Effects of exergaming on cardiovascular risk factors and adipokine levels in women

Development and validation of a knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire regarding exercise and exergames for obese patients with gout

The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) Questionnaire could help investigate whether there are misconceptions, positive attitudes, and adequate practice in people with gout about exercise and exergames. The study aims to develop and validate the KAP questionnaire regarding exercise and exergames for obese patients with gout to understand gout 'patients' awareness level of exercise and perception of exergames. The development and validation of the questionnaire involved two phases: (1) development of the instrument and (2) judgment of the instrument through calculating the content validity by the expert panel and using SPSS version 28 to examine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and structural validity of the instrument. After the first phase of instrument development, an initial questionnaire consisting of six parts with 35 items was identified. After the content validation of the second phase, 11 items with a content validity ratio (CVR) value below 0.99 were eliminated, 3 items were rephrased, 2 items that mixed two statements were divided, and 15 items were added based on the original instrument. In addition, in the factor analysis, five items within the knowledge domain with factor loadings below 0.4 were removed. The final questionnaire was examined and demonstrated acceptable content validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity.

The role of technology-based dance intervention for enhancing wellness: A systematic scoping review and meta-synthesis

BACKGROUND

Dance represents a promising alternative to traditional physical activity (PA), appealing due to its ease of implementation and its associated health benefits. By incorporating technology-based dance interventions into the development of PA programs, there is potential to significantly increase PA participation and improve fitness levels across diverse population groups. This systematic scoping review and meta-synthesis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of technology-based dance interventions as a means of advancing public health objectives.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using various databases ( PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus) to identify pertinent publications. We specifically focused on studies evaluated the impact of technology-based dance interventions on health-related outcomes and PA levels. Methodological quality assessment was carried out using the Cochrane RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. Data analysis and theme identification were facilitated using NVivo 14. Additionally, this study was registered on the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/rynce/registrations.

RESULTS

A total of 3135 items identified through the literature search. Following screening, twelve items met the study's inclusion criteria, with an additional three articles located through manual searching. These 15 studies examined on three types of technology-based dance intervention: mobile health (mHealth) combination, online /telerehabilitation classes, and exergaming dance programs. The analysis included 344 participants, with mean ages ranging from 15.3 ± 1.2-73.6 ± 2.2 years. There were five population groups across the studies: middle-aged and older adults, individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), individuals with stroke, overweight adults, and overweight adolescents. The meta-synthesis revealed three primary themes: Acceptability, Intervention effects, and Technology combinations.

CONCLUSION

The advantages highlighted in this scoping review and meta-synthesis of technology-based dance interventions indicating that this type of PA could provide an effective solution to the growing issue of physical inactivity. It also presents a promising strategy for systematically improving fitness and health across populations, particularly among older individuals.

Exergaming Improves Cardiac Risk Factors in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may induce unfavorable changes in metabolic outcomes, insulin sensitivity, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and in serum levels of adipocyte-derived hormones. In this preplanned randomized ancillary study, we aimed to investigate the ability of exercise to counteract alterations in triglyceride, cholesterol, waist circumference, and insulin caused by ADT in men with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and Methods: Forty-six PCa patients undergoing treatment were randomized to 12 weeks of 180 minutes of weekly unsupervised home-based exergaming or usual care. Blood glucose, lipids, cholesterol, adiponectin, leptin, insulin sensitivity, and the insulin growth factor axis were measured at baseline, and after 12 and 24 weeks. Biomarkers were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model of the difference between the groups from baseline to week 24. In addition, blood pressure, body mass index, body weight, and waist circumference were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks/end of intervention and analyzed using adjusted linear regression analysis. Results: After 24 weeks, a significant difference was seen between the intervention and usual care groups in plasma triglyceride (diff: 0.5 mmol/L, P = 0.02) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL; diff: 0.2 mmol/L, P = 0.01) favoring the intervention group, whereas IGF-binding protein-3 (diff: 148 μg/L, P = 0.01) favored the usual care group. The remaining outcomes were unaffected. Conclusion: Improvement in HDL cholesterol could be used as a primary biomarker in future randomized controlled trials investigating the cardiovascular protecting properties of exergaming.

Exergaming to improve physical, psychological and cognitive health among home office workers: A COVID-19 pandemic commentary

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased sedentary behaviour and poorer health among office workers. Exergaming is a technology-driven mode of exercise that can improve health while physically distancing.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this commentary was to explain the benefits of exergaming on physical function, psychological health, and cognition among office workers.

RESULTS

Exergaming improves these health outcomes, reduces pain, and decreases the risk for chronic disease. It is easily accessible on smart devices and can be performed both indoors and outdoors.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-one minutes of exergaming per day can improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of pain and disease. Employers and policy-makers should consider promoting exergaming among office workers.

Reality and Virtual: Hemodynamic Variables and Rating of Perceived Exertion Between Dance Sessions and Active Videogame Just Dance in Women

Objective: To analyze the hemodynamic variables and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) between an active videogame (AVG) session and a dance session. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 30 university women between 18 and 30 years of age, physically active and having some kind of experience with dancing. The volunteers participated in the two sessions held on different days, the first with an active dance videogame and the other with a dance instructor, both lasting 50 minutes, with a sequence of songs and moderate intensity. For the evaluation of the two sessions, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and RPE measurements were taken before and every 10 minutes, until the time for each modality (AVG or dance) was completed. The Shapiro-Wilk and Levene test were used for normal data. For the comparison of two sessions, the two-way ANOVA test was used for repeated measures, and were considered to have a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: There were significant differences in HR [F(6, 96) = 2.606, P = 0.02, η² P = 0.140], from 10 to 50 minutes (P < 0.01), and diastolic BP [F(6, 84) = 1.858, P = 0.10, η² P = 0.117], as well as, in the 20th minute (P = 0.02) between Just Dance 2016^® and a dance session. All the variables analyzed showed an effect size as large in the classification of the degree of magnitude. Conclusion: There are similarities between the virtual and real dance sessions regarding hemodynamic variables and RPE. Thus, AVGs, especially Just Dance^®, may be a favorable option for individuals who wish to exercise at home.

Moderate-Intensity Exercise and Musical Co-Treatment Decreased the Circulating Level of Betatrophin

Introduction. In general, the significant contribution of lack of physical activity is strongly correlated with lipid metabolism and metabolic disorder. Hitherto, betatrophin is a potential hormone that regulates the lipid profile in the body circulation-associated triglyceride level. This study was designed to evaluate the alteration of betatrophin levels in subject-onset hypertriglyceridemia with exercise intervention co-treated with music. Materials and Methods. A total of 60 nonprofessional athletes were enrolled in this study and given moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) combined with middle rhythm musical co-treatment. The ELISA method was applied to quantify the serum level of betatrophin in all samples. The statistical analysis was performed by applying the Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, one-way ANOVA, and parametric linear correlation and regression. Results. Interestingly, our data show that MIE decreased the circulating level of betatrophin combined with music (12.47 ± 0.40 ng/mL) compared with that without musical co-treatment (20.81 ± 1.16 ng/mL) and high-intensity exercise (26.91 ± 2.23 ng/mL). The plasma level of betatrophin was positively correlated with triglycerides (r = 0.316, p≤0.05), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.428, p≤0.01), HDL (r = 0.366, p≤0.05), energy expenditure (r = 0.586, p≤0.001), PGC-1α (r = 0.573, p≤0.001), and irisin (r = 0.863, p≤0.001). By contrast, the plasma level of betatrophin was negatively associated with age (r = −0.298, p≤0.05) and LDL cholesterol (r = −0.372, p≤0.05). Importantly, betatrophin is a significant predictor for energy expenditure (p≤0.001) and plasma triglyceride levels (p≤0.05). Conclusions. Our data demonstrate that betatrophin levels decreased the post-MIE and musical therapeutical combination. Therefore, betatrophin may provide a benefit as the potential biomarker of physiological performance-associated physical training.

Influence of an Exergaming Training Program on Reducing the Expression of IL-10 and TGF-β in Cancer Patients

Objective: To evaluate the effect of exergaming in the plasma levels of adipokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]), Th1 (IL-2, IL-12, and interferon gamma [IFN-γ]), Th2 (IL-4 and IL-33), Th17 (IL-17 and IL-23), and regulatory T (Treg) (IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta [TGF-β]) in cancer patients undergoing treatment. Materials and Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental control clinical trial using exergaming in all groups through the Xbox 360 Kinect™. The game used in this study was called Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012. The volunteer participants played the game two to three times per week, for a total of 20 sessions. Forty-five volunteer participants were divided into 3 groups: cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy group CRG; n = 15); cancer patients who finished chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment (cancer accompaniment group CAG; n = 15); and the control group (volunteers without a cancer diagnosis CG; n = 15). In the pre- and post-training period, all volunteers submitted to blood collection procedures using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This test was used to obtain the levels of adipokines expression (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and the cytokine profiles Th1 (IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4 and IL-33), Th17 (IL-17 and IL-23), and Treg (IL-10 and TGF-β). Results: After exergaming, the CRG showed significant reductions in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6: P < 0.05; IL-10: P = 0.038; TGF-β: P = 0.049) and for CAG (IL-10: P = 0.034), as well as a reduction in the expression of cytokines related to the action of T lymphocytes. Conclusion: Exergaming promoted changes in the expression of cytokine profiles IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β, which correlated with the action profiles of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes.

Dance Training Improves Cytokine Secretion and Viability of Neutrophils in Diabetic Patients

Background

Evidence suggests that exercise improves neutrophil function. The decreased functional longevity of neutrophils and their increased clearance from infectious sites contribute to the increased susceptibility to infection and severity of infection observed in patients with diabetes.

Objective

Herein, we investigated the effects of a dance program on neutrophil number, function, and death in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy volunteers.

Methods

Ten patients with T2DM and twelve healthy individuals participated in a moderate-intensity dance training program for 4 months. The plasma levels of leptin, free fatty acids (FFAs), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra); neutrophil counts; extent of DNA fragmentation; cell membrane integrity; and production of TNF-α, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in neutrophils were measured before and after training.

Results

Training reduced plasma levels of TNF-α (1.9-fold in controls and 2.2-fold in patients with T2DM) and CRP (1.4-fold in controls and 3.4-fold in patients with T2DM). IL-1ra levels were higher in the control group (2.2-fold) after training. After training, neutrophil DNA fragmentation was decreased in patients with T2DM (90%), while the number of neutrophils increased (70% in controls and 1.1-fold in patients with T2DM).

Conclusion

Dance training is a nonpharmacological strategy to reduce inflammation and improve neutrophil clearance in patients with T2DM.

Exergaming Improves Executive Functions in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Recent studies indicate that participation in exercise-related games can improve executive function, attention processing, and visuospatial skills.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exercise via exergaming (EXG) can improve executive function in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

A total of 22 MetS patients were recruited and randomly assigned to an EXG group or a treadmill exercise (TE) group. The reaction time (RT) and electrophysiological signals from the frontal (Fz), central (Cz), and parietal (Pz) cortices were collected during a Stroop task after 12 weeks of exercise.

RESULTS

During the Stroop congruence (facilitation) judgment task, both the EXG and TE groups showed significantly faster RT after 12 weeks of exercise training. For N200 amplitude, the EXG group demonstrated significantly increased electrophysiological signals from the Fz and Cz cortices. These changes were significantly larger in the EXG group than in the TE group. Separately, for the P300 amplitude, the EXG groups presented significantly increased electrophysiological signals from the Fz, Cz, and Pz cortices, whereas the TE group showed significantly increased electrophysiological signals from the Cz and Pz cortices only. During the Stroop incongruence (interference) judgment task, both the EXG and TE groups showed significantly faster RT. For P300 amplitude, the EXG group had significantly increased electrophysiological signals from the Fz and Cz cortices only, whereas the TE group had significantly increased electrophysiological signals from the Fz, Cz, and Pz cortices.

CONCLUSIONS

EXG improves executive function in patients with MetS as much as normal aerobic exercise does. In particular, a unique benefit of EXG beyond increased aerobic capacity is the improved selective attention among cognitive functions. Thus, EXG could be recommended to someone who needs to improve their brain responses of concentration and judgment as well as physical fitness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04015583; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04015583.

Exercise Videogames, Physical Activity, and Health: Wii Heart Fitness: A Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Adults who engage in regular physical activity have lower rates of morbidity and mortality than those who do not. Exercise videogames may offer an attractive, sustainable alternative or supplement to traditional modes of exercise. This study compared exercise videogames with standard exercise modalities for improving uptake and maintenance of moderate to vigorous physical activity, and health risk indices.

STUDY DESIGN

A three-arm clinical RCT including 12 weeks of supervised laboratory-based moderate to vigorous physical activity followed by 6 months follow-up.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted at a university affiliated hospital research lab. Healthy, sedentary adults were eligible.

INTERVENTIONS

This study compared a 12-week program of supervised exercise videogames versus standard exercise (e.g., treadmill) versus control. Data were collected from January 2012 to September 2017 and analyzed in 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity at end of treatment, assessed at 3 and 6 months post-intervention by using self-report and accelerometer data. Health risk indices (e.g., HbA1c, lipids) were also assessed.

RESULTS

Participants (N=283) had an average age of 46.2 ±13.5 years; 79% were female. At end of treatment, those in the exercise videogame arm engaged in 30 minutes/week more moderate to vigorous physical activity compared with standard exercise and 85 more minutes/week than controls (all p<0.05). Exercise videogame participants had greater reductions in cholesterol, HbA1c, and body fat versus other groups. Reductions in cholesterol were twice as large in exercise videogame versus standard participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise videogames produced greater uptake and maintenance of moderate to vigorous physical activity compared with standard exercise and improvements in multiple health risk indices. Exercise videogames may promote sustainable physical activity with significant health benefits.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03298919.

Neutrophil Migration and Adhesion Molecule Expression after Acute High-Intensity Street Dance Exercise

The physical demands of street dancing may result in inflammation and changes in leukocyte numbers/function, impairing the health of dancers. Herein, we investigated the effect of street dancing on inflammation, adhesion molecules, and neutrophil function. Fifteen amateur dancers (mean ± SE: age 22.4 ± 1.08 years, BMI 24.8 ± 0.69 kg/m², and body fat 12.3 ± 1.52%) participated in a single high-intensity street dance class. Blood samples were taken before and after the class. The dance class had no effect on the plasma concentration of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-8; however, we noted an increase in levels of IL-1β (4.06%) and sL-selectin (17.67%). The dance class resulted in a 12.36% increase in neutrophil counts, while neutrophil CD62L expression and migration were reduced (25.27% and 78.92%, resp.). After the dance class, neutrophil production of IL-8 and TNF-α increased, respectively, by 59.75% and 49.23%, in the control condition, and 43.55% and 32.22%, after LPS stimulation. A single bout of street dancing induced inflammation and reduced neutrophil migration and adhesion molecule expression. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the susceptibility to infection after acute dance exercise.

Association between Resistin Gene Polymorphisms and Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, and inflammatory skin disorder. It is characterized by an inappropriate skin barrier function, allergen sensitization, and recurrent skin infections. Resistin is an adipokine expressed mainly in macrophages and monocytes; it has a role in the inflammatory process and is associated with multiple inflammatory human diseases; however, only few studies linked resistin to atopic dermatitis. This study tested the association between G>A (rs3745367) and C>T (rs3219177) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the RETN gene with atopic dermatitis. In addition, it explored the relationship between serum resistin protein and atopic dermatitis. To achieve objectives of this study, 162 atopic dermatitis patients and 161 healthy participants were recruited in the study. A significant association was detected between rs3745367 and atopic dermatitis with age and gender specificity (p < 0.05), while no significant association between rs3219177 and atopic dermatitis was found (p > 0.05). For the serum resistin levels, a significant decrease was indicated in atopic dermatitis patients compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). In conclusion, rs3745367 may play a gender and age-specific role in atopic dermatitis. In addition, the significant decrease in the resistin protein level confirmed this association.