The Association between Body Mass Index and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

Relationships between Obesity, Exercise Preferences, and Related Social Cognitive Theory Variables among Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer survivors with obesity have an increased risk of cancer recurrence, second malignancy, and comorbidities. Though physical activity (PA) interventions are needed, investigation of the relationships between obesity and factors influencing PA program aspects among cancer survivors remain understudied. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional study examining associations amongst baseline body mass index (BMI), PA program preferences, PA, cardiorespiratory fitness, and related social cognitive theory variables (self-efficacy, exercise barriers interference, social support, positive and negative outcome expectations) from a randomized controlled PA trial with 320 post-treatment breast cancer survivors. BMI was significantly correlated with exercise barriers interference (r = 0.131, p = 0.019). Higher BMI was significantly associated with preference to exercise at a facility (p = 0.038), lower cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), lower walking self-efficacy (p < 0.001), and higher negative outcome expectations (p = 0.024), independent of covariates (comorbidity score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index score, income, race, education). Those with class I/II obesity reported a higher negative outcome expectations score compared with class III. Location, walking self-efficacy, barriers, negative outcome expectations, and fitness should be considered when designing future PA programs among breast cancer survivors with obesity.

Additive beneficial effects of aerobic training and royal jelly on hippocampal inflammation and function in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rats

BACKGROUND

Although the beneficial role of training and the use of some antioxidants in physiological and psychological disorders in autoimmune diseases has been reported, the simultaneous effect of aerobic training (AT) and royal jelly (RJ) with different doses is not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of AT and RJ on inflammatory factors in the hippocampus, as well as depression and anxiety in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats with EAE were assigned to seven groups: (1) EAE without any other intervention (EAE); (2) sham, receiving normal saline (Sh); (3) 50 mg/kg RJ (RJ50); (4) 100 mg/kg RJ (RJ100); (5) AT; (6) AT + RJ50; and (7) AT + RJ100. In addition, a healthy control group was assessed.

RESULTS

EAE significantly increased interleukin 17 (IL-17), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) gene expression and immobilization time as well as anxiety and depression indices, and significantly decreased interleukin 10 (IL-10), compared to the control group. AT decreased significantly IL-17, TGF-β gene expression and immobilization time as well as anxiety and depression indices, while it significantly increased IL-10, compared to the EAE group. RJ50 and RJ100 decreased significantly IL-17, IL-23 gene expression, anxiety and depression indices, and significantly increased IL-10 compared to the EAE group. AT + RJ50 and AT + RJ100 significantly decreased IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β and as well as anxiety and depression indices while significantly increasing IL-10 compared to the EAE group. The effects of AT + RJ100 on significant decreasing IL-17, IL-23, anxiety and depression and increasing TGF-β, IL-10 were more favorable than RJ50.

CONCLUSION

AT and RJ improved inflammatory and regulatory factors of autoimmunity and reduced anxiety and depression. The RJ combined with AT induced additive effects while using RJ100 was more favorable than RJ50.

Correlates of Objectively Measured Physical Activity Among People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Identifying correlates of physical activity (PA) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential to design effective PA interventions.

Methods: Participants completed a battery of questionnaires and wore an ActiGraph accelerometer. Light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (min/day) were calculated. Associations were examined using multiple linear regression adjusted for demographic and clinical confounders.

Results: Fifty-eight adults with MS participated (mean ± SD age: 56.8 ± 9.2 yr; 67% women). MS type was associated with time in LPA. Participants with secondary progressive MS (B = −54.0, 95% CI −84.7 to −23.3) and primary progressive MS (B = −42.9, 95% CI −77.5 to −8.3) spent less time in LPA than those with relapsing remitting MS. Walking capacity, assessed using the 12-item MS walking scale (MSWS-12), was associated with time in MVPA (B = −0.36, 95% CI −0.72 to −0.01).

Conclusion: This work identifies walking capacity and type of MS as correlates of PA, which may indicate development of interventions to promote PA.

Impact of Body Mass Index on the Age of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Onset: A Retrospective Study

A BACKROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Body mass index (BMI), a component of metabolic syndrome (MetS), is considered among the risk factors for MS. However, its role in MS remains ambiguous. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of BMI on the age of onset in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in a Greek cohort. METHODS: Data from 821 Greek patients with RRMS were collected. The BMI values were considered as quartiles. Comparisons for the demographic characteristics between the quartiles were made by Pearson’s chi-square test for the categorical variables and by ANOVA for the continuous variables. An overall p-value was calculated corresponding to trend for association. In case of significant association, further post-hoc analysis was performed in order to identify differences in demographic characteristics between specific BMI quartiles groups. Linear regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between BMI and age at onset of MS. RESULTS: Comparisons of participant characteristics by quartiles of BMI revealed that participants with the highest BMI had an older age of disease onset. Results from linear regression analysis showed that with each increase of 1 BMI unit, the age of RRMS onset increases by 0.255 (95% CI 0.136 to 0.374) years, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher BMI, as a parameter of MetS, exhibit increased age of RRMS onset. Our results may present an alternative personalized approach for diagnosis, prognosis, and/or prevention of RRMS.

Mahjong Playing and Leisure Physical Activity Alleviate Cognitive Symptoms in Older Community Residents

Leisure activities, particularly physically and cognitively stimulating leisure activities, mitigate cognitive decline. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between mahjong playing, leisure physical activity, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with and without MCI were recruited (n = 489, healthy group; and n = 187, MCI group). The regression results showed that years of mahjong playing (odds ratio = 0.595, 95% confidence interval [0.376, 0.961], p = .032) and physical activity (odds ratio = 0.572, 95% confidence interval [0.381, 0.849], p = .012) were associated with reduced odds of having MCI after adjusting for a series of covariates. Leisure physical activity and mahjong playing interacted with each other and produced combined effects on the odds of having MCI. Combined cognitive and physical interventions may produce larger benefits on cognition than either intervention alone.

Bodyweight Measures and Lifestyle Habits in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and Moderate to Severe Disability

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease marked by progressive disability and decreased mobility over time. We studied whether individuals with MS of higher disability levels will be more overweight/obese as a result of their immobility and/or recurrent steroid treatments. In a prospective study, 130 individuals with MS and significant disability were classified according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score as belonging to four groups: EDSS 3.0-4.0 (n = 31, 24%), EDSS 4.5-5.5 (n = 24, 18%), EDSS = 6.0 (n = 44, 34%) and EDSS ≥ 6.5 (n = 31, 24%). Medical history, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and the level of engagement in physical activity were obtained. The mean ± standard error age was 55.8 ± 0.5 years, disease duration 18.2 ± 1.0 years and EDSS score 5.5 ± 0.1. Disease duration, the number of steroid courses per disease duration, weight, BMI and physical activity did not differ according to the four disability groups. The mean waist circumference increased significantly with increased severity of EDSS, p = 0.03. Increased disability in individuals with MS was not correlated with disease duration, lifestyle habits or overweight/obesity. However, increased disability was associated with central obesity.