Marcello Di Paolo

Relationship between daily physical activity and aerobic fitness in adults with cystic fibrosis.

BackgroundThe best clinical practice to investigate aerobic fitness includes measurements obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), however it remains an underutilised clinical measure in cystic fibrosis (CF). To investigate this further, different methods of quantifying exercise capacity in CF are required. The possibility that measuring physical activity (PA) by a portable accelerometer could be used to assess the CF aerobic state and could be added among the CPET surrogates has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PA and exercise fitness both at submaximal and maximal levels in clinically stable adults with CF.MethodsThirty CF patients (FEV1 71 ± 19% predicted) and fifteen healthy controls undertook an incremental CPET on a cycle ergometer. CPET-related measurements included: oxygen uptake (V’O2), carbon dioxide production (V’CO2), ventilatory profile, heart rate (HR) and oxygen pulse (V’O2/HR) throughout exercise and at lactic threshold (LT) and peak. LT measures represent submaximal exercise related data. PA was assessed using the accelerometer SenseWear Pro3 Armband.ResultsModerate (>4.8 metabolic equivalents (METS)) and moderate + vigorous (>7.2 METS) PA was related to V’O2 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.009, respectively) and work rate (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively) at LT. Moderate PA or greater was positively related to peak V’O2 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively). Daily PA levels were similar in CF and healthy controls. Except for peak values, V’O2 profile and the V’O2 at LT were comparable between CF and healthy controls.ConclusionsIn adult CF patients daily PA positively correlated with aerobic capacity. PA measurements are a valuable tool in the assessment of exercise performance in an adult CF population and could be used for interventional exercise trials to optimize exercise performance and health status. PA levels and parameters obtained at submaximal exercise are similar in CF and in healthy controls.

Correlation between intrarenal arterial stiffness and exercise tolerance in systemic sclerosis patients without renal and cardiopulmonary impairment: The role of the microvascular damage

Correlation between intrarenal arterial stiffness and exercise tolerance in systemic sclerosis patients without renal and cardiopulmonary impairment: The role of the microvascular damage Antonietta Gigante ⁎, Antonella Romaniello , Damiano Magri , Matteo Bonini , Biagio Barbano , Liborio Sardo , Silvia Quarta , Maria Anna Digiulio , Marcello Di Paolo , Rosario Cianci , Paolo Palange , Antonio Amoroso , Edoardo Rosato a

Relationship between pulmonary exacerbations and daily physical activity in adults with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pulmonary exacerbations and physical activity (PA) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).MethodsWe grouped adults with CF according to their exacerbation status in the year before study enrolment: (1) <1 exacerbation/year; (2) 1–2 exacerbations/year; and (3) >2 exacerbations/year. PA was assessed objectively by means of an accelerometer at the time of study enrolment.ResultsPatients with >2 exacerbations/year spent less time in PA; specifically, fewer activities of mild intensity [>3 metabolic equivalents (METs)], and lower active energy expenditure (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). After correcting for relevant confounders, PA levels were not related to the exacerbation frequency in the preceding year. PA at moderate intensity (4.8–7.2 METs) or greater (>7.2 METs) was independently associated with gender and FEV1 % predicted (P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). Compared with men, women had reduced vigorous activities (P = 0.01) and active energy expenditure (P = 0.01).ConclusionsAdult CF patients with more pulmonary exacerbations in the preceding year have more advanced disease and are less active than their peers. PA was independently associated with gender and airflow obstruction. Gender differences in PA are evident in CF adults.

BMI, nephroangiosclerosis and glomerulonephritis: is there any meeting point?

Overweight has been related to renal arteriolosclerosis and is able to modify intrarenal haemodynamics. Increasing evidence suggests an association between weight in excess and primary glomerulonephritis (GN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and intrarenal arterial stiffness in primary GN associated to arteriolosclerosis. We have considered the glomerular diameter (GD) as morphological parameter in overweight and obese patients.