Resistance Training, Fatigue, Quality of Life, Anxiety in Breast Cancer Survivors

ABSTRACT

Moraes, RF, Ferreira-Júnior, JB, Marques, VA, Vieira, A, Lira, CAB, Campos, MH, Freitas-Junior, R, Rahal, RMS, Gentil, P, and Vieira, CA. Resistance training, fatigue, quality of life, anxiety in breast cancer survivors. J Strength Cond Res 35(5): 1350-1356, 2021-Resistance training (RT) has shown to be effective in improving fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and anxiety levels among breast cancer survivors (BCS), but there is no consensus as to how this practice should be prescribed for optimal performance. This study analyses the effects of once weekly RT on fatigue, QOL, and anxiety levels among BCS. Randomized controlled trial. Twenty-five BCS (aged 54.6 ± 5.5 years) were randomized into RT or control groups. The RT group performed 8 weeks of RT (once per week). Fatigue was assessed using the Piper Fatigue scale, QOL was assessed using the SF-36, and anxiety was assessed using the STAI State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Resistance training significantly improved the following subscales of SF-36: aspects of physical functioning (+27%, p = 0.027); physical role functioning (+54%, p = 0.008); emotional role functioning (+42%, p = 0.027); and mental health (+16%, p = 0.032). Furthermore, RT improved fatigue levels (-55%, p = 0.001 for general fatigue) and anxiety (anxiety state, -19%, p = 0.012; anxiety trait, -23%, p = 0.001). Resistance training seemed to be a positive nonpharmacological tool for the reduction of fatigue, anxiety, and for improvement of several aspects of QOL in BCS.

Effects of Chemotherapy Treatment on Muscle Strength, Quality of Life, Fatigue, and Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy treatment on muscle strength, quality of life, fatigue, and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Nineteen women who were undergoing a chemotherapy treatment (breast cancer treatment [BCT] group, 52.2 ± 13.1 years) and 18 women without cancer (control [CNT] group, 55.8 ± 8.4 years) answered questionnaires for evaluation of fatigue (Fatigue Scale), quality of life (Short-Form Healthy Survey [SF-36] questionnaire), and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [IDATE]) levels. Muscle strength was also assessed by an isometric grip test and an isokinetic knee extension test. Physical limitations, social and emotional domains of quality of life were lower in the BCT group in comparison to the CNT group (p = 0.002; p = 0.003; p = 0.0003, respectively). The other domains did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). There were no differences in fatigue and anxiety levels between both the BCT and CNT groups (p > 0.05). Additionally, isometric grip strength was higher in the CNT group when compared to the BCT group (p = 0.048). However, there were no differences between the BCT and CNT groups for peak torque and total work at both 60°.s-1 (p = 0.95 and p = 0.61, respectively) and 180°.s-1 (p = 0.94 and p = 0.72, respectively). These results suggest that three cycles of chemotherapy treatment may impair handgrip isometric strength and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

Physical fitness predicts technical-tactical and time-motion profile in simulated Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu matches

Background

Among combat sports, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) present elevated physical fitness demands from the high-intensity intermittent efforts. However, information regarding how metabolic and neuromuscular physical fitness is associated with technical-tactical performance in Judo and BJJ fights is not available. This study aimed to relate indicators of physical fitness with combat performance variables in Judo and BJJ.

Methods

The sample consisted of Judo (n = 16) and BJJ (n = 24) male athletes. At the first meeting, the physical tests were applied and, in the second, simulated fights were performed for later notational analysis.

Results

The main findings indicate: (i) high reproducibility of the proposed instrument and protocol used for notational analysis in a mobile device; (ii) differences in the technical-tactical and time-motion patterns between modalities; (iii) performance-related variables are different in Judo and BJJ; and (iv) regression models based on metabolic fitness variables may account for up to 53% of the variances in technical-tactical and/or time-motion variables in Judo and up to 31% in BJJ, whereas neuromuscular fitness models can reach values up to 44 and 73% of prediction in Judo and BJJ, respectively. When all components are combined, they can explain up to 90% of high intensity actions in Judo.

Discussion

In conclusion, performance prediction models in simulated combat indicate that anaerobic, aerobic and neuromuscular fitness variables contribute to explain time-motion variables associated with high intensity and technical-tactical variables in Judo and BJJ fights.

Comparison of oral fluid collection methods for the molecular detection of hepatitis B virus

BACKGROUND

This study aims to compare the efficiency of four oral fluid collection methods (Salivette, FTA Card, spitting and DNA-Sal) to detect HBV DNA by qualitative PCR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-four individuals (32 HBV reactive and 42 with no HBV markers) donated serum and oral fluid. In-house qualitative PCR to detect HBV was used for both samples and commercial quantitative PCR for serum.

RESULTS

HBV DNA was detected in all serum samples from HBV-infected individuals, and it was not detected in control group. HBV DNA from HBV group was detected in 17 samples collected with Salivette device, 16 samples collected by FTA Card device, 16 samples collected from spitting and 13 samples collected by DNA-Sal device. Samples that corresponded to a higher viral load in their paired serum sample could be detected using all oral fluid collection methods, but Salivette collection device yielded the largest numbers of positive samples and had a wide range of viral load that was detected.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to detect HBV DNA using all devices tested, but higher number of positive samples was observed when samples were collected using Salivette device, which shows high concordance to viral load observed in the paired serum samples.

Simultaneous detection of hepatitis C virus antigen and antibodies in dried blood spots

BACKGROUND

Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) designed to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen and anti-HCV antibodies (HCV AgAb) simultaneously can improve the early detection of HCV infection when molecular diagnostic methods are not widely available.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the suitability of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for detecting HCV AgAb using commercial EIAs.

STUDY DESIGN

Paired serum and DBS samples were assayed using two commercial EIAs for HCV AgAb (Monolisa™ HCV AgAb ULTRA and Murex HCV AgAb). Manufacturer's recommendations were followed for sera while sample volume, incubation time and cut-off (CO) determination were evaluated for the DBS samples. The values of sensitivity, specificity, inter-rater agreement, detection limit, assay precision and stability of DBS samples at different conditions (22-26°C, 2-8°C and -20°C) were determined.

RESULTS

It was necessary to increase the DBS sample volume fourfold compared to the sera samples to approximate the DBS Optical Density (OD) values to the sera OD values. Using ROC curve to recalculate CO values for the DBS samples, sensitivity was 97.5% for both EIAs, while the specificity was 99.71% for Monolisa™ HCV AgAb ULTRA and 95.95% for Murex HCV AgAb. Accurate testing results were obtained with DBS samples for 60 days at all conditions evaluated; storage at -20°C resulted in low OD variation. Both EIAs demonstrated the same limit of detection among DBS samples [estimated viral load of 3.1 International Units per millilitre (IU/mL)] and low OD value variability in repetitivity and reproducibility studies.

CONCLUSION

DBS samples can be used for the detection of HCV AgAb by EIA as they present comparable performance characteristics and excellent stability among various storage conditions.

Dried blood spot samples: optimization of commercial EIAs for hepatitis C antibody detection and stability under different storage conditions

This study was undertaken to optimize and compare the efficiency of two commercial EIAs for anti-HCV detection (HCV Ab Radim, Pomezzia, Italy and ETI-AB-HCVK-4 DiaSorin, Vercelli, Italy), in dried blood spot (DBS) samples. The long-term stability of anti-HCV on DBS samples stored at three environmental conditions was also evaluated at: 2-8 °C, 20-25 °C, and -20 °C. Paired DBS and serum samples were obtained from individuals with or without anti-HCV. The type of elution buffer, sample and conjugate volume, sample incubation time and cut-off values were evaluated. For both EIAs, a larger sample volume was used, and the cut-off value determined by the manufacturer was employed for Radim EIA; however, ROC curve analysis was used for the DiaSorin EIA. The sensitivity and specificity of Radim EIA on DBS were 97.5% and 99.5%, respectively, and of DiaSorin EIA were 88.9% and 98.9%, respectively. Accurate results were obtained for a period of 117 days using DBS samples stored at all storage conditions, but storage at -20 °C resulted in the lowest variation among the absorbance values. Both EIAs demonstrated the same limit of detection (until dilution of 1:10(4) with estimated viral load of 3.1 × 10(-1) UI/ml), but the Radim EIA was associated with the best performance because a low coefficient of variation was observed in the repetition and reproducibility studies. In conclusion, commercial EIAs can be optimized for anti-HCV detection in DBS samples that are extremely stable at different conditions for more than 100 days.

An evaluation of different saliva collection methods for detection of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)

BACKGROUND

Saliva samples can be used as an alternative fluid for against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) detection owing to the ease of collection and excellent acceptability. This study was conducted to optimize a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect anti-HCV in saliva samples.

METHODS

Ninety-six individuals donated paired serum and saliva samples that were obtained, using a commercial device (Salivette) and spitting into a sterile container. Initially, elution buffer for the Salivette samples, sample volume, incubation time and temperature, and two different anti-HCV EIAs were evaluated. Using the optimized assay, three methods for cut-off calculation were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A 20-fold increase in the sample volume for both collection methods was needed. Moreover, the Radim assay was the most appropriate assay for anti-HCV detection in saliva samples, and the quality parameters were increased when a ROC curve was used to determine the cut-off value. Using this optimized assay, the sensitivities, specificities, accuracies, positive and negative predictive values were above 90% for saliva obtained using both the Salivette and spitting methods. Using this assay, discordant false-negative results were obtained for only two Salivette samples and five spitting samples. The concordance kappa was 93% for the Salivette method and 86.1% for the spitting method, demonstrating excellent performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Saliva samples obtained for both methods can be employed for anti-HCV detection among HCV-infected or HCV-suspected cases, but several modifications must be performed on commercial EIAs to obtain good results. Moreover, samples obtained with commercial devices are more appropriate for anti-HCV detection in saliva samples.