Deep Pyramidal Residual Network for Indoor-Outdoor Activity Recognition Based on Wearable Sensor

Recognition of human activity is one of the most exciting aspects of time-series classification,with substantial practical and theoretical impli-cations.Recent evidence indicates that activity recognition from wearable sensors is an effective technique for tracking elderly adults and children in indoor and outdoor environments.Consequently,researchers have demon-strated considerable passion for developing cutting-edge deep learning sys-tems capable of exploiting unprocessed sensor data from wearable devices and generating practical decision assistance in many contexts.This study provides a deep learning-based approach for recognizing indoor and outdoor movement utilizing an enhanced deep pyramidal residual model called Sen-PyramidNet and motion information from wearable sensors(accelerometer and gyroscope).The suggested technique develops a residual unit based on a deep pyramidal residual network and introduces the concept of a pyramidal residual unit to increase detection capability.The proposed deep learning-based model was assessed using the publicly available 19Nonsens dataset,which gathered motion signals from various indoor and outdoor activities,including practicing various body parts.The experimental findings demon-strate that the proposed approach can efficiently reuse characteristics and has achieved an identification accuracy of 96.37%for indoor and 97.25%for outdoor activity.Moreover,comparison experiments demonstrate that the SenPyramidNet surpasses other cutting-edge deep learning models in terms of accuracy and F1-score.Furthermore,this study explores the influence of several wearable sensors on indoor and outdoor action recognition ability.

Associations between near work, outdoor activity, parental myopia and myopia among school children in Aba, Nigeria

●AIM:To assess the influence of near work,time outdoor and parental myopia on the prevalence of myopia in school children in Aba,Nigeria.●METHODS:Primary and secondary school children aged between 8 and 15 y were randomly recruited from 12 schools in Aba.Information on family history,near work and outdoor activity was obtained using myopia risk factor questionnaire.Cycloplegic refraction was performed using autorefraction technique.Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction(SER)≤-0.50 D in the poorer eye.Data were analysed for 1197(male:538 and female:659)children with full relevant data.●RESULTS:Risk of developing myopia was positively associated with parental myopia[odds ratio(OR):6.80;95%CI,2.76-16.74;P<0.01)for one myopic parent and(OR:9.47;95%CI,3.88-23.13;P<0.01)for two myopic parents,longer daily reading hour(OR:1.21;95%CI,1.03-1.42;P=0.02)and less time outdoors(OR:0.8;95%CI,0.74-0.87;P<0.01).●CONCLUSION:Parental history of myopia is the most important risk factor associated with myopia.In addition,children with both parents being myopic has increased odds of developing myopia than those with one myopic parent.It is recommended therefore,that children spend more time outdoors as this could reduce the prevalence and progression of myopia.

The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers

Purpose: Physical activity(PA) and fundamental motor skills are important components of current and future trajectories of health in young children. This study examined the effects of a 5-week motor skill intervention on preschoolers' motor skill competence and their PA behaviors while participating in the motor skill intervention or outdoor free play(recess).Methods: A total of 102 preschoolers served as participants and were part of a motor skill intervention group(n = 64) or a control/outdoor free play group(n = 38). Children's motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 rd edition. PA during the motor skill intervention and outdoor free play was assessed using accelerometers both immediately before the start(baseline, Week 0 or Week 1) and end(late, Week 5 or Week 6) of the intervention.Results: All children significantly improved their motor skills from baseline to late assessment(p < 0.05). Children in the motor skill intervention demonstrated greater rates of change(p < 0.001) and scored higher on all motor skills at the late assessment compared with the control group(p < 0.001). There was no effect of group(control vs. intervention), but there was a significant effect of sex on children's PA during outdoor free play at baseline(p < 0.05). Similarly, there was no effect of group on PA during days with the movement program(intervention vs. outdoor free play) at either time point, but boys were more active than girls at the late assessment(p < 0.05). Last, children in the intervention engaged in more PA while participating in the intervention toward the end of the intervention than at the beginning.Conclusion: The 5-week motor skill intervention was effective at improving preschoolers' motor skills and rates of change in motor skills were higher for children who completed the intervention compared with children in the control group. Preschoolers in the intervention did demonstrate PA changes while participating in the intervention, but these changes did not translate outside of the intervention setting.

Engagement in outdoor physical activity under ambient fine particulate matter pollution: A risk-benefit analysis

Background:Outdoor physical activity(PA)brings important health benefits,but exposure to polluted air increases health risks.This study aimed to quantify the tradeoff of PA under fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5))air pollution by estimating the optimal PA duration under various pollution levels.Methods:A risk-benefit analysis was performed to estimate the optimal outdoor moderate-intensity PA(MPA)duration under varying PM_(2.5) concentrations.Results:An inverse nonlinear relationship was identified between optimal MPA duration and background PM_(2.5) concentration levels.When background PM_(2.5) concentration increased to 186 μg/m^(3),the optimal outdoor MPA duration decreased to 2.5 h/week,the minimum level recommended by current PA guidelines.When background PM_(2.5) concentration further increased to 235 μg/m^(3),the optimal outdoor MPA duration decreased to 1 h/week.The relationship between optimal MPA duration and background PM_(2.5) concentration levels was stronger when exercising at a location closer to a source of air pollution.Compared to the general adult population,adults aged 60 years and older had substantially steeper curves—the optimal outdoor MPA duration decreased to 2.5 h/week when background PM_(2.5) concentration reached 45 μg/m^(3).Conclusion:The health benefit of outdoor MPA by far outweighs the health risk of PM_(2.5) pollution for the global average urban background concentration(22 μg/m^(3),).This modeling study examined a single type of air pollutant and suffered from measurement errors and estimation uncertainties.Future research should examine other air pollutants and indoor PA,incorporate short-and mid-term health effects of MPA and air pollution into the risk-benefit analysis,and provide estimates specific for high-risk subgroups.

Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography

Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUID),MEG based on optically pump magnetometer(OPM)has the advantages of higher sensitivity,better spatial resolution and lower cost.However,most of the current studies are clinical studies,and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology.Pain,a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon,induces intricate alterations in brain activity,exhibiting notable sex differences.Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG,specific properties remain elusive,and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain(induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant(CFA))on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique,to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception,and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling.Methods This study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA(100μl,50%in saline)in the left hind paw,with control groups receiving saline.Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection.For MEG recording,anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield,undergoing two 15-minute sessions:a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase.Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms,generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range.Results MEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared,before and after saline/CFA injections.Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre-and post-saline/CFA injections.Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states.Remarkably,female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states.Furthermore,despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment,female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection.Conclusion These results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts.Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection,highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state.Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals.In addition,the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

Passive activity enhances residual control ability in patients with complete spinal cord injury

Patients with complete spinal cord injury retain the potential for volitional muscle activity in muscles located below the spinal injury level.However,because of prolonged inactivity,initial attempts to activate these muscles may not effectively engage any of the remaining neurons in the descending pathway.A previous study unexpectedly found that a brief clinical round of passive activity significantly increased volitional muscle activation,as measured by surface electromyography.In this study,we further explored the effect of passive activity on surface electromyographic signals during volitional control tasks among individuals with complete spinal cord injury.Eleven patients with chronic complete thoracic spinal cord injury were recruited.Surface electromyography data from eight major leg muscles were acquired and compared before and after the passive activity protocol.The results indicated that the passive activity led to an increased number of activated volitional muscles and an increased frequency of activation.Although the cumulative root mean square of surface electromyography amplitude for volitional control of movement showed a slight increase after passive activity,the difference was not statistically significant.These findings suggest that brief passive activity may enhance the ability to initiate volitional muscle activity during surface electromyography tasks and underscore the potential of passive activity for improving residual motor control among patients with motor complete spinal cord injury.

Glutamatergic CYLD deletion leads to aberrant excitatory activity in the basolateral amygdala:association with enhanced cued fear expression

Neuronal activity,synaptic transmission,and molecular changes in the basolateral amygdala play critical roles in fear memory.Cylindromatosis(CYLD)is a deubiquitinase that negatively regulates the nuclear factor kappa-B pathway.CYLD is well studied in non-neuronal cells,yet underinvestigated in the brain,where it is highly expressed.Emerging studies have shown involvement of CYLD in the remodeling of glutamatergic synapses,neuroinflammation,fear memory,and anxiety-and autism-like behaviors.However,the precise role of CYLD in glutamatergic neurons is largely unknown.Here,we first proposed involvement of CYLD in cued fear expression.We next constructed transgenic model mice with specific deletion of Cyld from glutamatergic neurons.Our results show that glutamatergic CYLD deficiency exaggerated the expression of cued fear in only male mice.Further,loss of CYLD in glutamatergic neurons resulted in enhanced neuronal activation,impaired excitatory synaptic transmission,and altered levels of glutamate receptors accompanied by over-activation of microglia in the basolateral amygdala of male mice.Altogether,our study suggests a critical role of glutamatergic CYLD in maintaining normal neuronal,synaptic,and microglial activation.This may contribute,at least in part,to cued fear expression.

Structural identification and antioxidative activity evaluation of flaxseed lignan macromolecules: structure-activity correlation

Flaxseed lignan macromolecules(FLM)are a class of important secondary metabolites in fl axseed,which have been widely concerned due to their biological and pharmacological properties,especially for their antioxidative activity.For the composition and structure of FLM,our results confirmed that ferulic acid glycoside(FerAG)was directly ester-linked with herbacetin diglucoside(HDG)or pinoresinol diglucoside(PDG),which might determine the beginning of FLM biosynthesis.Additionally,p-coumaric acid glycoside(CouAG)might determine the end of chain extension during FLM synthesis in fl axseed.FLM exhibited higher antioxidative activity in polar systems,as shown by its superior 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)free radical scavenging capacity compared to the 2,2’-azinobis(3-ehtylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfnic acid)(ABTS)cation free radical scavenging capacity in non-polar systems.Moreover,the antioxidative activity of FLM was found to be highly dependent on its composition and structure.In particular,it was positively correlated with the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups(longer FLM chains)and inversely related to the steric hindrance at the ends(lower levels of FerAG and CouAG).These fi ndings verifi ed the potential application of FLM in nonpolar systems,particularly in functional food emulsions。

Method for rapid warning and activity concentration estimates in online waterγ-spectrometry systems

Onlineγ-spectrometry systems for inland waters,most of which extract samples in situ and in real time,are able to produce reliable activity concentration measurements for waterborne radionuclides only when they are distributed relatively uniformly and enter into a steady-state diffusion regime in the measurement chamber.To protect residents’health and ensure the safety of the living environment,better timeliness is required for this measurement method.To address this issue,this study established a mathematical model of the online waterγ-spectrometry system so that rapid warning and activity estimates can be obtained for water under non-steady-state(NSS)conditions.In addition,the detection efficiency of the detector for radionuclides during the NSS diffusion process was determined by applying the computational fluid dynamics technique in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulations.On this basis,a method was developed that allowed the online waterγ-spectrometry system to provide rapid warning and activity concentration estimates for radionuclides in water.Subsequent analysis of the NSS-mode measurements of^(40)K radioactive solutions with different activity concentrations determined the optimum warning threshold and measurement time for producing accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides.The experimental results show that the proposed NSS measurement method is able to give warning and yield accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides 55.42 and 69.42 min after the entry of a 10 Bq/L^(40)K radioactive solution into the measurement chamber,respectively.These times are much shorter than the 90 min required by the conventional measurement method.Furthermore,the NSS measurement method allows the measurement system to give rapid(within approximately 15 min)warning when the activity concentrations of some radionuclides reach their respective limits stipulated in the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality of the WHO,suggesting that this method considerably enhances the warning capacity of in situ online waterγ-spectrometry systems.

Design,synthesis and bioactivity of cyclic dinucleotides against Lepidoptera insects

Cyclic dinucleotides(CDNs)play important physiological roles in bacteria,mammals and insects as a novel class of signaling molecules.However,the application of CDNs in agricultural pest control has not been reported yet.To explore the potential bioactivity of CDNs on agricultural pests,we synthesized ten kinds of CDNs containing adenine and guanine bases with different internucleotide linkages(30,30;20,30;20,20).The target CDNs were used to determine the antifeedant and insecticidal activity against common Lepidoptera pests including S.frugiperda,M.separata,and H.armigera.The bioassay tests indicated that 30,30-c-di-AMP showed the highest antifeedant activity(EC50?0.59 mg/L)against M.separata larvae among all the tested CDNs.Regarding insecticidal activity,20,30-c-di-AMP showed higher insecticidal activity against M.separata larvae with LC50 of 55.4 mg/L.RNA-seq further revealed that 30,30-c-di-AMP and 20,30-c-di-AMP exhibited a significant effect on the growth and development process of insects.More importantly,the bioactivity of 30,30-c-di-AMP was also closely correlated with the stimulation of insect immune inflammation.These results indicated that cyclic dinucleotides can affect the normal physiological process of insects,providing a new direction for managing pests.

A review of mechanism of action of outdoor exposure in preventing myopia incidence and progression

Various studies have suggested several environmental,pharmacological,medical,and optical interventions and some are in use but their efficacy in myopia control may be transient,and the cellular,molecular,and biochemical mechanisms involved unclear.Daylight exposure is currently regarded as an effective and enduring strategy in the control of myopia development and progression.However,the mechanism behind the effect of outdoor exposure and its association with genetic predisposition and other relatively more significant environmental factors on myopia is still a conundrum.This review focuses on survey-based and intervention-based studies carried out to propose a mechanism that accounts for myopia development and important for its control.

Association between physical activity and risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Lifestyle plays an important role in preventing and managing gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).In response to the conflicting results in previous studies,we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate this association.Methods:Relevant studies published until January 2023 were retrieved from 6 databases,and the prevalence of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux(GER)or GERD was determined from the original studies.A random effects model was employed to meta-analyze the association by computing the pooled relative risk(RR)with 95%confidence intervals(95%CIs).Furthermore,subgroup and dose-response analyses were performed to explore subgroup differences and the association between cumulative physical activity(PA)time and GERD.Results:This meta-analysis included 33 studies comprising 242,850 participants.A significant negative association was observed between PA and the prevalence of symptomatic GER(RR=0.74,95%CI:0.66-0.83;p<0.01)or GERD(RR=0.80,95%CI:0.76-0.84;p<0.01),suggesting that engaging in PA might confer a protective benefit against GERD.Subgroup analyses consistently indicated the presence of this association across nearly all subgroups,particularly among the older individuals(RR_(<40 years):RR_(≥40 years)=0.85:0.69,p<0.01)and smokers(RR_(smoker):RR_(non-smoker)=0.67:0.82,p=0.03).Furthermore,a dose-response analysis revealed that individuals who engaged in 150 min of PA per week had a 72.09%lower risk of developing GERD.Conclusion:Maintaining high levels of PA decreased the risk of GERD,particularly among older adults and smokers.Meeting the recommended PA level of 150 min per week may significantly decrease the prevalence of GERD.

Association of accelerometer-measured sleep duration and different intensities of physical activity with incident type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort study

Purpose:The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of accelerometer-measured sleep duration and different intensities of physical activity(PA)with the risk of incident type 2 diabetes in a population-based prospective cohort study.Methods:Altogether,88,000 participants(mean age=62.2±7.9 years,mean±SD)were included from the UK Biobank.Sleep duration(short:<6 h/day;normal:6-8 h/day;long:>8 h/day)and PA of different intensities were measured using a wrist-won accelerometer over a 7-day period between 2013 and 2015.PA was classified according to the median or World Health Organization-recommendation:total volume of PA(high,low),moderate-to-vigorous PA(MVPA)(recommended,not recommended),and light-intensity PA(high,low).Incidence of type 2diabetes was ascertained using hospital records or death registries.Results:During a median follow-up of 7.0 years,1615 incident type 2 diabetes cases were documented.Compared with normal sleep duration,short(hazard ratio(HR)=1.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.03-1.41)but not long sleep duration(HR=1.01,95%CI:0.89-1.15)was associated with excessive type 2 diabetes risk.This increased risk among short sleepers seems to be protected against by PA.Compared with normal sleepers with high or recommended PA,short sleepers with low volume of PA(HR=1.81,95%CI:1.46-2.25),not recommended(below the World Health Organization-recommended level of)MVPA(HR=1.92,95%CI:1.55-2.36),or low light-intensity PA(HR=1.49,95%CI:1.13-1.90)had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes,while short sleepers with a high volume of PA(HR=1.14,95%CI:0.88-1.49),recommended MVPA(HR=1.02,95%CI:0.71-1.48),or high light-intensity PA(HR=1.14,95%CI:0.92-1.41)did not.Conclusion:Accelerometer-measured short but not long sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes.A higher level of PA,regardless of intensity,potentially ameliorates this excessive risk.

Association of physical activity with risk of chronic kidney disease in China:A population-based cohort study

Background:Information on the association between physical activity(PA)and the risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is limited.We aimed to explore the associations of total,domain-specific,and intensity-specific PA with CKD and its subtypes in China.Methods:The study included 475,376 adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank aged 30-79 years during 2004-2008 at baseline.An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information about PA,which was quantified as metabolic equivalent of task hours per day(MET-h/day)and categorized into 4 groups based on quartiles.Cox regression was used to analyze the association between PA and CKD risk.Results:During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,5415 incident CKD cases were documented,including 1159 incident diabetic kidney disease(DKD)cases and 362 incident hypertensive nephropathy(HTN)cases.Total PA was inversely associated with CKD risk,with an adjusted hazard ratio(HR,95%confidence interval(95%CI))of 0.83(0.75-0.92)for incident CKD in the highest quartile of total PA as compared with participants in the lowest quartile.Similar results were observed for risk of DKD and HTN,and the corresponding HRs(95%CIs)were 0.75(0.58-0.97)for DKD risk and 0.56(0.37-0.85)for HTN risk.Increased nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CKD,with HRs(95%CIs)of 0.80(0.73-0.88),0.85(0.77-0.94),and 0.85(0.76-0.95)in the highest quartile,respectively.Conclusion:PA,including nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA,was inversely associated with the risk of CKD,including DKD,HTN,and other CKD,and such associations were dose dependent.

The association of diet quality and physical activity with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 85,545 older Australians:A longitudinal study

Background:A quality diet and an active lifestyle are both important cornerstones of cardiovascular disease(CVD)prevention.However,despite their interlinked effects on metabolic health,the 2 behaviors are rarely considered jointly,particularly within the context of CVD prevention.We examined the independent,interactive,and joint associations of diet and physical activity with CVD hospitalization,CVD mortality,and all-cause mortality.Methods:CVD-free Australian participants aged 4574 years(n=85,545)reported physical activity,diet,sociodemographic,and lifestyle characteristics at baseline(20062009)and follow-up(20122015),and data were linked to hospitalization and death registries(03/31/2019 for CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality and 12/08/2017 for CVD mortality).Diet quality was categorized as low,medium,and high based on meeting dietary recommendations.Physical activity was operationalized as(a)total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA)as per guidelines,and(b)the composition of MVPA as the ratio of vigorous-intensity physical activity(VPA)to total MVPA.We used a left-truncated cause-specific Cox proportional hazards model using time-varying covariates.Results:During a median of 10.7 years of follow-up,6576 participants were admitted to the hospital for CVD and 6581 died from all causes(876 from CVD during 9.3 years).A high-quality diet was associated with a 17%lower risk of all-cause mortality than a low-quality diet,and the highest MVPA category(compared with the lowest)was associated with a 44%and 48%lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality,respectively.Multiplicative interactions between diet and physical activity were non-significant.For all outcomes,the lowest risk combinations involved a high-quality diet and the highest MVPA categories.Accounting for total MVPA,some VPA was associated with further risk reduction of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.Conclusion:For CVD prevention and longevity,one should adhere to both a healthy diet and an active lifestyle and incorporate some VPA when possible.

Association of daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity with body fat among U.S.adults

Background:Prolonged sitting and reduced physical activity lead to low energy expenditures.However,little is known about the joint impact of daily sitting time and physical activity on body fat distribution.We investigated the independent and joint associations of daily sitting time and physical activity with body fat among adults.Methods:This was a cross-sectional analysis of U.S.nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey2011-2018 among adults aged 20 years or older.Daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity(LTPA)were self-reported using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.Body fat(total and trunk fat percentage)was determined via dual X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Among 10,808 adults,about 54.6%spent 6 h/day or more sitting;more than one-half reported no LTPA(inactive)or less than 150 min/week LTPA(insufficiently active)with only 43.3%reported 150 min/week or more LTPA(active)in the past week.After fully adjusting for sociodemographic data,lifestyle behaviors,and chronic conditions,prolonged sitting time and low levels of LTPA were associated with higher total and trunk fat percentages in both sexes.When stratifying by LTPA,the association between daily sitting time and body fat appeared to be stronger in those who were inactive/insuufficiently active.In the joint analyses,inactive/insuufficiently active adults who reported sitting more than 8 h/day had the highest total(female:3.99%(95%confidence interval(95%CI):3.09%-4.88%);male:3.79%(95%CI:2.75%-4.82%))and trunk body fat percentages(female:4.21%(95%CI:3.09%-5.32%);male:4.07%(95%CI:2.95%-5.19%))when compared with those who were active and sitting less than 4 h/day.Conclusion:Prolonged daily sitting time was associated with increased body fat among U.S.adults.The higher body fat associated with 6 h/day sitting may not be offset by achieving recommended levels of physical activity.

Bridging the gap:Unveiling the crisis of physical inactivity in inflammatory bowel diseases

In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity:The BE-FIT-IBD study”published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroen-terology 2023;29(41):5668-5682.Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale,with detrimental impacts on quality of life.While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease,physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD.Chronic pain,fatigue,and fear of exacerbating symptoms promotes physical inactivity among IBD patients,while the lack of clear guidelines on safe exercise regimens contributes to a norm of physical inactivity.Physical activity(PA)is accepted to have a positive effect on disease outcomes and quality of life,while inactivity exacerbates comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study,focusing on PA levels and barriers in IBD patients of Southern Italy,revealed that a significant proportion(42.9%)were physically inactive.This lack of PA is attributed to barriers such as fear of flare-ups and misconceptions about exercise exacerbating the disease.The study also highlighted the need for better communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits of PA and safe incorporation into lifestyles.Moreover,physical inactivity may also contribute to disability in IBD patients,having a great impact on employment status.Of note is the fact that IBD also comes with an important psychological burden with relevant evidence suggesting that regular PA can improve mood,reduce anxiety,and enhance mental health.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study advocated for the integration of PA into IBD management,emphasizing the bidirectional link between PA and IBD.Regular exercise can influence the course of IBD,potentially reducing symptom severity and prolonging remission periods.As such,it is mandatory that healthcare providers actively educate patients,dispel misconceptions,and tailor exercise recommendations to improve the quality of life and reduce IBD-related complications.

Interaction between inflammatory bowel disease,physical activity,and myokines:Assessment of serum irisin levels

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,showed a wide spectrum of intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations,which rendered the patients physically inactive and impaired their quality of life.It has been found that physical activity is a non-pharmacological intervention that improves the quality of life for those patients.Irisin is one member of the myokines secreted by muscle contraction during exercise and could be used as an antiinflammatory biomarker in assessing the physical activity of IBD patients.In addition,experimental studies showed that exogenous irisin significantly decreased the inflammatory markers and the histological changes of the intestinal mucosa observed in experimental colitis.Furthermore,irisin produces changes in the diversity of the microbiota.Therefore,endogenous or exogenous irisin,via its anti-inflammatory effects,will improve the health of IBD patients and will limit the barriers to physical activity in patients with IBD.

Structure and immunomodulatory activity of Lentinus edodes polysaccharides modified by probiotic fermentation

Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were extracted from fermented and non-fermented L.edodes and purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100.The components designated F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a were analyzed by FT-IR,HPGPC,HPAEC,SEM,GC-MS and NMR.The results revealed that probiotic fermentation increased the molecular weight from 1.16×10^(4) Da to 1.87×10^(4) Da and altered the proportions of glucose,galactose and mannose,in which glucose increased from 45.94%to 48.16%.Methylation analysis and NMR spectra indicated that F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a had similar linkage patterns.Furthermore,their immunomodulatory activities were evaluated with immunosuppressive mice.NF-LEP and F-LEP improved immune organ indices,immunoglobulin(Ig G and Ig M)and cytokines concentrations;restored the antioxidation capacity of liver;and maintained the balance of gut microbiota.F-LEP displayed better moderating effects on the spleen index,immunoglobulin,cytokines and the diversity of gut microbiota than NF-LEP(200,400 mg/kg).Our study provides an efficient and environment-friendly way for the structural modification of polysaccharides,which helps to enhance their biological activity and promote their wide application in food,medicine and other fields.