6-Min walk-test data in healthy North-African subjects aged 16–40years

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Stress Urinary Incontinence in North African Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) are involved in respiratory mechanisms. Additionally, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can affect physical function. This randomized controlled trial was aimed at investigating the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on SUI severity, PFM function, and physical function in Tunisian women with SUI.

METHODS

Twenty-seven incontinent women were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. The following parameters were assessed: respiratory muscle strength (RMS; maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures), SUI severity (Urogenital Distress Inventory-6; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7; pad test), PFM function (Modified Oxford Scale, electromyography, and endurance), and physical function (Timed Up & Go test; 6-min walk test; incremental shuttle walking test). IMT was conducted using threshold IMT.

RESULTS

The IMT program significantly reduced the severity of SUI (p < 0.01), improved PFM function (p < 0.001), enhanced physical function (p < 0.01), and increased RMS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Inspiratory muscle training could be an effective method for improving pelvic floor disorders and physical function in women with SUI.

Deficiency, incapacity and social disadvantage of patients with chronic hepatitis B: a case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Studies examining impairment, disability and social disadvantage of patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) are scarce and present conflicting conclusions.

AIM

To assess the deficiency, incapacity, and social disadvantage of patients with CHB.

METHODS

This is a project of a case-control study with two age-matched groups. Cases (n=27) will be untreated patients with a CHB. Controls (n=27) will be healthy participants. The following data will be collected: deficiency [anthropometric, biochemical (renal and hepatic functions, lipid balance, and inflammatory markers), haematological, virological, handgrip-strength, and spirometric data], incapacity [6-min walk distance, number of stops, oxy-haemoglobin saturation, dyspnoea (visual analogue scale), heart-rate, and blood-pressure] and social disadvantage ["chronic liver disease" and physical-activity questionnaires]. Each spirometric data < lower-limit-of-normal will be considered abnormal. A handgrip-strength <26 kg (male) or <16 kg (female) will be considered low. The signs of walking intolerance will be: stop during the walk, 6-min walk distance ≤ lower-limit-of-normal, dyspnoea at the end of the walk> 5/10, drop in oxy-haemoglobin saturation >5 points, heart-rate at the end of the walk ≤60%. A total physical-activity score <9.42 will classify the participant as sedentary.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Compared with controls, cases will have a marked alteration of submaximal aerobic data. These alterations will worsen quality-of-life and may be related to muscle and/or spirometric abnormalities, and supported by systemic inflammation and high viral load.

Vegetable but not animal protein intake is associated to a better physical performance: a study on a general population sample of adults

Background

The research was conducted in the frame of a population-based, case control study, called Genes Environment Interaction in Respiratory Disease.

Objective

To assess the association between protein intake and physical performance in a general population sample.

Design

Researchers investigated the association between the participants’ dietary information and their physical performance using the 6-min walking test and the distance walked in metres (6MWD) as main outcome measure. Information on dietary intake was collected using the validated European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). Then, daily intake of energy and macronutrients was estimated by means of the NAF software (nutritional analysis of FFQ). Linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between vegetable, animal and total protein intakes and the 6MWD. The models were adjusted for socio-demographic features, total fats and available carbohydrate intakes.

Results

The participants were 223 subjects (57% females) aged between 23 and 68 years. Their mean vegetable and animal proteins intake for gram/kg of body weight/day were, respectively, 0.4 and 0.7. After adjusting for all the potential confounders, there was a significant increase of 20.0 (95% CI 0.8; 39.2) m in the distance walked for an increase in 10 g/day of vegetable proteins and non-significant variations of −1.8 (95% CI −9.3; 5.7) m for an increase in 10 g/day of animal proteins and of 0.5 (95% CI −6.8; 7.7) for an increase in 10 g/day of total proteins.

Discussion and conclusions

Our result suggests a positive role of vegetable proteins on physical performance. Whether this result is related to the high protein intake itself or may be a consequence of the other properties of plant-based foods deserves further investigation.

[Sub-maximal aerobic capacity and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

BACKGROUND

Studies about sub-maximal aerobic capacity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are scarce.

AIMS

To assess the sub-maximal aerobic capacity of these patients through the 6-min walk test, estimated age of the "muscular and cardiorespiratory" chain.

METHODS

Thirty-seven consecutive patients (aged 20 to 60 years) with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis will be included. Non-inclusion criteria will be: use of drugs (e.g.; methotrexate, beta-blockers), orthopaedic or rheumatologic conditions (other than rheumatoid arthritis) that may alter walking ability and recent infections. Exclusion criteria will be: 6-min walking test contra-indications and imperfect performance of the required lung function and walking maneuvers. Signs of walking intolerance will be: test interruption, distance ≤lower limit of normal, dyspnea score ≥5/10 (visual analogue scale) at the end of the test, haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) drop ≥5%, cardiac frequency at the end of the test ≤60% of maximum predicted. An estimated "muscular and cardiorespiratory chain" age higher than the chronological one will be considered as a sign of accelerated ageing.

EXPECTED RESULTS

A high percentage of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis would show evidences of walking limitation and accelerated "muscular and cardiorespiratory chain" ageing. There would be a significant correlation between the walking test and clinical, biological, radiological and pulmonary function data and the patients' quality-of-life status.