Effect of a single session of yoga and meditation on stress reactivity: A systematic review.

This systematic review synthesises the evidence for the effectiveness of a single session of yoga or its components including meditation and breathing techniques in reducing acute stress reactivity in healthy adults. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PsycINFO on 30th July 2023 for randomised controlled or crossover trials of yoga components and reporting physiological and/or psychological outcome measure(s) related to stress reactivity. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Cochrane ROB 2 tool. Data were synthesised narratively. Twenty-one out of 28 eligible studies (n = 2574) relating to 31 interventions (meditation [n = 22], breathing [n = 4] and yoga [n = 5]) reported outcomes in favour of the intervention. Stress reactivity was reported to be reduced by 71% of studies measuring physiological outcomes and 65% of studies measuring psychological outcomes. These studies show that a single session of yoga components is effective in reducing acute stress reactivity in adults and could be recommended for stress management. Future studies with larger populations and a more equal representation of genders and age groups are warranted.

Not All Yoga Styles Are the Same: An International Survey on Characteristics of Yoga Classes.

Objectives: Yoga is a multicomponent activity that has been associated with many health benefits. Different yoga styles contain different combinations and durations of components (e.g., postures, breathing, meditation, relaxation, and chanting). A better description and quantification of yoga components within different styles are important in understanding how different yoga styles contribute to health outcomes. This survey aims to understand the general characteristics and components taught in different yoga styles. Design: An online international survey was sent to yoga teachers (18+ years with >1 year teaching experience) using snowball recruitment. Survey questions included demographic and professional characteristics of participants, specialized yoga style, and details of components typically taught in the class. The analysis included descriptive statistics and a comparison between teachers of traditional versus exercise-based versus therapy styles using χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Nine hundred and sixty-eight yoga teachers (76.8% female, mean age 43.8 ± 11.1 years) from 64 countries participated in the survey. When grouped according to primary yoga style taught, 70.6% of participants taught traditional (e.g., hatha or ashtanga), 18.4% exercise-based (e.g., vinyasa or power), and 11.0% therapy (e.g., restorative or gentle) styles. Nearly all teachers included physical postures, but breath techniques, chanting, and cleansing were included by significantly more traditional teachers (95.2%, 68.3%, 25.8%, respectively) compared with exercise-based (88.6%, 42.5%, 7.2%) and therapy teachers (93.0%, 43.0%, 10.0%). Variations were reported in the time allocated to each of these class components. Physical postures took up 50.0% of total class time for traditional styles, 60.9% for exercise-based, and 53.9% for therapy styles (p < 0.001). Conversely, breath techniques, meditation, relaxation, and chanting took significantly more of the class time for traditional and therapy compared with exercise-based styles. However, teachers from all styles regarded yoga poses, breathing, meditation, and relaxation as equally important in the yoga class. Conclusions: Exercise-based yoga styles unsurprisingly dedicate more time to physical postures and less time to nonphysical components than traditional and therapy yoga styles. However, all yoga teachers report valuing and including multiple components of yoga practice regardless of the primary style of teaching, which is reflective of the holistic nature of yoga practice. Further research into the benefits of the specific component combinations in different yoga styles is needed to better understand the full potential of yoga practice for health.

Partial body cryotherapy exposure drives acute redistribution of circulating lymphocytes: preliminary findings.

Partial body cryotherapy (PBC) is proposed to alleviate symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) by reducing associated inflammation. No studies have assessed acute PBC exposure on peripheral blood mononuclear cell mobilisation or compared these with cold water immersion (CWI), which may inform how PBC impacts inflammatory processes. This trial examined the impact of a single PBC exposure on circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to CWI or a control. 26 males were randomised into either PBC (3 min at - 110 to - 140 °C), CWI (3 min at 9 °C), or control (3 min at 24 °C), with blood samples, heart rate, and blood pressure taken before and after exposure. Cytometric analysis determined that CD8+ T-cell populations were significantly elevated after treatments, with PBC increasing CD8+ T cells to a greater degree than either CWI or CON. Natural killer cell counts were also elevated after PBC, with the increase attributed specifically to the CD56loCD16+ cytotoxic subset. This provides the first evidence for the effect of PBC exposure on redistribution of immune cells. An increase in circulating leukocyte subsets such as CD8+ T cells and CD56loCD16+ natural killer cells suggests that PBC may induce a transient mobilisation of lymphocytes. PBC may thus enable a more efficient trafficking of these cells from the circulation to the site of initial cellular insult from exercise, potentially accelerating the process of cellular recovery. This provides novel evidence on the use of PBC as a recovery treatment and may also have applicability in other clinical settings involving the recovery of damaged skeletal muscle.

Health behaviors are largely not predictive of adverse events following influenza vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Identifying health behaviors associated with adverse events following immunization (AEFI) could identify intervention targets for AEFI prevention. METHODS: University employees receiving an influenza vaccination (n = 1301) completed a series of online surveys for health behaviors including sleep, exercise, dietary intake, and smoking habits, and emotional state (baseline), and for indications of AEFI (three days post-vaccination) and influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms (fortnightly follow-up for 4 months). RESULTS: 29.9% of participants reported an AEFI and 46.0% reported experiencing ILI during follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression revealed usual sleep duration was associated with AEFI (odds ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.41), increasing with each hour of sleep. ILI was associated with reporting AEFI (1.70, 1.24-2.33), increasing BMI (1.03, 1.00-1.06) and survey response frequency (1.13, 1.04-1.22), and decreased with better usual sleep quality (0.96, 0.92-1.00) and with increasing age (0.98, 0.96-1.00). Sex stratification revealed no significant predictors of AEFI for either sex; in women, experiencing AEFI increased likelihood of ILI (1.88, 1.25-2.85) and in men, survey completion frequency increased ILI likelihood (1.19, 1.05-1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests modifying health behaviors would not alter AEFI risk and reactogenicity may signal weaker immunogenicity but confirmation through objective measures is warranted.

The effect of aerobic exercise on tumour blood delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Tumour blood vessels are structurally and functionally abnormal, resulting in areas of hypoxia and heterogeneous blood supply. Aerobic exercise may modulate tumour blood flow and normalise the tumour microenvironment to improve chemotherapy delivery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of the aerobic exercise mode on tumour hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow. METHODS: Four online databases were searched. Preclinical and clinical randomised controlled trials examining the effects of aerobic exercise training on hypoxia, vascularisation or blood flow in solid tumours were included. The risk of bias was assessed and a meta-analysis performed. RESULTS: Seventeen preclinical studies and one clinical study met criteria. Eleven studies assessed hypoxia, 15 studies assessed vascularisation and seven evaluated blood flow. There was large variability in measurement methods, tumour types and exercise program designs. The overall risk of bias was unclear in clinical and preclinical studies, owing to poor reporting. There was no significant effect of aerobic exercise on hypoxia (SMD = -0.17; 95% CI = -0.62, 0.28; I2 = 60%), vascularisation (SMD = 0.07; 95% CI = -0.40, 0.55; I2 = 71%) or blood flow (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI = -0.59, 0.61; I2 = 63%). CONCLUSION: There is heterogeneity in methodology, resulting in evidence that is inconsistent and inconclusive for the effects of aerobic exercise on hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow. Most evidence of aerobic exercise effects on tumour blood flow is in animal models, with very limited evidence in humans.

Physical activity and acute exercise benefit influenza vaccination response: A systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis.

Whether the vaccine adjuvant potential of acute exercise is uniform among different populations, e.g., inactive persons, is unknown. This meta-analysis examines influenza vaccine antibody responses and the effect of physical activity, acute exercise, and their interaction. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials with acute exercise intervention and influenza vaccination antibody measurements at baseline and 4-6 weeks, and participant baseline physical activity measurement; there were no exclusion criteria. Searching via six databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Physiotherapy Evidence) and two clinical registries (WHO and NIH), nine studies were identified and assessed with the Cochrane revised risk-of-bias tool. Data analysis comprised one-stage random-effects generalized linear mixed-effects models with random intercept. Seven of nine identified studies, all of high risk of bias, provided data for 550 included participants. Clinical measures of antibody response tended to be higher in the acute-exercised participants compared to rested controls and physically active compared to inactive. Physical activity significantly increased H1 strain seroconversion (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.69, 95%CI: 1.02-2.82) among all participants and titer response (aOR 1.20, 95%CI: 1.03-1.39) among the acute exercise group. Increasing age frequently reduced immunogenic responses whereas body mass index and sex had little-to-no effect. Adjuvant effects were more pronounced with interventions exercising the same arm in which the vaccination was administered. H1 response was increased by both physical activity and the acute exercise-physical activity interaction. Given the observed modifications by age and the subset analysis suggesting the benefit is more pronounced in older populations, future attention is due for acute exercise-PA interactions to impact vaccination response in the at-risk population of older adults. Further, we identify localized exercise as the likely most-effective protocol and encourage its use to augment the available evidence.

Adverse events following influenza immunization: understanding the role of age and sex interactions.

BACKGROUND: Reduction of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) could improve vaccine uptake. Evidence suggests sex and age affect AEFI rates but, with limited understanding of their interaction, groups at higher risk for adverse reaction cannot be identified. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using deidentified data (n = 308,481) from Australians receiving influenza vaccinations in the 2020 calendar year, we analyzed the effects of independent predictors (i.e. age and sex), on experiencing an AEFI using logistic regression generalized additive modeling to capture any nonlinear relationships and adjusting for vaccine brand and concomitant vaccination. RESULTS: The overall reaction rate was 5.5%. Modeling revealed significant effects of age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), and age × sex (p < 0.001). Females were more likely than males to experience AEFIs between 7.5 and 87.5 years of age and exhibited peak odds at about 53 years, while peak odds for males occurred in infancy. CONCLUSION: The results suggest there is a need for targeting AEFI reduction in females, particularly in 30-70-year-olds, to improve the vaccination experience. The results further suggest that reducing concomitant vaccination and choosing less reactogenic vaccine brands could reduce risk of AEFI, however, retaining concomitant vaccination may optimize vaccine uptake.

Thermoregulation During Pregnancy: a Controlled Trial Investigating the Risk of Maternal Hyperthermia During Exercise in the Heat.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the well-established benefits of exercise, pregnant women are discouraged from physical activity in hot/humid conditions to avoid hyperthermia (core temperature (Tcore) ≥ 39.0 °C). Recent epidemiological evidence also demonstrates greater risk of negative birth outcomes following heat exposure during pregnancy, possibly due to thermoregulatory impairments. We aimed to determine (1) the risk of pregnant women exceeding a Tcore of 39.0 °C during moderate-intensity exercise in the heat; and (2) if any thermoregulatory impairments are evident in pregnant (P) versus non-pregnant (NP) women. METHODS: Thirty participants (15 pregnant in their second trimester or third trimester) completed two separate exercise-heat exposures in a climate chamber (32 °C, 45%RH). On separate occasions, each participant cycled on a semi-recumbent cycle ergometer for 45 min at a workload representative of a moderate-intensity (1) non-weight-bearing (NON-WB), or (2) weight-bearing (WB) activity. Thermoregulatory responses were monitored throughout. RESULTS: The highest rectal temperature observed in a pregnant individual was 37.93 °C. Mean end-exercise rectal temperature did not differ between groups (P:37.53 ± 0.22 °C, NP:37.52 ± 0.34 °C, P = 0.954) in the WB trial, but was lower in the P group (P:37.48 ± 0.25 °C, vs NP:37.73 ± 0.38 °C, P = 0.041) in the NON-WB trial. Whole-body sweat loss was unaltered by pregnancy during WB (P:266 ± 62 g, NP:264 ± 77 g; P = 0.953) and NON-WB P:265 ± 51 g, NP:300 ± 75 g; P = 0.145) exercise. Pregnant participants reported higher ratings of thermal sensation (felt hotter) than their non-pregnant counterparts in the WB trial (P = 0.002) but not in the NON-WB trial, (P = 0.079). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women can perform 45 min of moderate-intensity exercise at 32 °C, 45%RH with very low apparent risk of excessive maternal hyperthermia. No thermoregulatory impairments with pregnancy were observed.

Analgesic and adjuvant properties of exercise with vaccinations in healthy young population.

Introduction: Exercise holds the potential to be beneficial if used during vaccination processes by 1)exercise-induced analgesia to reduce pain associated with vaccination, 2)immune-enhancing effects, improving antibody responses to the vaccine, and 3)reducing local and systemic adverse reactions to the vaccine. This study examines whether analgesic responses could be enhanced locally in the exercising limb to further benefit the use of exercise during influenza vaccination processes to minimize vaccine-related pain and improve antibody response to inactivated influenza vaccines.Methods: 57 participants (22.6 ± 3.2 years, 33 females) randomized into a control (n = 19) or one of two exercise groups: pre-vaccine arm (n = 19) or pre-vaccine leg (n = 19). Intervention groups performed exercise (15 minutes), prior to administration of the vaccine. Vaccine-related pain and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured at baseline and post-vaccination for all groups. Blood samples were taken on the day of vaccination and one month later to measure serum antibody titers to influenza.Results: No significant difference in vaccine-related pain or change in PPT was found with exercise, however, there was a trend in higher reports of vaccine-related pain in females compared to males(p = .06). Significantly higher fold increase (p = .02) of the B/Brisbane/60/2008 strain was found in the exercise group compared to the control group.Conclusion: The current study failed to observe an analgesic effect of exercise to improve vaccine-related pain in young adults. However, immune-enhancing effects in one of four strains suggest potential adjuvant effects of exercise. Importantly, the sex difference in pain sensitivity suggests the need for separate analysis, especially when examining pain perception.Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN:12617000374369).

Acute increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor following high or moderate-intensity exercise is accompanied with better cognition performance in obese adults.

The purpose of this study was to test if different intensities of aerobic exercise could influence abdominal fat, isoforms of BDNF and executive function. Twenty obese men (30.0 ± 5.4 years old; 34.4 ± 3.5 kg/m2) were randomized to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, n = 10) and high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT, n = 10) three times a week for 6 weeks, with isoenergetic energetic expenditure for each exercise session (~ 300 kcal) between conditions. Abdominal fat was assessed pre- and post-intervention; executive function (Coding subtest from BETA-III non-verbal intelligence test and Stroop Color and Word Test), concentrations of mBDNF and proBDNF were assessed in response to acute exercise pre- and post-intervention. Abdominal fat did not change in either group. There was a significant increase in mBDNF immediately after acute exercise in both groups before and after intervention. proBDNF did not present changes acutely nor after 6 weeks. Executive function presented a main effect of time at pre- and post-intervention time-points Stroop Word and Stroop Color and Coding subtest presented improved performance from pre- to post-acute exercise session, in both groups. In conclusion, executive function improvements and acute exercise session-induced increases in mBDNF concentration were found from pre- to post-exercise intervention similarly between MICT and HIIT in obese men.

Does dog acquisition improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour and biological markers of cardiometabolic health? Results from a three-arm controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Dog ownership has been associated with improved cardiometabolic risk factors, including physical activity. Most of the evidence originates from cross-sectional studies or populations with established disease. This study investigated changes in physical activity and other cardiometabolic risk factors following dog acquisition in a sample of 71 community-dwelling adults. METHODS: Participants self-allocated to three groups: 17 individuals acquired a dog within 1 month of baseline (dog acquisition), 29 delayed dog acquisition until study completion (lagged control) and 25 had no interest in dog acquisition (community control). Self-reported and thigh-worn accelerometer-based physical activity patterns, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, resting heart rate and VO2max were measured three times: baseline, 3 months and 8 months. Data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of covariance with owner age, season, sex and education included as covariates. Post hoc between-group tests were performed where there were significant overall effects (p<0.05). RESULTS: We found significant effects in mean daily steps (F(4,64)=3.02, p=0.02) and sit-to-stand transitions (F(4,66)=3.49, p=0.01). The dog acquisition group performed an additional 2589 steps (p=0.004) and 8.2 sit-to-stand transitions (p=0.03) per day at 3 months, although these effects were not maintained at 8 months. We found a significant effect in self-reported weekly walking duration (F(4,130)=2.84, p=0.03) among the lagged control group with an 80 min increase between 3 and 8 months (p=0.04). Other cardiometabolic risk factors were unchanged following dog acquisition. CONCLUSION: Our study provides encouraging results that suggest a positive influence of dog acquisition on physical activity in the short term but larger and more generalisable controlled studies are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12617000967381.

Aerobic exercise during chemotherapy infusion for cancer treatment: a novel randomised crossover safety and feasibility trial.

PURPOSE: Exercise is a powerful adjunct therapy for patients diagnosed with cancer which can alleviate treatment side-effects and improve a range of outcomes including fatigue and health-related quality of life. Recently, preclinical evidence has suggested that if exercise is performed during chemotherapy infusion, there is enhanced perfusion that may improve drug delivery and attenuate the hypoxic microenvironment. This study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of delivering an aerobic exercise intervention to cancer patients during chemotherapy infusion. METHODS: A randomised crossover trial was conducted for adults (18-60) undergoing chemotherapy treatment with non-vesicant agents for cancer. In randomised order, during two consecutive chemotherapy infusions, participants either received usual care or performed 20 min of supervised low-intensity cycling. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of patients approached agreed to participate, and exercise was safely delivered with neither adverse events nor interference to treatment reported for all participants with a mixed cancer diagnosis (N = 10, 90% female, 51.2 ± 7.4 years). There were no significant differences between exercise and usual care in participant-reported difficulty or comfort levels, but exercise significantly reduced boredom (p = 0.01). No significant differences were detected in the symptoms experienced following either intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise during chemotherapy infusion appears to be safe and feasible. Further research is required with a larger sample size to evaluate the impact on tumour perfusion, symptom experience, and opportunity for physical activity increase.

Acute exercise decreases vaccine reactions following influenza vaccination among older adults.

Although valuable and effective in decreasing disease burden, influenza vaccination has low rates of efficacy, especially in those at most risk. Studies have shown that acute exercise can improve vaccine responses, most consistently with weaker antigens. Here we examined the effect of resistance exercise on the acute and longer-term responses to influenza vaccination among healthy older adults. Forty-six participants (47.8% male, mean 73.4 ±â€¯6.6 years) were randomised to perform one 45-min moderate-intensity resistance exercise session or sit quietly prior to the receipt of influenza vaccination. Acute exercise reduced vaccine reactions but had no effect on either antibody responses or development of influenza-like symptoms during six months of follow-up. Psychosocial and behavioural characteristics were examined for potential associations with the responses to vaccination. Participants (n = 36) vaccinated in the previous year had higher baseline antibody titres but not follow-up titres nor more frequent experience of influenza-like symptoms over 6 months compared to those unvaccinated in the previous year. These findings provide further support for the ability of acute exercise to reduce vaccine reactions and suggest risk factors for vaccine responses for future exploration.

Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Dog ownership is suggested to improve mental well-being, although empirical evidence among community dog owners is limited. This study examined changes in human mental well-being following dog acquisition, including four measures: loneliness, positive and negative affect, and psychological distress. METHODS: We conducted an eight-month controlled study involving three groups (n = 71): 17 acquired a dog within 1 month of baseline (dog acquisition); 29 delayed dog acquisition until study completion (lagged control); and 25 had no intentions of acquiring a dog (community control). All participants completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (possible scores 0-60), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Kessler10 at baseline, three-months and eight-months. We used repeated measures ANCOVAs to analyse data with owner age and sex included as covariates. Post-hoc tests were performed for significant effects (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant group by time interaction for loneliness (p = 0.03), with an estimated reduction of 8.41 units (95% CI -16.57, - 0.26) from baseline to three-months and 7.12 (95% CI -12.55, - 1.69) from baseline to eight-months in the dog acquisition group. The group by time interaction for positive affect was also significant (p = 0.03), although there was no change in the dog acquisition group. CONCLUSIONS: Companion dog acquisition may reduce loneliness among community dog owners. Our study provides useful direction for future larger trials on the effects of dog ownership on human mental well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered on 5th July 2017 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12617000967381 ).

Canine Endogenous Oxytocin Responses to Dog-Walking and Affiliative Human⁻Dog Interactions.

Several studies suggest human⁻dog interactions elicit a positive effect on canine oxytocin concentrations. However, empirical investigations are scant and the joint influence of human⁻dog interaction and physical activity remains unexplored. The aims of the current study were to (a) examine the canine endogenous oxytocin response to owner-led dog-walking and affiliative human⁻dog interactions and (b) investigate the moderating effect of the owner-reported strength of the human⁻dog bond on such responses. Twenty-six dogs took part in a random order cross-over trial, involving dog-walking and human⁻dog interactions. Urinary samples were collected before and after each condition. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models with condition, order of conditions, condition duration, and latency from initiation of condition to urine sample collection considered as fixed effects, and the participant was considered a random effect. Canine urinary oxytocin concentrations did not differ significantly following dog-walking (mean change: -14.66 pg/mg Cr; 95% CI: -47.22, 17.90) or affiliative human⁻dog interactions (mean change: 6.94 pg/mg Cr; 95% CI: -26.99, 40.87). The reported strength of the human⁻dog bond did not significantly moderate the canine oxytocin response to either experimental condition. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not observe evidence for a positive oxytocin response to dog-walking or human⁻dog interactions.

Heat stress and fetal risk. Environmental limits for exercise and passive heat stress during pregnancy: a systematic review with best evidence synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant women are advised to avoid heat stress (eg, excessive exercise and/or heat exposure) due to the risk of teratogenicity associated with maternal hyperthermia; defined as a core temperature (Tcore) ≥39.0°C. However, guidelines are ambiguous in terms of critical combinations of climate and activity to avoid and may therefore unnecessarily discourage physical activity during pregnancy. Thus, the primary aim was to assess Tcore elevations with different characteristics defining exercise and passive heat stress (intensity, mode, ambient conditions, duration) during pregnancy relative to the critical maternal Tcore of ≥39.0°C. DESIGN: Systematic review with best evidence synthesis. DATA SOURCES: EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched from inception to 12 July 2017. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies reporting the Tcore response of pregnant women, at any period of gestation, to exercise or passive heat stress, were included. RESULTS: 12 studies satisfied our inclusion criteria (n=347). No woman exceeded a Tcore of 39.0°C. The highest Tcore was 38.9°C, reported during land-based exercise. The highest mean end-trial Tcore was 38.3°C (95% CI 37.7°C to 38.9°C) for land-based exercise, 37.5°C (95% CI 37.3°C to 37.7°C) for water immersion exercise, 36.9°C (95% CI 36.8°C to 37.0°C) for hot water bathing and 37.6°C (95% CI 37.5°C to 37.7°C) for sauna exposure. CONCLUSION: The highest individual core temperature reported was 38.9°C. Immediately after exercise (either land based or water immersion), the highest mean core temperature was 38.3°C; 0.7°C below the proposed teratogenic threshold. Pregnant women can safely engage in: (1) exercise for up to 35 min at 80%-90% of their maximum heart rate in 25°C and 45% relative humidity (RH); (2) water immersion (≤33.4°C) exercise for up to 45 min; and (3) sitting in hot baths (40°C) or hot/dry saunas (70°C; 15% RH) for up to 20 min, irrespective of pregnancy stage, without reaching a core temperature exceeding the teratogenic threshold.

Expectations for dog ownership: Perceived physical, mental and psychosocial health consequences among prospective adopters.

Dog ownership is popular worldwide, with most human-dog dyads forming successful attachment bonds. However, millions of dogs are surrendered to animal shelters annually, possibly due to mismatches between owner expectations and the realities of dog ownership. The aim of the current study was to explore the benefits and challenges people expect from dog ownership and how these expectations vary with previous ownership history. An Australian-wide sample of 3465 prospective adopters completed a self-administered online questionnaire about the physical, mental and psychosocial health benefits and challenges they associated with dog ownership. Among the potential benefits, respondents expected increased walking (89%), happiness (89%) and companionship (61%) and decreased stress (74%) and loneliness (61%). Among the challenges, they expected increased responsibility (64%) and dog training (62%). Ownership history influenced respondents' expectations, with previous/current dog owners having consistently greater odds of expecting benefits and reduced odds of expecting challenges than non-owners. A possible explanation is that previous/current dog owners' exhibit bias when considering dog ownership by selectively recalling positive experiences from previous ownership. Our findings support the need for education of prospective dog owners to ensure their expectations align with the reality of ownership, based on current scientific evidence.