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Fatigue is often experienced after liver transplantation. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, neuromuscular fitness, body composition) in liver transplant recipients and to explore whether physical fitness is related to severity of fatigue. In addition, we explored the relationship between physical fitness and health-related quality of life. Included were 18 patients 1-5 years after transplantation (aged 48.0 +/- 11.8 years) with varying severity of fatigue. Peak oxygen uptake during cycle ergometry, 6-min walk distance, isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensors, body mass index, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, severity of fatigue, and health-related quality of life were measured. Cardiorespiratory fitness in the liver transplant recipients was on average 16-34% lower than normative values (P

This study assessed the accuracy of predicting peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) from peak power output (POpeak) using the equation described by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) during arm-cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals. A total of 13 able-bodied (age: 27.2 ± 4.3 years; mass: 74.5 ± 11.8 kg) and 13 paraplegic men (age: 31.6 ± 5.8 years; mass: 63.7 ± 11.1 kg) volunteered to take part in this study. Participants completed a ramp exercise test (started at 0 W and increased by 15 W/minute) and a graded exercise test (GXT, started at 30 W and increased by 15 W every 2 minutes) designed to assess whether VO2peak, POpeak, and peak heart rate (HRpeak) differed between the two exercise tests. POpeak was significantly higher for the ramp exercise test compared with GXT (p < 0.05). For GXT, no significant difference was noted in the two groups between measured and predicted VO2peak from POpeak using the ACSM equation. The 95% limits of agreement between measured and predicted VO2peak was quite narrow for paraplegic persons (1 ± 6) but not for able-bodied individuals (1 ± 10). In the same way, there was a stronger relationship between measured and predicted VO2peak for paraplegic persons [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) = 0.92] compared with able-bodied participants (ICC = 0.77). For the ramp exercise test, predicted VO2peak was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than measured VO2peak for both groups. In conclusion, VO2peak can be predicted with reasonable accuracy from POpeak obtained in GXT using the ACSM equation during arm-cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Purpose: To investigate the link between peak oxygen uptake and regional body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in Japanese subjects. Methods: A total of 93 men (42.2 ± 12.3 years old) and 106 women (43.5 ± 12.3 years old) were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation study. Peak oxygen uptake was measured by the breath-by-breath method. Regional body composition i.e., body fat mass, lean body mass, and body fat percentage was evaluated using DEXA. In addition, metabolic risk parameters were also evaluated. Results: Peak oxygen uptake was 37.6 ± 8.7 mL/kg/min in men and 31.1 ± 6.4 mL/kg/min in women, and decreased with age in both genders. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly correlated with total body fat percentage (men: r = −0.684, p

Summary Introduction: Exercise in a cold environment has been reported to increase exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). However, the effect of a cold environment upon exercise capacity in subjects with EIB has, to our knowledge, not been previously reported. Purpose: Primary: To examine the influence of changing environmental temperature upon exercise capacity measured by peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 peak ), peak ventilation ( V ˙ E peak ) and peak running speed in subjects with diagnosed EIB. Secondary: To assess the influence of changing environmental temperature upon EIB. Methods: Twenty subjects (10–45 years old, male/female: 13/7) with EIB underwent exercise testing by running on a treadmill in a climate chamber under standardised, regular conditions, 20.2 °C (±1.1) and 40.0% (±3.3) relative humidity [mean(±SD)], and in a standardised cold environment, −18.0 °C (±1.4) and 39.2% (±3.8) relative humidity in random order on separate days. Oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 ), minute ventilation ( V ˙ E ), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR) and running speed were measured during exercise. Lung function (flow volume loops) was measured before and 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15 min after exercise and 15 min after inhalation of salbutamol. Results: V ˙ O 2 peak decreased 6.5%, from 47.9 (45.0, 50.8) to 44.8 ml kg−1 min−1 (41.2, 48.4) [mean (95% confidence intervals)] (p=0.004) in the cold environment. Also running speed was significantly lower in the cold environment (p=0.02). No differences were found for V ˙ E peak , RERpeak or HRpeak. The post-exercise reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (ΔFEV1) increased significantly from 24% (19,29) to 31% (24,38), respectively (p=0.04) after exercise in the cold environment. No correlation was found between reduction in V ˙ O 2 peak and the increased maximum fall in FEV1 in the cold environment. Conclusion: Exercise capacity ( V ˙ O 2 peak and peak running speed) was markedly reduced during exercise in a cold environment whereas EIB increased in subjects suffering from EIB.

Exercise is an essential component of contemporary cardiac rehabilitation programs for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Despite the benefits associated with regular exercise, adherence with supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation remains low. Increasingly powerful mobile technologies, such as smartphones and wireless physiological sensors, may extend the capability of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation by enabling real-time exercise monitoring for those with coronary heart disease. This study compares the effectiveness of technology-assisted, home-based, remote monitored exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (REMOTE) to standard supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in New Zealand adults with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease. A two-arm, parallel, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial will be conducted at two sites in New Zealand. One hundred and sixty two participants will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio to receive a 12-week program of technology-assisted, home-based, remote monitored exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (intervention), or an 8-12 program of standard supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (control). The primary outcome is post-treatment maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Secondary outcomes include cardiovascular risk factors (blood lipid and glucose concentrations, blood pressure, anthropometry), self-efficacy, intentions and motivation to be active, objectively measured physical activity, self-reported leisure time exercise and health-related quality of life. Cost information will also be collected to compare the two modes of delivery. All outcomes are assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 months, except for VO2max, blood lipid and glucose concentrations, which are assessed at baseline and post-treatment only. This novel study will compare the effectiveness of technology-supported exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation to a traditional supervised approach. If the REMOTE program proves to be as effective as traditional cardiac rehabilitation, it has potential to augment current practice by increasing access for those who cannot utilise existing services. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Study ID number: ACTRN12614000843651 . Registered 7 August 2014

Purpose: To investigate the link between peak oxygen uptake and regional body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in Japanese subjects., Methods: A total of 93 men (42.2 ± 12.3 years old) and 106 women (43.5 ± 12.3 years old) were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation study. Peak oxygen uptake was measured by the breath-by-breath method. Regional body composition i.e., body fat mass, lean body mass, and body fat percentage was evaluated using DEXA. In addition, metabolic risk parameters were also evaluated., Results: Peak oxygen uptake was 37.6 ± 8.7 mL/kg/min in men and 31.1 ± 6.4 mL/kg/min in women, and decreased with age in both genders. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly correlated with total body fat percentage (men: r = −0.684, p < 0.0001; women: r = −0.681, p < 0.0001). These associations remained even after adjusting for age and total lean body mass. However, peak work rate was positively and significantly correlated with leg lean body mass., Conclusion: Peak oxygen uptake was closely correlated with total body fat percentage in both genders. Aerobic exercise as well as leg resistance training might be useful for improving peak oxygen uptake in Japanese subjects.