectively (both, p<0.01). A protein amount*HIE interaction was found on brain TBARs content, and tSOD and CuZn- SOD activity derived from a HIE-induced decrease in the high-protein but not in the normal-protein group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The high-protein diets consumption produce higher levels of brain lipid peroxidation, in spite of higher levels of antioxidant enzymatic capacity. However, HIE may attenuate the deleterious effect of a high-protein diet on brain lipid peroxidation when both effects are combined.Introducción: Es conocido que la proteína de soja así como la práctica de ejercicio físico aeróbico pueden incrementar la capacidad antioxidante y con ello reducir la sobreproducción de radicales libres en el cerebro. Sin embargo, existe desconocimiento sobre el efecto del consumo de dietas hiperproteicas y el entrenamiento de alta intensidad (EAI) sobre dicho estrés oxidativo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la influencia del consumo de una dieta hiperproteica y de EAI sobre marcadores de estrés oxidativo en cerebro. Métodos: Cuarenta ratas Wistar macho adultas fueron aleatoriamente distribuidas en 4 grupos experimentales (n=10): dieta normoproteica o hiperproteica, con o sin EAI durante un periodo experimental de 12 semanas. Se determinaron los principales marcadores de daño oxidativo en cerebro como sustancias reactivas del ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARs) y el contenido de grupos carbonilos (PCC). Además, se midieron las actividades enzimáticas superóxido dismutasa del manganeso (Mn-SOD), de cobre/ zinc (CuZn-SOD) y catalasa (CAT), así como el nivel de proteína del factor nuclear eritroide-2 (Nrf2). Resultados: Los niveles de TBARs, PCC, tSOD, Mn- SOD, CuZn-SOD y CAT fueron significativamente mayores en los grupos hiperproteicos en comparación con los normoproteicos (todas, p<0,05). La expresión de la proteína Nrf2 fue mayor en los grupos hiperproteicos y con EAI en comparación con los grupos normorpoteicos y sedentarios, respectivamente (ambos, p<0,01). Se observó una interacción en la disminución de los niveles de TBARs, tSOD y CuZn-SOD producida por el EAI en el grupo hiperproteico que no fue reflejada en el grupo normoproteico (p=0,05). Conclusión: El consumo de una dieta hiperproteica produce altos niveles de peroxidación lipídica en el cerebro, a pesar de los altos niveles de capacidad enzimática antioxidante detectados. Sin embargo, el efecto del EAI podría atenuar los niveles de peroxidación lipídica producidos por el consumo de una dieta hiperproteica.This study was supported by the project DEP2008-04376 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation and grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education (D.C.M. grant number AP2009-3173), (E.N. grant number AP2009-5033)

Effects of the amount and source of dietary protein on bone status in rats

This study was supported by the project DEP2008-04376 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation and grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education (AP2009-5033, AP2009-3173). All the sources of financial support had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article. The authors are grateful to all the members from the Department of Physiology for their collaboration.This study examined the effects of the dietary amount and source of protein on bone status in rats. 140 male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks were randomly allocated to 4 groups (n = 35) fed normal-protein (NP, 10% richness) or high-protein (HP, 45% richness) diets based on whey protein (WP) or soy protein (SP) sources for 12 weeks. Plasma urea was 46% higher for the HP compared to the NP diet (p < 0.001). Urinary calcium was 65% higher for the HP compared to the NP and 60% higher for the WP compared to the SP diets (all, p < 0.001). Urinary pH was 8% more acidic in the HP compared to the NP diet (p < 0.001) and 4% in the WP compared to the SP diet (p < 0.01). The plasma osteocalcin concentration was 19% higher for the NP compared to the HP (p < 0.05) and 25% for the SP compared to the WP diets (p < 0.01). Femur ash, metaphyseal and diaphyseal cross-sectional, trabecular and cortical areas were 3% higher in the HP compared to the NP diet (all, p < 0.05). Femur diaphyseal periosteal and endocortical perimeters were also 3% higher in the HP compared to the NP diet (both, p < 0.01). Groups fed the SP diet showed 2% higher femur ash percentage, 7% higher calcium content (both, p < 0.001), and 3% higher diaphyseal cortical area and thickness (both, p < 0.05) than those fed the WP diet. Some interactions were found, such as the greater effects of the SP diet on decreasing the higher plasma urea concentration promoted by the intake of the HP diet (p < 0.001). Under adequate Ca intake, HP diets could better maintain bone properties than NP diets, even with increasing some acidity markers, which could be reduced by the intake of SP sources.Spanish Ministry of Education (AP2009-5033, AP2009-3173