The effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity in healthy young individuals

BACKGROUND: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that affected the world in a short time, face masks were recommended by all authorities and started to be used widely. Few studies have reported the effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. In this critical period, there is a need to contribute to the literature to clarify the effects of face masks. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. METHODS: In this prospective cross-over study, the effect of wearing nomask (nm), surgical mask (cm) and FFP2/N95 (ffpm) mask was examined in 16 healthy individuals (age: 23.12±1.4, BMI: 22.91±12.8, 8 women). Forty-eight tests were performed randomly with the standard cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion, maximum power, heart rate, dyspnea, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation were evaluated. Ten domains of the comfort/discomfort levels of wearing mask were evaluated by questionnaire. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion were 383±118, 348.25±106 and 338.62±97 seconds (nm, cm and ffpm, respectively; P0.001). The maximum power was 125±31.62 Watt in all measurements. There was no significant differences in physiological parameters except dyspnea (P=0.004). A significant difference was found between the masks in terms of tightness and breathing resistance in terms of mask comfort/discomfort (P=0.001, P=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity was reduced in healthy young individuals due to surgical mask and ffpm/N95. In addition to this effect, breathing resistance and tightness should be considered in face masks recommendations during exercise. © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Virtual reality for COPD exacerbation: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective treatment method for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, individuals with chronic diseases that require lifelong treatment and experience exacerbations need motivational methods. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of virtual reality on symptoms, daily living activity, functional capacity, anxiety and depression levels in COPD exacerbation. Methods: Fifty patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups. Twenty-five patients participated in a traditional PR (once-daily until discharge), including pedaling exercises. The second/25 patients followed the same protocol but experienced cycling simulation in the forest via virtual reality (VR + PR). All patients were evaluated using 1-minute/Sit-to-Stand test (STST), modified-Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, COPD Assessment test (CAT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and London Chest Activities of Daily Living (LCADL) before and after the treatment. Results: The STST showed an increase in both groups post-treatment, notably higher in the VR + PR (p = 0.037). Dyspnea levels and CAT scores decreased in all patients, but the decrease was greater in the PR + VR group for both parameters (p = 0.062, p = 0.003; respectively). Both groups experienced a reduction in the HADS scores compared to the pre-treatment, with a more significant decrease in depression and the total score in the VR + PR (p 0.05). LCADL's sub-parameters and total score, excluding household, decreased in both groups after treatment (p 0.05). The improvement was more substantial in the VR + PR. Conclusions: Virtual reality provides benefits in the management of COPD exacerbations and can be used safely. Clinical trial registiration: Registered at clinicaltrials.gov, registration ID: NCT05687396, URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd2022SABE00

The effects of expiratory muscle training after colorectal surgery

Abstract Not Availabl

Determination of the Fatty Acid Composition of the Fruits and Different Organs of Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.)

WOS: 000363292800021This paper reports the fatty acid composition of the oil extracts from seeds and in vivo and in vitro grown organs of Pistacia lentiscus L. were determined by using gas chromatography. The main fatty acids were linoleic (LA), palmitic (PALM), oleic (OLA) and linolenic (ALA) acids in the fruits, resins and in both in vivo and in vitro grown root, leaf and stem sections of male or female tree. The major fatty acids were represented by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) accounting for 56.94 %, 64.44 % and 55.57 % in root, leaf and stem part of male tree grown in vivo, respectively. The prominent class of fatty acid composition of different male organs of P. lentiscus L. regenerated in vitro was represented by PUFA accounting for 63.24 %. The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), OLA and PUFA, LA were determined in the oils of the two genotypes studied.TUBITAK-The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey [TBAG-110T941]; Dicle University Research Council, DUBAP [12-FF-104]The study was funded by grant # TBAG-110T941 from TUBITAK-The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey. It was partially supported by a Grant #12-FF-104 from Dicle University Research Council, DUBAP