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Background: To examine the association between accelerometer-assessed physical activity and visual acuity among a nationally representative sample of adults with evidence of diabetes. Methods: Six hundred seventy adult participants with diabetes (age 20 to 85) from the 2003-2006 NHANES cycles constituted the analyzed sample. Participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days to quantify time spent in sedentary behavior, light-intensity physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Visual acuity was objectively assessed for each eye. Results: In multivariable models, every 1-hour increment in daily sedentary behavior was associated with 23% greater likelihood (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.52) of having uncorrected refractive error as opposed to normal sight. Performing more than 5 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with a 82% lower likelihood of having vision impairment as opposed to normal sight (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.50) while every 1-hour increment in daily light-intensity physical activity was, after adjustments, independently associated with a 38% lower likelihood of vision impairment (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42-0.92). Conclusion: People with diabetes spending more time in sedentary behavior and less time performing light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are more likely to have poorer vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. We have a limited understanding of the objectively determined physical activity levels by weight control status (i.e., trying to lose weight, trying to maintain weight, and neither trying to lose or maintain weight) among U.S. adults with diabetes. Therefore, this study assessed the association between physical activity and weight control status among U.S. adults with diabetes. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Setting. The 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used, which is representative of the U.S. population. Subjects. Subjects were 733 adults (≥ 20 years) with diabetes. Measures. Participants wore an accelerometer to assess physical activity, and questionnaires were used to assess weight control status and covariates. Analysis. Multivariate negative binomial regressions were used. Results. After adjustments, and compared to those not trying to lose or maintain their weight, women trying to lose weight engaged in 74% more physical activity (rate ratio = 1.74; 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.14 to 2.65). Although findings were not significant for men, men were more likely than women to meet physical activity recommendations. Conclusion. Diabetic women trying to lose weight engaged in more physical activity than did their female counterparts not trying to lose or maintain their weight. Although men were more active than women, no differences in activity estimates occurred across weight control status for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) is associated with cardiovascular disease. These outcomes are believed to originate from pulmonary oxidative stress and the systemic delivery of oxidised biomolecules (eg, aldehydes) generated in the lungs. Carnosine is an endogenous di-peptide (β-alanine-L-histidine) which promotes physiological homeostasis in part by conjugating to and neutralising toxic aldehydes. We hypothesise that an increase of endogenous carnosine by dietary supplementation would mitigate the adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with PM exposure in humans., Methods and Analysis: To test this, we designed the Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity trial. This trial will enroll 240 participants over 2 years and determine if carnosine supplementation mitigates the adverse effects of PM inhalation. The participants will have low levels of endogenous carnosine to facilitate identification of supplementation-specific outcomes. At enrollment, we will measure several indices of inflammation, preclinical cardiovascular disease and physical function. Participants will be randomly allocated to carnosine or placebo groups and instructed to take their oral supplement for 12 weeks with two return clinical visits and repeated assessments during times of peak PM exposure (June-September) in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Statistical modelling approaches will be used to assess the efficacy of carnosine supplementation in mitigating adverse outcomes., Ethics and Dissemination: This study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Louisville. Results from this study will be disseminated at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications. Trial registration: NCT03314987; Pre-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Purpose: Fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be exacerbated by poor cardiovascular fitness. Although aqua aerobic exercise is often recommended, little research has been conducted on the efficacy of aqua aerobic exercise in improving cardiovascular fitness in patients with MS. The purpose of this case report is to describe changes in cardiovascular fitness and fatigue for 2 people with MS following an aqua aerobics class., Case Descriptions: The participants were 2 females, both with MS for over 10 years and mild disability. Participant A (40 years old and EDSS = 2.5/10) reported fatigue, numbness in her hands and feet, and occasional blurred vision. Participant B (51 years old and EDSS = 3.0/10) reported the same problems as Participant A plus stiffness in her right lower extremity. The participants performed aqua aerobics at an intensity equivalent to their lactate threshold twice a week for 8 weeks. Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity just prior to the accumulation of blood lactate during graded exercise., Outcomes: A graded exercise test (with measurements of gas exchange) and a test of fatigue were administered before and after the intervention. Initially, both participants had poor cardiovascular fitness as demonstrated by their low peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and low lactate threshold (LT). After the intervention, both participants achieved a higher peak workload (their VO2peak increased) and they could sustain a higher submaximal workload without accumulation of acid substances causing fatigue (their LT increased). Changes in fatigue following the intervention were equivocal with Participant A reporting decreased fatigue and Participant B reporting no change., Summary: This report describes the use of exercise testing to guide clinical decision making for dosing of an aqua aerobic fitness intervention and illustrates positive effects of the intervention on cardiovascular fitness in 2 people with MS.