53 research outputs found
Assessment of physical fitness during pregnancy: validity and reliability of fitness tests, and relationship with maternal and neonatal health – a systematic review
Objectives To systematically review studies evaluating
one or more components of physical fitness (PF) in
pregnant women, to answer two research questions: (1)
What tests have been employed to assess PF in pregnant
women? and (2) What is the validity and reliability of these
tests and their relationship with maternal and neonatal
health?
Design A systematic review.
Data sources PubMed and Web of Science.
Eligibility criteria Original English or Spanish full-text
articles in a group of healthy pregnant women which at
least one component of PF was assessed (field based or
laboratory tests).
Results A total of 149 articles containing a sum of 191
fitness tests were included. Among the 191 fitness tests,
99 (ie, 52%) assessed cardiorespiratory fitness through 75
different protocols, 28 (15%) assessed muscular fitness
through 16 different protocols, 14 (7%) assessed flexibility
through 13 different protocols, 45 (24%) assessed balance
through 40 different protocols, 2 assessed speed with
the same protocol and 3 were multidimensional tests
using one protocol. A total of 19 articles with 23 tests
(13%) assessed either validity (n=4), reliability (n=6) or
the relationship of PF with maternal and neonatal health
(n=16).
Conclusion Physical fitness has been assessed through
a wide variety of protocols, mostly lacking validity and
reliability data, and no consensus exists on the most
suitable fitness tests to be performed during pregnancy.University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) SOMM17/6107/UG
Assessment of physical fitness during pregnancy: validity and reliability of fitness tests, and relationship with maternal and neonatal health - a systematic review.
Objectives: To systematically review studies evaluating one or more components of physical fitness (PF) in pregnant women, to answer two research questions: (1) What tests have been employed to assess PF in pregnant women? and (2) What is the validity and reliability of these tests and their relationship with maternal and neonatal health?
Design: A systematic review.
Data sources: PubMed and Web of Science.
Eligibility criteria: Original English or Spanish full-text articles in a group of healthy pregnant women which at least one component of PF was assessed (field based or laboratory tests).
Results: A total of 149 articles containing a sum of 191 fitness tests were included. Among the 191 fitness tests, 99 (ie, 52%) assessed cardiorespiratory fitness through 75 different protocols, 28 (15%) assessed muscular fitness through 16 different protocols, 14 (7%) assessed flexibility through 13 different protocols, 45 (24%) assessed balance through 40 different protocols, 2 assessed speed with the same protocol and 3 were multidimensional tests using one protocol. A total of 19 articles with 23 tests (13%) assessed either validity (n=4), reliability (n=6) or the relationship of PF with maternal and neonatal health (n=16).
Conclusion: Physical fitness has been assessed through a wide variety of protocols, mostly lacking validity and reliability data, and no consensus exists on the most suitable fitness tests to be performed during pregnancy.
PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018117554
Premenstrual and menstrual changes reported after COVID-19 vaccination: The EVA project
Background: Menstrual disorders were not reported as a possible secondary effect in any of the clinical trials for the
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Aim: To describe the prevalence of perceived premenstrual and menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccine
administration.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: A total of 14,153 women (mean age 31.5 ± 9.3 years old) who had received the full course of vaccination at
least three months earlier were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including the type of vaccine administered,
perceived changes in the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, presence of clots, cycle length, and premenstrual
symptoms were collected through a retrospective online survey from June to September 2021.
Results: Of the women who participated in this study, 3136 reported no menstrual changes and 11,017 (78% of the
study sample) reported experiencing menstrual cycle changes after vaccination. In summary, women who reported
menstrual changes after vaccination were older (overall p < 0.001) and slightly more smokers (p = 0.05) than women
who did not report any changes. The most prevalent changes in relation to premenstrual symptoms were increased
fatigue (43%), abdominal bloating (37%), irritability (29%), sadness (28%), and headaches (28%). The most predominant
menstrual changes were more menstrual bleeding (43%), more menstrual pain (41%), delayed menstruation (38%), fewer
days of menstrual bleeding (34.5%), and shorter cycle length (32%).
Conclusion: Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes. Future
studies are warranted to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind these widely reported changes.Antonio Chamorro-Alejandro Otero Research Chair, University of Granad
Immunoregulatory Effects of Porcine Plasma Protein Concentrates on Rat Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Splenocytes
This study was funded by APC Europe and the Ministry of Economy and Competitivity,
partly with Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER funds [SAF2017-88457-R, AGL2017-85270-
R, BFU2014-57736-P, AGL2014-58883-R], and by Junta de AndalucĂa [CTS235, CTS164]. CHC, CJA
and BO were supported by the University of Granada (Contrato Puente Program-Plan Propio) and
the Ministry of Education [Spain], respectively. CIBERehd is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III.Blood contains proteins which have interest as products that may regulate immune function. For this reason some protein-based products are currently used as nutritional supplements for animals, for instance two porcine concentrates, spray dried serum (SDS), and an immunoglobulin concentrate (IC). These products have shown to protect against colonic inflammation in rodents. In the present study we characterize the ability of these products to modulate immune function in isolated cells, namely intestinal epithelial cells (IEC18 cells) and rat spleen cells. Our data indicate that both porcine protein concentrates indeed alter immune cell function, based on the secretion of the modulators known as cytokines. In intestinal epithelial IEC18 cells they promoted the secretion of GRO alpha and MCP-1 cytokines. In spleen cells they mainly inhibited the production of TNF, a key proinflammatory cytokine. In addition, the IC product augmented the release of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Taken together, our data indicate that the immunomodulatory effects observed in vivo are consistent with the direct actions of the protein concentrates on epithelial cells, T lymphocytes, and monocytes.
Serum protein concentrates have been shown to exert in vivo anti-inflammatory effects. Specific effects on different cell types and their mechanism of action remain unraveled. We aimed to characterize the immunomodulatory effect of two porcine plasma protein concentrates, spray dried serum (SDS) and an immunoglobulin concentrate (IC), currently used as animal nutritional supplements with established in vivo immunomodulatory properties. Cytokine production by the intestinal epithelial cell line IEC18 and by primary cultures of rat splenocytes was studied. The molecular pathways involved were explored with specific inhibitors and gene knockdown. Our results indicate that both products induced GRO alpha and MCP-1 production in IEC18 cells by a MyD88/NF-kappa B-dependent mechanism. Inhibition of TNF production was observed in rat primary splenocyte cultures. The immunoglobulin concentrate induced IL-10 expression in primary splenocytes and lymphocytes. The effect on TNF was independent of IL-10 production or the stimulation of NF-kB, MAPKs, AKT, or RAGE. In conclusion, SDS and IC directly regulate intestinal and systemic immune response in murine intestinal epithelial cells and in T lymphocytes and monocytes.APC EuropeMinistry of Economy and CompetitivityEuropean Commission
SAF2017-88457-R
AGL2017-85270R
BFU2014-57736-P
AGL2014-58883-RJunta de Andalucia
CTS235
CTS164University of Granada (Contrato Puente Program-Plan Propio)Ministry of Education [Spain]Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIEuropean Commissio
Association of objectively measured physical fitness during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project
Aim
To analyse i) the association of physical fitness during early second trimester and late pregnancy with maternal and neonatal outcomes; and ii) to investigate whether physical fitness
is associated with the type of birth (vaginal or caesarean section).
Methods
Pregnant women from the GESTAFIT Project (n = 159) participated in this longitudinal
study. Maternal physical fitness including upper- and lower-body strength, cardiorespiratory
fitness (CRF) and flexibility were measured through objective physical fitness tests at the
16th and 34th gestational weeks. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from
obstetric medical records. Umbilical arterial and venous blood gas pH and partial pressure
of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and oxygen (PO2), were assessed.
Results
At the 16th week, greater upper-body muscle strength was associated with greater neonatal
birth weight (r = 0.191, p<0.05). Maternal flexibility was associated with a more alkaline arterial pH (r = 0.220, p<0.05), higher arterial PO2 (r = 0.237, p<0.05) and lower arterial PCO2
(r = -0.331, p<0.01) in umbilical cord blood. Maternal CRF at the 16th gestational week was
related to higher arterial umbilical cord PO2 (r = 0.267, p<0.05). The women who had caesarean sections had lower CRF (p<0.001) at the 16th gestational week and worse clustered
overall physical fitness, both at the 16th (-0.227, p = 0.003, confidence interval (CI): -0.376,
-0.078) and 34th gestational week (-0.223; p = 0.018; CI: -0.432, -0.015) compared with the
women who had vaginal births.
Conclusion
Increasing physical fitness during pregnancy may promote better neonatal outcomes and is
associated with a decrease in the risk of caesarean section.
This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02582567) on October 20, 2015.This study was part of VAA fellowship
from the Andalucı´a Talent-Hub Program, launched
by the Andalusian Knowledge Agency, co-funded
by the European Union’s Seventh Framework
Program, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
(COFUND–Grant Agreement nº291780) and the
Junta de Andalucı´a. ICR (grant number: FPU13/01993) was supported by the Spanish Ministry of
Education. This study was also partially funded by
the Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de
Andalucı´a (PI-0395-2016) and the University of
Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacio´n 2016,
Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of
Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). The
funders had no role in study design, data collection
and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of
the manuscript
Epithelial deletion of the glucocorticoid receptor protects the mouse intestine against experimental inflammation
Intestinal epithelium glucocorticoid receptor knockout mice (NR3C1 IEC) were treated
with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2.5%) to induce colitis. Inflammatory status was
assessed by morphological and biochemical methods and corticoid production was
measured in colonic explants.
Key Results.
After 7 days of DSS NR3C1 mice exhibited lower weight loss and tissue damage,
reduced colonic expression of S100A9, attenuated phosphorylation of STAT3 and a better
overall state compared with WT. Ki67 immunoreactivity was also shifted, indicating an
effect on epithelial proliferation. A subgroup of mice were treated with budesonide and
showed completely prevented budesonide induced weight loss. Epithelial deletion of the
glucocorticoid receptor also protected mice in a protracted colitis protocol. Conversely
knockout mice presented a worse status compared to the control group at 1 day post DSS,
as shown by blood in feces and increased inflammatory parameters. In a separate
experiment colonic corticosterone production was shown to be significantly increased in
knockout mice at 7 days of colitis but not at earlier stages.
Conclusions and Implications.
The intestinal epithelial glucocorticoid receptor has deleterious effects in experimental
colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate, probably related to inhibition of epithelial
proliferative responses leading to impaired wound healing and reduced endogenous
corticosterone production.Ministry of Economy and Competitivity, partly with Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER funds [BFU2014-57736-P, AGL2014-58883-R, SAF2017-88457-R, AGL2017-85270-R]Junta de AndalucĂa [CTS235, CTS164]Ministry of EducationCIBERehd is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos II
Association of Self-Reported Physical Fitness during Late Pregnancy with Birth Outcomes and Oxytocin Administration during Labour—The GESTAFIT Project
We explored (a) the associations between self-reported maternal physical fitness and birth
outcomes; (b) whether self-reported maternal physical fitness (PF) is related to the administration of
oxytocin to induce or stimulate labour. Pregnant women from the GESTAFIT project randomized
controlled trial (n = 117) participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Maternal physical
fitness was assessed through the International Fitness Scale at the 34th gestational week. Maternal
and neonatal birth outcomes and oxytocin administration were collected from the obstetric medical
records. Umbilical arterial and venous cord blood gas were analysed immediately after birth. Selfreported overall fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and flexibility were not related
to any maternal and neonatal birth outcomes (all p > 0.05). Greater speed-agility was associated with
a more alkaline arterial (p = 0.04) and venous (p = 0.02) pH in the umbilical cord blood. Women who
were administered oxytocin to induce or stimulate labour reported lower cardiorespiratory fitness
(p = 0.013, Cohen’s d = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14, 0.93) and flexibility (p = 0.040, Cohen´s
d = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.89) compared to women who were not administered oxytocin. Greater
maternal physical fitness during pregnancy could be associated with better neonatal birth outcomes
and lower risk of needing oxytocin administration.Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta
de AndalucĂa (PI-0395-2016)Research and Knowledge Transfer Fund (PPIT) 2016, Excellence Actions Programme: Scientific Units of Excellence (UCEES)Regional Ministry of
Economy, Knowledge, EnterprisesUniversity, European Regional Development Funds (ref.
SOMM17/6107/UGR)Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture
and Sports (Grant number FPU17/03715
Preliminary Results on the Preinduction Cervix Status by Shear Wave Elastography
The mechanical status of the cervix is a key physiological element during pregnancy.
By considering a successful induction when the active phase of labor is achieved, mapping the
mechanical properties of the cervix could have predictive potential for the management of induction
protocols. In this sense, we performed a preliminary assessment of the diagnostic value of using
shear wave elastography before labor induction in 54 women, considering the pregnancy outcome
and Cesarean indications. Three anatomical cervix regions and standard methods, such as cervical
length and Bishop score, were compared. To study the discriminatory power of each diagnostic
method, a receiver operating characteristic curve was generated. Differences were observed using
the external os region and cervical length in the failure to enter the active phase group compared to
the vaginal delivery group (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve resulted in 68.9%, 65.2% and
67.2% for external os, internal os and cervix box using elastography, respectively, compared to 69.5%
for cervical length and 62.2% for Bishop score. External os elastography values have shown promise
in predicting induction success. This a priori information could be used to prepare a study with a
larger sample size, which would reduce the effect of any bias selection and increase the predictive
power of elastography compared to other classical techniques.Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte grant DPI2017-83859-R
DPI2014-51870-R
UNGR15-CE-3664
EQC2018-004508-PSpanish Government DTS15/00093
PI16/00339Instituto de Salud Carlos IIISpanish GovernmentEuropean Commission PID2020-115372RB-I00
PYC20 RE 072 UGRInstituto de Salud Carlos III y Fondos FederJunta de Andalucia PI-0107-2017
PIN-0030-2017
IE2017-5537
B-TEP-026-UGR18
P18-RT-1653MCIN/AEI (European Social Fund "Investing in your future") PRE2018-086085European Commission P18-RT-1653
SOMM17/6109/UG
Association of Self-Reported Physical Fitness with Pregnancy Related Symptoms the GESTAFIT Project
We explored the association of physical fitness (PF) with pregnancy-related symptoms, at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.). The International Fitness Scale and the Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory were employed to assess self-reported PF and pregnancy-related symptoms, respectively. At the 16th g.w. greater self-reported overall PF was associated with lower incidence of urinary frequency (p = 0.020); greater overall PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength and speed-agility were associated with lower incidence of tiredness-fatigue (all, p < 0.05); greater overall PF and speed-agility were associated with lower incidence of poor sleep (both, p < 0.05); greater CRF and flexibility were associated with lower limitations by tiredness-fatigue (both, p < 0.05); and greater flexibility was associated with lower limitations by poor sleep (p = 0.021). At the 34th g.w. greater self-reported overall PF, CRF and muscular strength were associated with lower incidence of tiredness-fatigue (all, p < 0.05); greater CRF was associated with lower incidence of poor sleep (p = 0.019); and, greater flexibility was associated with lower incidence of increased vaginal discharge (p = 0.023). Adequate levels of PF, especially CRF, may help women to cope with the most endorsed pregnancy-related symptoms and its limitations, especially tiredness-fatigue and poor sleep
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and Risk of Endometriosis
In the last years, the variety and consumption of cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) have greatly increased, although the long-term adverse effects to low doses of chemicals used in their production and with proven hormone-mimicking properties have been still poorly addressed. Among these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates are the most widely found in these products. Given the estrogenic-dependent nature of the endometrium, it has been hypothesized the potential contribution of these EDCs contained in cosmetics and PCPs in the risk of endometriosis. In this book chapter, we have summarized the current evidence supporting this hypothesis, highlighting epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro studies that have addressed the potential influence of parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates in the origin and progression of this chronic feminine disease
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