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Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common diseases with a prevalence of 1-2% in adults, disproportionately affecting the elderly. Despite consistent drug therapy, physical activity (PA) is an integral part of current guidelines. Yet adherence to regular PA and exercise interventions is poor and potential predictors and barriers to PA remain elusive. We examined the effects of a telemonitoring-based exercise intervention in 699 CHF patients in a prospective, randomized-controlled (1:1), multicenter trial. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register under DRKS00019022 on 28.05.2020. For both, the exercise and control group, self-reported PA (MET*h/week) increased and sedentary behavior declined during the 12-month intervention period. In the exercise group, daily step count as analyzed via activity trackers remained stable (pre: 6459 [4016] steps/day, post: 6532 [3858] steps/day; p = 0.621). The average number of completed exercise instruction videos provided via an online application was 1.50 [1.44] videos/week at the beginning and gradually decreased to 1.00 [1.50] videos/week; p < 0.001). Multivariate regression model revealed that exercise-related PA (MET*h/week) and exercise capacity (W max ) at baseline, CHF severity, atrial fibrillation and age predicted changes in self-reported exercise-related PA (R 2  = 0.396). Furthermore, the BMI and the average number of completed videos per week at baseline were associated with the change in completed videos over the course of the study (R 2  = 0.251). Our results show the influence of certain baseline characteristics as barriers and predictors of PA progression. Therefore, exercise programs should pay attention to patients' individual conditions to set achievable goals, and eventually affect the adherence and sustainability of exercise-focused interventions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Since diet is generally recognized as an important factor directly modulating the gut microbiome, it is also considered a potential environmental triggering factor for the pathogenesis and onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the habitual and sex-related dietary behavior of the general population has been the subject of extensive study and reporting, data on IBD patients' dietary behavior and especially its sex-related differences are underrepresented. However, as diet is an important factor in the course of IBD, we hypothesized that men and women with IBD have a different dietary profile than the general population., Methods: We performed a cohort analysis of a monocentric, cross-sectional study and compared the sex-related dietary behavior of 82 IBD patients ( n = 40 women) to a sex- and age-matched cohort of the general German population [ n = 328 ( n = 160 women)]. Further on, disease-related quality of life and fecal calprotectin were correlated to the IBD patients' dietary behavior., Results: While sex-related dietary behavior was frequently of statistical difference in the general population within the IBD cohort, only minor numerical differences were observed between the sexes, which were rarely statistically significant. However, correlation analyses of disease-related quality of life (IBDQ) and diet revealed significant differences in male IBD patients but not in female IBD patients ( p = 0.007; r = 0.409 for energy intake (kJ/d); p = 0.003, r = 0.449 for adherence to Mediterranean diet)., Conclusion: The dietary behavior of IBD patients showed more similarity between the sexes than the general German population. Distinct sex-related trends and differences in correlation with disease parameters demonstrated a significant difference for an adaptive dietary behavior, especially in IBD men.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) play an important role in the rehabilitation of people with major limb amputations. Patient-completed questionnaires help collect specific constructs on this patient population. The COMPASS and LEAD initiatives, carried out by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), underscore the importance of regularly collecting high-quality PROMs. These are essential for the evaluation of rehabilitation needs, progress, and success. In the final report of ISPO's major international initiative, PROMs recommendations of the expert panel are tabulated. In Table 3.2 of the report, ISPO lists n=12 PROMs that were included in the narrow consensus process were considered to be of acceptable quality, and therefore recommended. The aim of this systematic review was to specifically search for these recommended PROMS regarding their availability in a German and validated version in order to identify potential gaps. All PROMs that were available in a German and validated version were then examined further with regard to the quality of the validation study, using the checklist of COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN). Through a systematic literature search, six validated German-language versions were found. Only four of these met the quality standards of the COSMIN checklist sufficiently. Overall, this review shows serious gaps in the availability in the German language of validated versions of PROMs used internationally and recommended as standard by the ISPO. This gap needs to be closed by guideline-oriented translation and subsequent validation studies in order to be able to offer and collect the PROMS recommended by the ISPO also for German-speaking patient populations., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: The after-care treatment project KTx360° aimed to reduce graft failure and mortality after kidney transplantation (KTx)., Methods: The study was conducted in the study centers Hannover, Erlangen and Hannoversch Muenden from May 2017 to October 2020 under the trial registration ISRCTN29416382. The program provided a multimodal aftercare program including specialized case management, telemedicine support, psychological and exercise assessments, and interventions. For the analysis of graft failure, which was defined as death, re-transplantation or start of long-term dialysis, we used longitudinal claims data from participating statutory health insurances (SHI) which enabled us to compare participants with controls. To balance covariate distributions between these nonrandomized groups we used propensity score methodology, in particular the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach., Findings: In total, 930 adult participants were recruited at three different transplant centres in Germany, of whom 320 were incident (enrolled within the first year after KTx) and 610 prevalent (enrolled >1 year after KTx) patients. Due to differences in the availability of the claims data, the claims data of 411 participants and 418 controls could be used for the analyses. In the prevalent group we detected a significantly lower risk for graft failure in the study participants compared to the matched controls (HR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.04-0.39, p = 0.005, n = 389 observations), whereas this difference could not be detected in the incident group (HR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.54-1.56, p = 0.837, n = 440 observations)., Interpretation: Our findings suggest that a multimodal and multidisciplinary aftercare intervention can significantly improve outcome after KTx, specifically in patients later after KTx. For evaluation of effects on these outcome parameters in patients enrolled within the first year after transplantation longer observation times are necessary., Funding: The study was funded by the Global Innovation fund of the Joint Federal Committee of the Federal Republic of Germany, grant number 01NVF16009., Competing Interests: All authors have completed the Unified Competing Interest form (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity after kidney transplantation (KTx) in childhood is of increasing importance. In light of a high prevalence of CV risk factors, protective measures such as physical activity (PA) come into focus. Our aim was to comprehensively assess PA in pediatric KTx recipients and evaluate its impact on CV health., Methods: Forty-eight patients were assessed for frequency, duration, intensity, and setting of PA using the "Motorik-Modul" PA questionnaire. Walking-based activity was measured by accelerometer in a subgroup (n = 23). CV risk factors and subclinical CV organ damage were determined. The impact of PA on CV parameters was analyzed using linear regression models., Results: Fifty-two percent of pediatric KTx recipients did not reach WHO recommended PA level; 54% did not engage in PA with vigorous intensity (VPA). Twenty-nine percent indicated an extremely inactive lifestyle (< 120 min/week of moderate to vigorous intensity PA, MVPA). Compared to the healthy German KiGGS cohort, KTx recipients specifically lacked engagement in sport activities (KTx: 129 min/week; 95%CI, 97-162 vs. KiGGS, 242 min/week; 95%CI, 230-253). VPA was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.024) and resting heart rate (p = 0.005), MVPA with fewer components of the post-transplant metabolic syndrome (p = 0.037), and better left ventricular diastolic function (p = 0.006)., Conclusions: A considerable lack of PA, especially VPA, exists in young KTx recipients. PA was positively associated with important parameters of CV health. While long-term CV protection through PA seems promising in pediatric KTx recipients, specific educational approaches are most likely needed to increase patients' engagement in sport activities., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: The Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which can occur after acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, leads to restrictions in everyday activity. Our study assessed the impact of an online-guided intervention which intended to facilitate physical activity on the mental and physical capability of PCS patients., Methods: We randomized 62 patients with PCS (20 male/ 42 female; age: 46 ± 12 years; body mass index: 28.7 ± 6.7 kg/m 2 ) with a score ≥ 22 in the fatigue assessment scale (FAS) to a 3-month exercise-focused intervention (IG n = 30) or control period (CG n = 32). We assessed changes in exercise capacity (bicycle exercise test with measurements of gas exchange), fatigue, markers of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and mental health., Results: The FAS score decreased significantly in both study groups (IG: 35.1 ± 7.4 to 31.8 ± 8.5 points; CG: 35.6 ± 7.4 to 32.6 ± 7.5 points, both p < 0.01). Exercise capacity did not increase in the CG or IG (within-group changes for IG: peak oxygen uptake: 0.9 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg, p = 0.098; peak power output: 6.1 ± 17.8 W, p = 0.076) with no significant changes in HrQoL and work ability. Patients with a FAS score at baseline ≥ 35 (severe fatigue) showed no change in exercise capacity with the 3-month intervention whereas the sub-group of patients with FAS < 35 points (moderate fatigue) showed improvements, independent of the study group., Conclusions: Our 3-month intervention seems appropriate for patients with moderate fatigue, whereas those with more severe fatigue appear to be too restricted with respect to their mental or physical health status to perform exercise at a level which is sufficient to improve markers of physical performance., Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (registration trial number: DRKS00026245) on September 2 2021., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Post-Covid-19 syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms beyond 3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The most common symptoms include reduced exercise tolerance and capacity, fatigue, neurocognitive problems, muscle pain and dyspnea. The aim of our work was to investigate exercise capacity and markers of subjective wellbeing and their independent relation to post-COVID-19 syndrome., Patients and Methods: We examined a total of 69 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (23 male/46 female; age 46±12 years; BMI 28.9±6.6 kg/m2) with fatigue and a score ≥22 in the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). We assessed exercise capacity on a cycle ergometer, a 6-minute walk test, the extent of fatigue (FAS), markers of health-related quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and mental health (HADS)., Results: On average the Fatigue Assessment Scale was 35.0±7.4 points. Compared with normative values the VO2max/kg was reduced by 8.6±5.8 ml/min/kg (27.7%), the 6MWT by 71±96 m (11.9%), the health-related quality of life physical component score by 15.0±9.0 points (29.9%) and the mental component score by 10.6±12.8 points (20.6%). Subdivided into mild fatigue (FAS score 22-34) and severe fatigue (FAS score ≥35), patients with severe fatigue showed a significant reduction of the 6-minute walk test by 64±165 m (p<0.01) and the health-related quality of life physical component score by 5.8±17.2 points (p = 0.01). In multiple regression analysis age (β = -0.24, p = 0.02), sex (β = 0.22, p = 0.03), mental (β = -0.51, p<0.01) and physical (β = -0.44, p<0.01) health-related quality of life and by trend the 6-minute walk test (β = -0.22, p = 0.07) were associated with the FAS., Conclusion: Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome show reduced maximal and submaximal physical performance as well as limitations in quality of life, particularly pronounced in the physical components. These results are essentially influenced by the severity of fatigue and implicating the need for targeted treatments., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Beyer et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Obesity and physical inactivity are known to affect cancer's development and prognosis. In this context, physical aerobic and resistance training as well as a Mediterranean nutrition have been proven to have many positive health effects. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of home-based training on body composition and certain metabolic laboratory parameters., Methods: Patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer who underwent curative surgery at stages T1N0M0-T3N3M0 were eligible for this trial and randomized to an intervention and control group. In the intervention group the patients carried out online-based strength-endurance home training during the 6-month study period. Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis (baseline, 3 months and 6 months). Metabolic blood parameters were also analyzed and nutrition behavior determined using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS)., Results: The intervention group's fat mass decreased while their lean body mass increased (time effect p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). We found no interaction effect in body weight ( p = 0.19), fat mass [ p = 0.06, 6-months estimates -0.9 (95% CI -1.8 to -0.1)] and lean body mass ( p = 0.92). Blood samples also failed to show a statistically significant interaction effect between time × group for HbA1c% ( p = 0.64), Insulin ( p = 0.33), Adiponectin ( p = 0.87), Leptin ( p = 0.52) and Triglycerides ( p = 0.43). Only Adiponectin revealed significance in the time effect ( p < 0.001) and Leptin in the group effect ( p = 0.03). Dietary behavior during the study period was similar in patients in the intervention and control groups (interaction p = 0.81; group p = 0.09 and time p = 0.03)., Discussion: Individualized online-based home training in postoperative cancer patients revealed only minor changes, with no group differences in body composition or metabolic laboratory parameters, which were predominantly in the reference range at baseline. More studies investigating effects of online-based home training on body composition and nutrition behavior are needed., Trial Registration: https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00020499, DRKS-ID: DRKS00020499., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Darmochwal, Bischoff, Thieme, Gockel, Tegtbur, Hillemanns, Schulze, Voss, Falz and Busse.)

Background: Exercise training is beneficial in enhancing physical function and quality of life in cancer patients. Its comprehensive implementation remains challenging, and underlying cardiopulmonary adaptations are poorly investigated. This randomized controlled trial examines the implementation and effects of home-based online training on cardiopulmonary variables and physical activity., Methods: Of screened post-surgical patients with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer, 148 were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intervention (2 × 30 min/week of strength-endurance training using video presentations) and a control group. All patients received activity feedback during the 6-month intervention period. Primary endpoint was change in oxygen uptake after 6 months. Secondary endpoints included changes in cardiac output, rate pressure product, quality of life (EORTC QoL-C30), C-reactive protein, and activity behavior., Results: One hundred twenty-two patients (62 intervention and 60 control group) completed the study period. Change in oxygen uptake between intervention and control patients was 1.8 vs. 0.66 ml/kg/min (estimated difference after 6 months: 1.24; 95% CI 0.23 to 2.55; p = 0.017). Rate pressure product was reduced in IG (estimated difference after 6 months: - 1079; 95% CI - 2157 to - 1; p = 0.05). Physical activity per week was not different in IG and CG. There were no significant interaction effects in body composition, cardiac output, C-reactive protein, or quality of life., Conclusions: Home-based online training among post-surgery cancer patients revealed an increase of oxygen uptake and a decrease of myocardial workload during exercise. The implementation of area-wide home-based training and activity feedback as an integral component in cancer care and studies investigating long-term effects are needed., Trial Registration: DRKS-ID: DRKS00020499 ; Registered 17 March 2020., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The ability to metabolize fructose to bypass the glucose pathway in near-anaerobic conditions appears to contribute to the extreme hypoxia tolerance of the naked-mole rats. Therefore, we hypothesized that exogenous fructose could improve endurance capacity and cognitive performance in humans exposed to hypoxia., Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 26 healthy adults (9 women, 17 men; 28.8 ± 8.1 (SD) years) ingested 75 g fructose, 82.5 g glucose, or placebo during acute hypoxia exposure (13% oxygen in a normobaric hypoxia chamber, corresponding to oxygen partial pressure at altitude of ~3,800 m) on separate days. We measured exercise duration, heart rate, SpO 2 , blood gasses, and perceived exertion during a 30-min incremental load test followed by Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue (FM-100) color vision testing and the unstable tracking task (UTT) to probe eye-hand coordination performance., Results: Exercise duration in hypoxia was 21.13 ± 0.29 (SEM) min on fructose, 21.35 ± 0.29 min on glucose, and 21.35 ± 0.29 min on placebo ( p  = 0.86). Heart rate responses and perceived exertion did not differ between treatments. Total error score (TES) during the FM-100 was 47.1 ± 8.0 on fructose, 45.6 ± 7.6 on glucose and 53.3 ± 9.6 on placebo ( p  = 0.35) and root mean square error (RMSE) during the UTT was 15.1 ± 1.0, 15.1 ± 1.0 and 15.3 ± 0.9 ( p  = 0.87)., Discussion: We conclude that oral fructose intake in non-acclimatized healthy humans does not acutely improve exercise performance and cognitive performance during moderate hypoxia. Thus, hypoxia tolerance in naked mole-rats resulting from oxygen-conserving fructose utilization, cannot be easily reproduced in humans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Post, Schmitz, Denney, De Gioannis, Weis, Pesta, Peter, Birkenfeld, Haufe, Tegtbur, Frings-Meuthen, Ewald, Aeschbach and Jordan.)

Introduction: Adopting an active lifestyle is an important goal, but can be difficult to achieve for people with depressive disorders. Current guidelines recommend the integration of physical activity in the multimodal treatment of depressive disorders. However, the possibilities to provide individual support for physical activities are frequently limited. The aim of our study was to examine how physical activity can be increased in a real-world setting by combining physical training and psychological interventions., Materials and Methods: In this randomized-controlled interventional study, 31 outpatients diagnosed with moderate to severe depression were recruited from the region of Hannover. The intervention group ( n  = 16) was offered six weekly individual sessions lasting between 60 and 90  min with a sports scientist, including Motivational Interviewing and accompanied exercise activities. The control group ( n  = 15) received a written booklet with information on steps toward becoming more active. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as the primary outcome was analyzed using activity sensors before and after the 6-week intervention, and 3  months subsequently. Secondary outcomes included the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Sit-to-Stand test (STS), and mental health assessed with self-rating questionnaires., Results: In the intervention group, MVPA increased significantly between baseline and the first follow-up and remained at an increased level at the second follow-up in comparison to decreased levels in the control group (difference of 15.5  min/day between groups over time, SE = 6.2  min/day, 95%-CI[2.7, 28.3], p  = 0.020). The increased activity level was associated with markers of increased fitness (6MWT and STS) in the intervention group. Both groups showed comparable improvements in depressive symptoms, while the number of patients receiving antidepressants increased in the control group and decreased in the intervention group. Two patients dropped out of the intervention group during the trial., Conclusion: The intervention proved to be a feasible and effective aid to promote a physically active lifestyle for patients diagnosed with depression. Furthermore, the higher level of physical activity was maintained for the follow-up period. Given the success of the approach evaluated in this project, individual support for physical activity should be investigated in larger sample sizes and potentially be considered in the multimodal treatment of depression., Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [DRKS00023257]., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Keller-Varady, Haufe, Schieffer, Kerling, Tegtbur and Kahl.)

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death worldwide, and early manifestations are increasingly identified in childhood and adolescence. With physical inactivity being the most prevalent modifiable risk factor, the risk for cardiovascular disease is deemed low in people engaging in regular physical exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate early markers and drivers of cardiovascular disease in young athletes pursuing a career in competitive sports., Methods: One hundred and five athletes (65 males, mean age 15.7 ± 3.7 years) were characterized by measurement of body impedance to estimate body fat, blood pressure (BP), carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) to evaluate arterial elasticity, ergometry to assess peak power output, echocardiography to calculate left ventricular mass, and blood tests., Results: Systolic BP was elevated in 12.6% and thereby more than twice as high as expected for the normal population. Similarly, structural vascular and cardiac changes represented by elevated PWV and left ventricular mass were found in 9.5% and 10.3%. Higher PWV was independently associated with higher systolic BP ( β  = 0.0186, p  < 0.0001), which in turn was closely correlated to hemoglobin levels ( β  = 0.1252, p  = 0.0435). In this population, increased left ventricular mass was associated with lower resting heart rate ( β  = -0.5187, p  = 0.0052), higher metabolic equivalent hours ( β  = 0.1303, p  = 0.0002), sport disciplines with high dynamic component ( β  = 17.45, p  = 0.0009), and also higher systolic BP ( β  = 0.4715, p  = 0.0354)., Conclusion: Despite regular physical exercise and in the absence of obesity, we found an unexpected high rate of cardiovascular risk factors. The association of PWV, systolic BP, and hemoglobin suggested a possible link between training-induced raised hemoglobin levels and altered vascular properties. Our results point toward the need for thorough medical examinations in this seemingly healthy cohort of children and young adults. Long-term follow-up of individuals who started excessive physical exercise at a young age seems warranted to further explore the potential adverse effects on vascular health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Grabitz, Sprung, Amagliani, Memaran, Schmidt, Tegtbur, von der Born, Kerling and Melk.)

Children's sedentary time has increased, while daily physical activity and motor performance have decreased. We evaluated an integrated school-based exercise program by assessing changes in motor skills after one year and comparing these changes to children who did not participate. We included 303 children from five schools in this longitudinal study and assigned them either to the exercise group (EG; n = 183 with daily exercise program) or the waiting group (WG; n = 120). Motor skills were assessed at baseline and after one year. Mixed modeling was used to analyze inter-group differences of change in motor skills and to determine the effect of sex, age group, and weight status. EG improved more strongly than WG for sprint, side jumps (both p = 0.017), stand and reach ( p = 0.012), and ergometry ( p ≤ 0.001) when compared to WG. Girls improved more strongly in the sit-ups than boys, second graders more than fifth graders in the backwards balance and the ergometry, and non-overweight children more in the standing long jump than overweight children. The exercise program is effective in increasing motor skills and physical fitness. Girls were not disadvantaged, and overweight children profited as much as their non-overweight peers in all categories but one.

In addition to drug therapy, lifestyle modification, including physical activity, and nutrition management are an integral part of current guidelines for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, evidence on which clinical parameters are most influenced by nutritional behaviour, exercise capacity, or iron status is scarce. For a multicenter intervention study, we included participants with diagnosed CHF ( n = 165) as well as participants with elevated NT-proBNP values and risk factors for CHF ( n = 74). Cardiorespiratory fitness was tested with a bicycle test, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was assessed with the MDS questionnaire. Our data strengthened previous results confirming that the higher a person's adherence to MedDiet, the higher the cardiorespiratory fitness and the lower the body fat. Furthermore, our results showed that anemia in patients with CHF has an impact in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional outcomes by questionnaire. Since our data revealed gaps in iron supply (37.9% with iron deficiency), malnutrition (only 7.8% with high adherence to MedDiet), and both symptomatic and non-symptomatic study participants failed to meet reference values for physical performance, we encourage the enforcement of the guidelines in the treatment of CHF more strongly., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Background: Medical students are exposed to high cognitive demands as well as to a high learning effort, which as a consequence can lead to a limited quality of life (Qol) with reduced physical performance and unhealthy eating behaviors. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the abovementioned factors and their relationship to each other., Methods: We included 380 medical students (167 men, 213 women, age 22.2 ± 3.9 yrs) who participated in the sports medicine elective subject. Qol was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, and endurance capacity was measured by using an incremental running test. Daily dietary intake was measured using a 7-day diary protocol. Depending on sex and the maximum speed achieved, students were divided into three performance groups., Results: Men achieved higher maximal speed, heart rate, and lactate. Carbohydrates and fat intake did not meet recommendations in either group. Dietary fibre intake differed significantly between the performance groups in men and women, with the better groups having higher intakes., Conclusions: Our data do not suggest increased risk or health-damaging behaviors in medical students compared with the general population. Irrespective of this, incentives should be set to enable a healthy life even during complex studies with a high learning effort.

In patients after kidney transplantation (KTx) an increased rate of affective and anxiety disorders has been observed. Repeatedly, a relationship between mental health issues and increased morbidity and mortality in KTx recipients has been reported. However, information on the prevalence of mental disorders in KTx patients is scarce. As part of the structured multimodal follow-up program (KTx360°), mental disorders were examined in 726 patients after KTx through structured diagnostic interviews using the Mini-DIPS Open Access. Overall, 27.5% had a current and 49.2% a lifetime mental disorder. Only 14.5% with a current mental disorder reported to be in treatment. Affected patients were younger, more often female, reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression and less perceived social support. While comparable to the rate in general population samples, the prevalence of mental disorders should attract attention. The low treatment rate requires an improved identification of afflicted patients and provision of specialist treatment.ISRCTN registry, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN29416382 , date of registry: 03.05.2017., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Lifestyle changes are a cornerstone in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence as to which components of the MetS and associated aspects of quality of life are driven by weight loss or improvements in exercise capacity are scarce., Methods: Company employees ( n = 302, 48.2 ± 8.2 years, BMI 33.2 ± 5.4 kg/m 2 ) with diagnosed MetS were evaluated after a 6-month telemonitoring-supported intervention (counselling in nutrition and physical activity) or wait-list control (delayed start of the same intervention)., Results: Exercise capacity, body mass index (BMI), and MetS severity were improved after the intervention. Multivariable regression models revealed that changes in BMI were associated with changes in three components of MetS (waist circumference, triglycerides, blood glucose), whereas changes in exercise capacity only were associated to one MetS component change (systolic blood pressure) but also improvements in anxiety severity, aspects of quality of life, and work ability., Conclusions: Both physical activity promotion and diet should be part of a holistic treatment of patients with MetS. However, our data suggest that dietary-induced weight loss might be more successful when aiming at improving MetS risk factors, whereas focusing more on physical activity promotion might be preferred when targeting aspects in quality of life and mental health.

Subclinical alterations in left ventricular structure and function are detectable in adolescents with hypertension or obesity. However, data on early echocardiographic abnormalities in seemingly healthy children are lacking. Sex differences in cardiac structure and function have been previously reported, but sex-specific reference values are not available. Specifically, the potential interaction of sex and overweight has not been addressed at all. Anthropometric data, blood pressure and exercise tests were obtained in 356 healthy children. Echocardiographic parameters comprised peak early (E) and late (A) mitral inflow Doppler velocities, E/A ratio, tissue Doppler peak velocities of early (e') and late diastolic (a') excursion of mitral/septal annulus and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and LVMI z-score were calculated. Interaction terms between BMI and sex and stratification by sex were used for analysis. We provide values for echocardiographic parameters for children of two age groups separated by BMI. Overweight/obese children had a significant higher LVMI, lower E/A ratio, higher E/e' ratios and a longer IVRT. For a given BMI in the upper ranges we demonstrated a higher LVMI in girls than in boys, the IVRT extended significantly more in girls than in boys with increasing BMI. There are sex differences in structural and functional echocardiographic parameters in children and adolescents. Our data not only confirms the importance of overweight and obesity, but demonstrates important interactions between sex and overweight. The greater susceptibility of overweight girls toward echocardiographic changes associated with potential long-term functional impairment needs further exploration and follow-up.Trial registration number DRKS00012371; Date 18.08.2017., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Electrically assisted bicycles (e-bikes) have become increasingly popular and may facilitate active commuting and recreational cycling., Objective: To evaluate the physical activity levels and usage characteristics of e-bikers and conventional cyclists under real-world conditions., Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in Germany to examine the effects of e-biking compared with conventional cycling on reaching the World Health Organization (WHO) target for physical activity-at least 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week. Study participants (1250 e-bikers and 629 conventional bike users) were equipped with activity trackers to assess the time, distance and heart rate during cycling over four consecutive weeks. Questionnaires were used to assess any traffic accidents incurred over 12 months., Results: The proportion of participants reaching 150 min of MVPA per week was higher for conventional bike users than for e-bike users (35.0% vs 22.4%, p<0.001). In a multiple regression model, the odds of reaching the physical activity target were lower for e-biking than for conventional biking (OR=0.56; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.72) with age, sex, comorbidities and bike usage patterns as confounding factors. No significant differences were observed between bike groups for traffic accidents, yet when controlled for cycling time and frequency of cycling e-bikers had a higher risk of a traffic accident (OR=1.63; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.58)., Conclusion: E-bikes are associated with a lower probability of reaching WHO targets for MVPA due to reduced duration and a reduced cardiovascular effort during riding. However, e-bikes might facilitate active transportation, particularly in older individuals or those with pre-existing conditions., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Spaceflight is associated with reduced antigravitational muscle activity, which results in trunk muscle atrophy and may contribute to post-flight postural and spinal instability. Exercise in artificial gravity (AG) performed via short-arm human centrifugation (SAHC) is a promising multi-organ countermeasure, especially to mitigate microgravity-induced postural muscle atrophy. Here, we compared trunk muscular activity (mm. rectus abdominis, ext. obliques and multifidi), cardiovascular response and tolerability of trunk muscle exercises performed during centrifugation with 1 g at individual center of mass on a SAHC against standard upright exercising. We recorded heart rate, blood pressure, surface trunk muscle activity, motion sickness and rating of perceived exertion (BORG) of 12 participants (8 male/4 female, 34 ± 7 years, 178.4 ± 8.2 cm, 72.1 ± 9.6 kg). Heart rate was significantly increased ( p < 0.001) during exercises without differences in conditions. Systolic blood pressure was higher ( p < 0.001) during centrifugation with a delayed rise during exercises in upright condition. Diastolic blood pressure was lower in upright ( p = 0.018) compared to counter-clockwise but not to clockwise centrifugation. Target muscle activation were comparable between conditions, although activity of multifidi was lower (clockwise: p = 0.003, counter-clockwise: p < 0.001) and rectus abdominis were higher (clockwise: p = 0.0023, counter-clockwise: < 0.001) during centrifugation in one exercise type. No sessions were terminated, BORG scoring reflected a relevant training intensity and no significant increase in motion sickness was reported during centrifugation. Thus, exercising trunk muscles during centrifugation generates comparable targeted muscular and heart rate response and appears to be well tolerated. Differences in blood pressure were relatively minor and not indicative of haemodynamic challenge. SAHC-based muscle training is a candidate to reduce microgravity-induced inter-vertebral disc pathology and trunk muscle atrophy. However, further optimization is required prior to performance of a training study for individuals with trunk muscle atrophy/dysfunction., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Frett, Lecheler, Speer, Marcos, Pesta, Tegtbur, Schmitz, Jordan and Green.)

Mortality in children with kidney failure is higher in girls than boys with cardiovascular complications representing the most common causes of death. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of vascular stiffness, predicts cardiovascular mortality in adults. Here, PWV in children with kidney failure undergoing kidney replacement therapy was investigated to determine sex differences and potential contributing factors. Two-hundred thirty-five children (80 girls; 34%) undergoing transplantation (150 pre-emptive, 85 with prior dialysis) having at least one PWV measurement pre- and/or post-transplantation from a prospective cohort were analyzed. Longitudinal analyses (median/maximum follow-up time of 6/9 years) were performed for PWV z-scores (PWVz) using linear mixed regression models and further stratified by the categories of time: pre-kidney replacement therapy and post-transplantation. PWVz significantly increased by 0.094 per year and was significantly higher in girls (PWVz +0.295) compared to boys, independent of the underlying kidney disease. During pre-kidney replacement therapy, an average estimated GFR decline of 4 ml/min/1.73 m 2 per year was associated with a PWVz increase of 0.16 in girls only. Higher diastolic blood pressure and low density lipoprotein were independently associated with higher PWVz during pre-kidney replacement therapy in both sexes. In girls post-transplantation, an estimated GFR decline of 4ml/min/1.73m 2 per year pre-kidney replacement therapy and a longer time (over 12 months) to transplantation were significantly associated with higher PWVz of 0.22 and of 0.57, respectively. PWVz increased further after transplantation and was positively associated with time on dialysis and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. Thus, our findings demonstrate that girls with advanced chronic kidney disease are more susceptible to develop vascular stiffening compared to boys, this difference persist after transplantation and might contribute to higher mortality rates seen in girls with kidney failure., (Copyright © 2021 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events and high socioeconomic costs. Despite lifestyle interventions focusing on exercise are effective strategies to improve parameters of the above aspects, many programs fail to show sustained effects in the long-term., Methods: At visit 2 (V2) 129 company employees with diagnosed MetS, who previously participated in a 6-month telemonitoring-supported exercise intervention, were randomized into three subgroups for a 6-month maintenance treatment phase. A wearable activity device was provided to subgroup A and B to assess and to track physical activity. Further subgroup A attended personal consultations with individual instructions for exercise activities. Subgroup C received neither technical nor personal support. 6 months later at visit (V3), changes in exercise capacity, MetS severity, work ability, health-related quality of life and anxiety and depression were compared between the subgroups with an analysis of variance with repeated measurements., Results: The total physical activity (in MET*h/week) declined between visit 2 and visit 3 (subgroup A: V2: 48.0 ± 33.6, V3: 37.1 ± 23.0; subgroup B: V2: 52.6 ± 35.7, V3: 43.8 ± 40.7, subgroup C: V2: 51.5 ± 29.7, V3: 36.9 ± 22.8, for all p = 0.00) with no between-subgroup differences over time (p = 0.68). In all three subgroups the initial improvements in relative exercise capacity and MetS severity were maintained. Work ability declined significantly in subgroup C (V2: 40.3 ± 5.0, V3: 39.1 ± 5.7; p < 0.05), but remained stable in the other subgroups with no between-subgroup differences over time (p = 0.38). Health-related quality of life and anxiety and depression severity also showed no significant differences over time., Conclusions: Despite the maintenance of physical activity could not be achieved, most of the health related outcomes remained stable and above baseline value, with no difference regarding the support strategy during the maintenance treatment phase. Trial registration The study was completed as a cooperation project between the Volkswagen AG and the Hannover Medical School (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02029131)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Comparable data of functional outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using either hamstring- or quadriceps tendon grafts is controversial. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to provide data comparing both grafts regarding the functional outcome., Materials and Methods: A two centre trial involving symptomatic patients 18 years of age or older with an anterior cruciate ligament tear was conducted. We randomly assigned 27 patients to quadruple hamstring tendon reconstruction and 24 to quadriceps tendon reconstruction. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-surgery. The primary outcome parameter was the side-to-side knee laxity measured with an arthrometer. Secondary outcomes included results in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm Scores and isokinetic testing of strength in knee extension and flexion., Results: Forty-four patients (86%) completed the 2-year follow-up. There was significantly improved knee stability at all time intervals with no difference between the two study groups. The manual side-to-side displacement improved by 4.7 ± 3.0 mm in patients with hamstring tendon reconstruction and 5.5 ± 2.9 mm in patients with quadriceps tendon reconstruction. In addition, muscle strength and outcome scores (IKDC and Lysholm Score) did not show any differences between the hamstring tendon group and the quadriceps tendon group. Patients in the hamstring tendon group returned to their pre-injury activity level after 95.2 ± 45.5 days while patients in the quadriceps tendon group needed 82.1 ± 45.6 days., Conclusion: Quadriceps and hamstring tendon autografts yield comparably good results in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction., (© 2021. The Author(s).)