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Objectives: To investigate whether recreational alpine skiing in the elderly can improve cardio-pulmonary fitness. Design: Randomized controlled study with pre–post repeated measurements. Methods: A total of 48 elderly participants (60–76 years) were randomly assigned to either participate in a 12-week guided recreational skiing program (intervention group, IG, average of 28.5 ± 2.6 skiing days) or to continue a sedentary ski-free lifestyle (control group, CG). Cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and pulmonary function testing were performed in both groups before (PRE) and after (POST) the intervention/control period to compare parameters PRE vs. POST CPET. Results: At baseline, IG and CG did not differ significantly with respect to CPET and pulmonary function parameters. At POST, several measures of maximal exercise capacity and breathing economy were significantly improved in IG as compared to CG: maximal oxygen capacity (IG: 33.8 ± 7.9, CG: 28.7 ± 5.9 mL/min/kg, p = 0.030), maximal carbon dioxide production (IG: 36.2 ± 7.7, CG: 31.8 ± 6.5 mL/min/kg, p = 0.05), maximal oxygen pulse (IG: 16.8 ± 4.2, CG: 13.2 ± 4 mL/heart beat, p = 0.010), maximal minute ventilation (IG: 96.8 ± 17.8, CG: 81.3 ± 21.9 l/min, p = 0.025), and maximal metabolic equivalent of task (METs, IG: 9.65 ± 2.26, CG: 8.19 ± 1.68 METs, p = 0.029). Except for oxygen pulse, these significant changes could also be observed at the anaerobic threshold. Maximal heart rate and pulmonary function parameters remained essentially unchanged. Conclusion: Regular recreational skiing improves cardio-pulmonary fitness along with breathing economy and thus can contribute to a heart-healthy lifestyle for the elderly.

Background: Finger pulse oximeters are widely used to monitor physiological responses to high-altitude exposure, the progress of acclimatization, and/or the potential development of high-altitude related diseases. Although there is increasing evidence for its invaluable support at high altitude, some controversy remains, largely due to differences in individual preconditions, evaluation purposes, measurement methods, the use of different devices, and the lacking ability to interpret data correctly. Therefore, this review is aimed at providing information on the functioning of pulse oximeters, appropriate measurement methods and published time courses of pulse oximetry data (peripheral oxygen saturation, (SpO2) and heart rate (HR), recorded at rest and submaximal exercise during exposure to various altitudes. Results: The presented findings from the literature review confirm rather large variations of pulse oximetry measures (SpO2 and HR) during acute exposure and acclimatization to high altitude, related to the varying conditions between studies mentioned above. It turned out that particularly SpO2 levels decrease with acute altitude/hypoxia exposure and partly recover during acclimatization, with an opposite trend of HR. Moreover, the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS) was consistently associated with lower SpO2 values compared to individuals free from AMS. Conclusions: The use of finger pulse oximetry at high altitude is considered as a valuable tool in the evaluation of individual acclimatization to high altitude but also to monitor AMS progression and treatment efficacy.

There is a rich repertoire of methods for stress detection using various physiological signals and algorithms. However, there is still a gap in research efforts moving from laboratory studies to real-world settings. A small number of research has verified when a physiological response is a reaction to an extrinsic stimulus of the participant&rsquo, s environment in real-world settings. Typically, physiological signals are correlated with the spatial characteristics of the physical environment, supported by video records or interviews. The present research aims to bridge the gap between laboratory settings and real-world field studies by introducing a new algorithm that leverages the capabilities of wearable physiological sensors to detect moments of stress (MOS). We propose a rule-based algorithm based on galvanic skin response and skin temperature, combing empirical findings with expert knowledge to ensure transferability between laboratory settings and real-world field studies. To verify our algorithm, we carried out a laboratory experiment to create a &ldquo, gold standard&rdquo, of physiological responses to stressors. We validated the algorithm in real-world field studies using a mixed-method approach by spatially correlating the participant&rsquo, s perceived stress, geo-located questionnaires, and the corresponding real-world situation from the video. Results show that the algorithm detects MOS with 84% accuracy, showing high correlations between measured (by wearable sensors), reported (by questionnaires and eDiary entries), and recorded (by video) stress events. The urban stressors that were identified in the real-world studies originate from traffic congestion, dangerous driving situations, and crowded areas such as tourist attractions. The presented research can enhance stress detection in real life and may thus foster a better understanding of circumstances that bring about physiological stress in humans.

Several studies have shown site-specific differences in colorectal cancer (CRC) with respect to the risk factors. CRC was shown to be associated with cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors, but site-specific variations have not been investigated so far. This study aimed to assess the associations between the prevalence and subsite-specific differences of colorectal neoplasia and established CVR scores or known coronary artery disease (CAD) in a large asymptomatic European screening cohort (N = 2098). Participants underwent simultaneous screening colonoscopy and CVR evaluation, using the Framingham Risk Score and Heart Score. Lesions found in the colonoscopy were classified by location (proximal/distal colon or rectum). More neoplasias were found in the proximal versus the distal colon (p &lt, 0.001). The Framingham Risk Score and Heart Score showed incremental risk for colorectal adenoma, across the tertiles in the proximal and the distal colon (p &lt, 0.001). The prevalence of adenomas in the rectum was much lower, but also here, incremental risk could be shown for the Framingham Risk but not the Heart Risk Score tertiles. Prevalence of adenomas in the proximal colon was higher in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (p = 0.006), but no association was found between adenomas and T2DM in the distal colon (p = 0.618) and the rectum (p = 0.071). Males had a higher CVR and more findings, in the screening colonoscopy, as compared to females, however, no site-specific differences were noted. Patients with known CAD and high CVR have an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in both the proximal and distal colon. Patients with T2DM have a higher risk for neoplasia in the proximal colon.