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Background: Few studies have examined depression after a cancer diagnosis and before initiating adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic treatments. In this study, we present baseline data on device‐measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, depression, happiness, and satisfaction with life in newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors. Purpose: To examine associations of accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sedentary time with depression symptoms and prevalence, happiness, and satisfaction with life. Methods: Shortly after diagnosis, 1425 participants completed depression, happiness, and satisfaction with life measures and wore an ActiGraph® device on their hip to measure physical activity and the activPALTM inclinometer on their thigh for 7 days to measure sedentary time (sitting/lying) and steps (1384 completed both device measures). ActiGraph® data were analysed using a hybrid machine learning method (R Sojourn package, Soj3x), and activPALTM data using activPALTM algorithms (PAL Software version 8). We used linear and logistic regression to examine associations of physical activity and sedentary time with depression symptom severity (0–27) and depression prevalence, happiness (0–100), and satisfaction with life (0–35). For the logistic regression analysis, we compared participants with none‐minimal depression (n = 895) to participants with some depression (that is, mild, moderate, moderately‐severe, or severe depression [n = 530]). Results: Participants reported a mean depression symptom severity score of 4.3 (SD = 4.1), a satisfaction with life score of 25.7 (SD = 7.2), and a happiness score of 70 (SD = 21.8). Higher moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with reduced depression symptom severity scores (β = −0.51, 95% CI: −0.87 to −0.14, p = 0.007). A 1 hour increase in MVPA was associated with a reduced odds of at least mild or worse depression by 24% (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62–0.94, p = 0.012). Higher daily step counts were associated with lower depression symptom severity scores (β = −0.16, 95% CI: −0.24 to −0.10, p < 0.001). Perceptions of happiness was associated with higher MVPA (β = 2.17, 95% CI: 0.17–4.17, p = 0.033). Sedentary time was not associated with depression severity, but higher sedentary time was associated with lower perceptions of happiness (β = −0.80, 95% CI: −1.48 to −0.11, p = 0.023). Conclusions: Higher physical activity was associated with fewer depression symptom severity scores and reduced odds of mild or worse depression in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Higher physical activity and daily step counts were also associated with stronger perceptions of happiness and satisfaction with life, respectively. Sedentary time was not associated with depression symptom severity or odds of having depression, but was associated with stronger perceptions of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined associations of device‐measured physical activity and sedentary time with quality of life (QOL) and fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) cohort study. Methods: After diagnosis, 1409 participants completed the SF‐36 version 2 and the Fatigue Scale, wore an ActiGraph device on their right hip to measure physical activity, and an activPAL device on their thigh to measure sedentary time (sitting/lying) and steps. ActiGraph data was analyzed using a hybrid machine learning method (R Sojourn package, Soj3x) and activPAL data were analyzed using activPAL algorithms (PAL Software version 8). Quantile regression was used to examine cross‐sectional associations of QOL and fatigue with steps, physical activity, and sedentary hours at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the QOL and fatigue distributions. Results: Total daily moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) hours was positively associated with better physical QOL at the 25th (β = 2.14, p = <.001), 50th (β = 1.98, p = <.001), and 75th percentiles (β = 1.25, p =.003); better mental QOL at the 25th (β = 1.73, p =.05) and 50th percentiles (β = 1.07, p =.03); and less fatigue at the 25th (β = 4.44, p <.001), 50th (β = 3.08, p = <.001), and 75th percentiles (β = 1.51, p = <.001). Similar patterns of associations were observed for daily steps. Total sedentary hours was associated with worse fatigue at the 25th (β = −0.58, p =.05), 50th (β = −0.39, p =.06), and 75th percentiles (β = −0.24, p =.02). Sedentary hours were not associated with physical or mental QOL. Conclusions: MVPA and steps were associated with better physical and mental QOL and less fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Higher sedentary time was associated with greater fatigue symptoms. Consistent and significant associations emerged between device‐measured physical activity, quality of life, and fatigue outcomes in this large cohort of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. These results may be used to inform clinical practice and policies about incorporating physical activity and reducing sedentary time as adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients starting treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe the physiological profile of responders (>20 mmol*[kg.sup.-1] dry weight [dw] increase in total intramuscular creatine monohydrate [Cr] + phosphorylated creatine [PCr]) versus nonresponders ( KEY WORDS. ergogenic, person-by-treatment, phosphocreatine, creatine, strength, muscle fiber type, fiber area

Abstract Background Limited research has examined the association between physical activity, health-related fitness, and disease outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Here, we present the rationale and design of the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Study, a prospective cohort study designed specifically to examine the role of physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivorship from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life. The AMBER Study will examine the role of physical activity and health-related fitness in facilitating treatment completion, alleviating treatment side effects, hastening recovery after treatments, improving long term quality of life, and reducing the risks of disease recurrence, other chronic diseases, and premature death. Methods/Design The AMBER Study will enroll 1500 newly diagnosed, incident, stage I-IIIc breast cancer survivors in Alberta, Canada over a 5 year period. Assessments will be made at baseline (within 90 days of surgery), 1 year, and 3 years consisting of objective and self-reported measurements of physical activity, health-related fitness, blood collection, lymphedema, patient-reported outcomes, and determinants of physical activity. A final assessment at 5 years will measure patient-reported data only. The cohort members will be followed for an additional 5 years for disease outcomes. Discussion The AMBER cohort will answer key questions related to physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivors including: (1) the independent and interactive associations of physical activity and health-related fitness with disease outcomes (e.g., recurrence, breast cancer-specific mortality, overall survival), treatment completion rates, symptoms and side effects (e.g., pain, lymphedema, fatigue, neuropathy), quality of life, and psychosocial functioning (e.g., anxiety, depression, self-esteem, happiness), (2) the determinants of physical activity and health-related fitness including demographic, medical, social cognitive, and environmental variables, (3) the mediators of any observed associations between physical activity, health-related fitness, and health outcomes including biological, functional, and psychosocial, and (4) the moderators of any observed associations including demographic, medical, and biological/disease factors. Taken together, these data will provide a comprehensive inquiry into the outcomes, determinants, mechanisms, and moderators of physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivors.

Acute resistance exercise and L-arginine have both been shown to independently elevate plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations; however, their combined effect is controversial. The purpose was to investigate the combined effects of resistance exercise and L-arginine supplementation on plasma L-arginine, GH, GH secretagogues, and IGF-1 in strength trained participants. Fourteen strength trained males (age: 25 ± 4 y; body mass: 81.4 ± 9.0 kg; height: 179.4 ± 6.9 cm; and training experience: 6.3 ± 3.4 y) participated in a randomized double-blind crossover design (separated by ~7 days). Subjects reported to the laboratory at 08:00 in a fasted state, consumed L-arginine (ARG; 0.075 g·kg-1 body mass) or a placebo (PLA) before performing an acute bout of resistance exercise (3 sets of 8 exercises, 10 repetitions at ~75% 1RM). Blood samples were collected at rest, before exercise, and at 0, 15, 30, and 60 min of rest-recovery. The ARG condition significantly increased plasma L-arginine concentrations (~120%) while no change was detected in the PLA condition. There were no differences between conditions for GH, GH-releasing hormone, ghrelin, or IGF-1 at any time point. GH-inhibiting hormone was significantly lower in the ARG condition. However, integrated area under the curve for GH was blunted in the ARG condition (L-arginine = 288.4 ± 368.7 vs. placebo = 487.9 ± 482.0 min·ng·mL-1, p < .05). L-arginine ingested before resistance exercise significantly elevated plasma L-arginine concentration but attenuated plasma GH in strength trained individuals despite a lower GHIH. Furthermore our data shows that the GH suppression was not due to a GH or IGF-1 induced autonegative feedback loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to investigate the effects of a controlled typical 1-day diet supplemented with two different doses of whey protein isolate on blood amino acid profiles and hormonal concentrations following the final meal. Nine males (age: 29.6 ± 6.3 yrs) completed four conditions in random order: a control (C) condition of a typical mixed diet containing ~10% protein (0.8 g·kg-1), 65% carbohydrate, and 25% fat; a placebo (P) condition calorically matched with carbohydrate to the whey protein conditions; a low-dose condition of 0.8 grams of whey protein isolate per kilogram body mass per day (g·kg-1·d-1; W1) in addition to the typical mixed diet; or a high-dose condition of 1.6 g·kg-1·d-1 (W2) of supplemental whey protein in addition to the typical mixed diet. Following the final meal, significant (p < .05) increases in total amino acids, essential amino acids (EAA), branch-chained amino acids (BCAA), and leucine were observed in plasma with whey protein supplementation while no changes were observed in the control and placebo conditions. There was no significant group difference for glucose, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, or growth hormone. In conclusion, supplementing a typical daily food intake consisting of 0.8 g of protein·kg-1·d-1 with a whey protein isolate (an additional 0.8 or 1.6 g·kg-1·d-1) significantly elevated total amino acids, EAA, BCAA, and leucine but had no effect on glucose, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, or growth hormone following the final meal. Future acute and chronic supplementation research examining the physiological and health outcomes associated with elevated amino acid profiles is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fitness and health variables were measured in 128 sedentary men and women randomly assigned to 6 months of fitness training (F), a walking program (W), or a control (C) group. Methods: The F program gradually increased volume and intensity until 4 d/wk of training, at 70% of peak VO2, for 43 rain/session was prescribed while the W group performed daily walking monitored with pedometers and increased until 10,000 stepsxd-1 were prescribed. Total weekly energy expenditure was matched between the activity groups. The control group was asked to maintain their usual activity. Results: Body mass, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, resting HR were reduced in all groups after 6 months (P < .05). Fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, and total cholesterol were similarly improved in all groups (P< .05). Blood pressure and HR decreased during submaximal exercise in all groups (P < .05) but rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was decreased only in the F group (P < .05). Only the F participants showed a significant increase in ventilatory threshold (VT; ~ 15%) and peak VO2 (~9%) after 6 months. Conclusions: Supervised fitness training in previously sedentary adults produced greater improvements in submaximal RPE, BPsys, VT, and peak VO2 but not other fitness and health-related variables compared with a pedometer-based walkmg program matched for total energy cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study determined the effect of dehydration and rehydration (DR) on performance, immune cell response, and tympanic temperature after high-intensity rowing exercise. Methods: Seven oarswomen completed two simulated 2000-m rowing race trials separated by 72 h in a random, cross-over design. One trial was completed in a euhydrated (E) condition and the other using a DR protocol. Results: The DR condition resulted in a 3.33 ± 0.14% reduction in body mass (P < .05) over a 24-h period followed by a 2-h rehydration period immediately before the simulated rowing race. There was a greater change in tympanic temperature observed in the DR trial (P < .05). There were increases in the blood concentration of leukocytes, lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD3+/4+, CD3+/8+, CD3-/16+, CD4+/25+; P < .05) and decreases in lymphocyte proliferation and neutrophil oxidative burst activity immediately following the simulated race (P < .05) in both trials. Blood leukocyte and neutrophil concentrations were greater after exercise in the DR trial (P < .05). Whereas most immune measures returned to resting values after 60 min of recovery in both trials, lymphocyte proliferation and the concentrations of CD3+/4+ and CD4+/25+ cells were significantly lower than before exercise. Blood leukocyte and neutrophil concentrations were significantly higher before and after exercise in the E trial. Conclusion: The effects of dehydration/rehydration did not negatively influence simulated 2000-m rowing race performance in lightweight oarswomen but did produce a higher tympanic temperature and had a differential effect on blood leukocyte, neutrophil, and natural killer (CD3-/16+) cell concentrations after exercise compared with the euhydrated state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four National Hockey League (NHL) goaltenders were observed to determine the types and frequency of their movements during actual games. A secondary purpose was to compare these movements across the 3 periods of game play and between 2 NHL seasons (2003-04 and 2005-06) as a result of several rule changes between seasons. The mean (± SD) age, height, body mass, and years of NHL experience of the goaltenders were 30 ± 4 y, 85.4 ± 4.4 kg, 184.0 ± 3.8 cm, 6.6 ± 4.0 y, respectively. The mean (± SD) number of times and type of movements used during a game in order of most frequent were vertical movement (43.7 ± 10.3), moving laterally (39.7 ± 12.7), moving into full-butterfly position (32.1), anterior-posterior movement in front of goal crease (31.5 ± 11.5), skating out of the goal area to play the puck (19.7 ± 6.3), and using a half butterfly on a single leg pad (left = 5.2 ± 1.9, right = 6.4 ± 2.1). Goaltenders played the puck less frequently during the final period of the game than during the first 2 periods and more frequently between the 2 different NHL seasons after certain rule changes. It was concluded that NHL goaltenders move most frequently vertically, laterally, and out of the net to play the puck. In addition, goaltenders moved out of the goal area to play the puck less often in the third period but more frequently after several league rule changes designed to reduce this movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effects of elk velvet antler supplementation (EVA) combined with training on resting and exercise-stimulated hormonal response, male (n = 25) and female (n = 21) rowers ingested either EVA (560 mg/d) or placebo (PL) during 10 wk of training. VO2max, 2000 m rowing time, leg and bench press strength were determined before and after 5 and 10 wk of training.   Serum hormone levels were measured prior to and 5 and 60 min after a simulated 2000 m rowing race.   VO2maxand strength increased and 2000 m times decreased similarly (P < 0.05) with training.   There was no significant difference between the EVA and PL group for any hormonal response. Testosterone (males only) and growth hormone (both genders) were higher 5 min after the simulated race (P < 0.05) but returned to baseline at 60 min. Cortisol was higher 5 and 60 min compared to rest (both genders) (P < 0.05) and was higher 60 min post-exercise following 5 and 10 wk of training. It appears that 10 wk of EVA supplementation does not significantly improve rowing performance nor alter hormonal responses at rest or after acute exercise than training alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]