Can we hit prenatal depression and anxiety through HIIT? The effectiveness of online high intensity interval training in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In recent years high intensity interval training (HIIT) has grown in popularity. However, it rarely represents training interventions in experimental studies in pregnant populations. Therefore, in this study we aimed to assess changes in depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, fear of Covid-19 and quality of life after an 8-week supervised online HIIT program, compared to an educational (self-performed physical activity) program. METHODS: We conducted a randomized control trial among 54 Caucasian women in uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy (age 32 ± 4 years, 22 ± 4 week of gestation; mean ± SD). There were 34 women in the experimental group, who participated in an 8-week high intensity interval training program (HIIT group). The comparative group was constituted of 20 pregnant women who attended 8-week educational program (EDU group). RESULTS: The most important finding was that mental health improved somewhat in both groups after the intervention, but only the HIIT group improved statistically significantly. The positive trends in lowering the severity of depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, and fear of Covid-19 were observed in both groups. However, the positive response to the intervention was stronger in the EDU group. As a secondary outcome, there was a significant decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness level in the EDU group, while the HIIT group maintained unchanged level of maximal oxygen uptake. CONCLUSIONS: HIIT seems to be beneficial for women with uncomplicated pregnancies to maintain adequate quality of life and mental health. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of prenatal HIIT in pregnant women in various psychological conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We conducted this study in Poland, in 2021. It was approved by the Bioethics Commission at the District Medical Chamber in Gdansk (KB-8/21). The full study protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05009433).

Individual Characteristics and Pain Sensitivity during Pregnancy-A Cross-Sectional Study in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women.

The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics and factors related to pain perception in pregnant women, such as optimism, personality traits, and fear of developing COVID-19 consequences. Sixty-six pregnant women aged 23 to 42 years participated in the study, and the comparison group consisted of n = 59 non-pregnant female students aged 19 to 23 years. Pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance were measured with an algometer. To assess psychological characteristics, the Life-Orientation Test-Revised was used to assess optimism, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to assess COVID-19 anxiety, and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory was applied to assess personality traits in a five-factor model. The main results of the study showed that pain tolerance was significantly lower in both dominant and non-dominant hand pregnant women than in the comparison group. The studied pregnant women had higher scores for conscientiousness, fear of COVID-19, and optimism compared with the non-pregnant women. Regression analysis showed that the variability in pain perception among pregnant women could not be explained by individual differences in personality traits, optimism, and fear of COVID-19.

Tendências do Fitness em Portugal para 2022

O American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) publica anualmente um estudo com as tendências mundiais do fitness. Em 2021 foi publicado o primeiro estudo com as tendências do fitness em Portugal. Neste estudo foi reproduzida a metodologia do ACSM e caracterizadas as tendências do fitness em Portugal para 2022 bem como comparadas as tendências 2021 e 2022, entre géneros, exercer ou não funções enquanto profissional e possuir o título de Técnico de Exercício Físico (TEF), Diretor Técnico (DT) ou não possuir título. Responderam a um questionário online 758 profissionais/estudantes de fitness (PF). As principais tendências do fitness para 2022 em Portugal são "Licenças (títulos) para PF", "Empregar PF certificados", "Personal trainer", "Exercício para perda de peso" e Estilo de vida saudável e mudança comportamental", respetivamente. Este top 5 de tendências é o mesmo obtido no estudo do ano anterior em Portugal. Na comparação das tendências 2021 e 2022 verificou-se existirem diferenças significativas em 17 das 42 tendências. Na comparação de género existiram diferenças significativas em 25 das 42 tendências, entre os profissionais que exerciam funções e os que não exerciam funções enquanto PF existiram diferenças significativas em 14 das 42 tendências e entre TEF, DT ou Sem Título existiram diferenças significativas em 16 das 42 tendências.Alternate :The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) annually publishes a study of global fitness trends. In 2021, the first study on fitness trends in Portugal was published. The present study reproduced the methodology of the ACSM trends study and characterized the fitness trends in Portugal for 2022. The trends between 2021 and 2022, between genders, between whether to do exercise functions as a professional and between holding the title of Exercise Technician Physical (TEF), Technical Director (DT) or without title, were compared. 758 fitness professionals (FP) responded to an online survey. The main fitness trends for 2022 in Portugal are "Licenses (titles) for FP", "Employ certified FP", "Personal trainer", "Exercise for weight loss" and Healthy lifestyle and behaviour change". These top 5 trends are the same as those obtained in the study on trends for 2021 in Portugal. When comparing the results of fitness trends 2021 versus 2022, there were significant differences in 17 of the 42 trends. Regarding gender comparison, there were significant differences in 25 of the 42 trends. In the comparison between professionals who exercised functions and those who did not exercise functions as FP there were significant differences in 14 of the 42 trends. In the comparison between professionals with a TEF, DT or untitled title, there were differences in 16 of the 42 trends.

Gamma radiation for sterilization of textile based materials for personal protective equipment

In a pandemic context, personal protective equipment (PPE) as protective clothing is essential to ensure the safety of health professionals, caregivers and patients. Although most of the PPE is disposable, it can be effectively and safely reused once sterilized and washed, as long as they keep an adequate performance. The reuse of PPE also brings unquestionable benefits both in economic and environmental terms. This work aims to evaluate the possibility of using gamma irradiation to sterilize textile materials, with different compositions, intended to be used in the production of PPE. It was determined the number of cycles of sterilization followed by washing + drying that each material was able to withstand, while keeping adequate properties. Changes in morphology, colour, wettability, liquid permeability, and mechanical resistance of the materials were evaluated after different number of cycles and related with modifications in their chemical structure and eventual physical degradation. It was found that two materials, a Jersey knitted fabric 50% cotton/50% polyester and a Twill woven fabric 100% polyester, both coated with a 100% polyurethane membrane (samples A2 and A6, respectively) were able to withstand at least 20 cycles without suffering significant morphological or structural modifications. More, sterilization tests proved that even after that number of cycles, the materials can be efficiently sterilized by gamma irradiation. These results will allow more time to refill supply stocks, in case of an exceptional event such as a pandemic outbreak.

Gut Microbiota Diversity and C-Reactive Protein Are Predictors of Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients.

The risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity are still poorly understood. Considering the pivotal role of the gut microbiota on host immune and inflammatory functions, we investigated the association between changes in the gut microbiota composition and the clinical severity of COVID-19. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study prospectively enrolling 115 COVID-19 patients categorized according to: (1) the WHO Clinical Progression Scale-mild, 19 (16.5%); moderate, 37 (32.2%); or severe, 59 (51.3%), and (2) the location of recovery from COVID-19-ambulatory, 14 (household isolation, 12.2%); hospitalized in ward, 40 (34.8%); or hospitalized in the intensive care unit, 61 (53.0%). Gut microbiota analysis was performed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the data obtained were further related to the clinical parameters of COVID-19 patients. The risk factors for COVID-19 severity were identified by univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. In comparison to mild COVID-19 patients, the gut microbiota of moderate and severe patients have: (a) lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio; (b) higher abundance of Proteobacteria; and (c) lower abundance of beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria such as the genera Roseburia and Lachnospira. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the Shannon diversity index [odds ratio (OR) = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.09-7.41, p = 0.032) and C-reactive protein (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.33-8.91, p = 0.011) are risk factors for severe COVID-19 (a score of 6 or higher in the WHO Clinical Progression Scale). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 have microbial signatures of gut dysbiosis; for the first time, the gut microbiota diversity is pointed out as a prognostic biomarker of COVID-19 severity.