Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Clin Nutr 2022 Aug 4. Epub 2022 Aug 4.

GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

Objective: The aim of the current study is to analyze the associations between breakfast consumption and adherence to diet quality index (DQI) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) in European adolescents.

Methods: A multinational cross-sectional study was carried out in 1804 adolescents aged 12.5-17. Read More

Trials 2022 Jul 29;23(1):610. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Background: Many patients with metastatic breast cancer experience cancer- and treatment-related side effects that impair activities of daily living and negatively affect the quality of life. There is a need for interventions that improve quality of life by alleviating fatigue and other side effects during palliative cancer treatment. Beneficial effects of exercise have been observed in the curative setting, but, to date, comparable evidence in patients with metastatic breast cancer is lacking. Read More

BMC Med 2022 06 14;20(1):225. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Background: The epidemiological international landscape of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has evolved over the last decades along with given inherent differences in acute care and rehabilitation across countries and jurisdictions. However, to what extent these differences may influence neurological and functional recovery as well as the integrity of international trials is unclear. The latter also relates to historical clinical data that are exploited to inform clinical trial design and as potential comparative data. Read More

Pediatr Diabetes 2022 Jun 14. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Health Informatics Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Objective: To examine the association of physical activity (PA), measured by accelerometry, to hemoglobin AIC (HbA1c) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) outcomes in children who were multiple persistent confirmed autoantibody positive for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) multinational study followed children from birth. Children ≥3 years of age who were multiple persistent confirmed autoantibody positive were monitored by OGTTs every 6 months. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 05 28;19(11). Epub 2022 May 28.

GENUD Toledo Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45004 Toledo, Spain.

Workers spend a large amount of time working, limiting the possibility of meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines. A better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides benefits for the employee and company. The aim of this study was to analyse the associations of four behavioural categories between compliance with PA guidelines (aerobic and strength training) and sedentary time with workers' HRQoL. Read More

Eval Rev 2022 Jun 2:193841X221103338. Epub 2022 Jun 2.

16733University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.

The globalization of commercial exchanges and capital movements reveal new ways of obtaining value in economic activities, and the differences in the tax burden of companies, depending on where they reside, have become threats for countries to exercise the right to tax business profits generated in its jurisdiction. This problem, together with tax competition between countries, causes a transfer of tax bases towards countries with lower tax rates and tax havens. The lack of agreement in the international community on how to find a solution to the problems has caused several countries to choose to establish special taxes for certain activities of multinational companies in their jurisdictions, resulting in inefficient taxes. Read More

Open Heart 2022 05;9(1)

Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK

Introduction: Survival gaps in acute heart failure (AHF) continue to expand globally. Multinational heart failure (HF) registries have highlighted variations between countries. Whether discrepancies in HF practice and outcomes occur across different health systems (ie, private, public or universal healthcare) within a city or between countries remain unclear. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2022 Jul 6;24(7):1239-1248. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

University of Bergen, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.

Aims: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) may complicate heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is associated with a substantial symptom burden and poor prognosis. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, might have beneficial effects on pulmonary haemodynamics, cardiac function and exercise capacity in HFrEF and PHT. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of sildenafil in patients with HFrEF and indirect evidence of PHT. Read More

Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Motivation of Health Behaviours Lab, Appleton Institute, School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Physical distancing remains an important initiative to curb COVID-19 and virus transmission more broadly. This exploratory study investigated how physical distancing behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it was associated with identity with virus transmission avoidance and physical distancing habit strength. In a longitudinal, multinational study with fortnightly repeated-assessments, associations and moderation effects were considered for both overall (person-level means) and occasion-specific deviations in habit and identity. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2022 05 9;24(5):e32006. Epub 2022 May 9.

See Acknowledgments, .

Background: Digital health interventions could help to prevent age-related diseases, but little is known about how older adults engage with such interventions, especially in the long term, or whether engagement is associated with changes in clinical, behavioral, or biological outcomes in this population. Disparities in engagement levels with digital health interventions may exist among older people and be associated with health inequalities.

Objective: This study aimed to describe older adults' engagement with an eHealth intervention, identify factors associated with engagement, and examine associations between engagement and changes in cardiovascular and dementia risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, physical activity, diet, and cardiovascular and dementia risk scores). Read More

Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022 07 10;54(7):1123-1130. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Early Start, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

Purpose: There is a paucity of global data on sedentary behavior during early childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine how device-measured sedentary behavior in young children differed across geographically, economically, and sociodemographically diverse populations, in an international sample.

Methods: This multinational, cross-sectional study included data from 1071 children 3-5 yr old from 19 countries, collected between 2018 and 2020 (pre-COVID). Read More

Sci Rep 2022 02 7;12(1):1973. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS, Canada.

Experimental research has shown that beaked whales exhibit strong avoidance reactions to naval active sonars used during antisubmarine warfare training exercises, including cessation of echolocation and foraging activity. Behavioural responses to sonar have also been linked to strandings and mortality. Much of the research on the responses of beaked whales and other cetaceans to naval active sonar has occurred on or near U. Read More

J Multidiscip Healthc 2022 29;15:219-234. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the world's leading public health challenges. One-third of AD cases are attributable to modifiable vascular and lifestyle-related risk factors. The Multimodal Preventive Trial for Alzheimer's Disease, MIND-AD a 6-month multinational parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT), targeted persons with prodromal AD and built on the positive outcomes from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) trial. Read More

J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2022 ;9(1):30-39

Professor Miia Kivipelto, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Dept NVS, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research QA32, Karolinska vägen 37 A, SE-171 64 Solna, Sweden; Mobile: +46 (0)73 99 409 22, email:

Background: Interventions simultaneously targeting multiple risk factors and mechanisms are most likely to be effective in preventing cognitive impairment. This was indicated in the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) testing a multidomain lifestyle intervention among at-risk individuals. The importance of medical food at the early symptomatic disease stage, prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD), was emphasized in the LipiDiDiet trial. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2022 Jan 19;22(1):41. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, School of Basic & Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, Shepherd's House, Rm 4.4, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK.

Background: Respiratory medicine (RM) and palliative care (PC) physicians' management of chronic breathlessness in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and lung cancer (LC), and the influence of practice guidelines was explored via an online survey.

Methods: A voluntary, online survey was distributed to RM and PC physicians via society newsletter mailing lists.

Results: 450 evaluable questionnaires (348 (77%) RM and 102 (23%) PC) were analysed. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2021 12 15;21(1):697. Epub 2021 Dec 15.

Division of Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 14, 89075, Ulm, Germany.

Background: Inactive physical behavior among the elderly is one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, immobility and increased all-cause mortality. We aimed to answer the question whether or not circulating and skeletal muscle biomarkers are differentially expressed depending on fitness status in a group of elderly individuals.

Methods: Twenty-eight elderly individuals (73. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 11 16;18(22). Epub 2021 Nov 16.

Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated governmental restrictions suddenly changed everyday life and potentially affected exercise behavior. The aim of this study was to explore whether individuals changed their preference for certain types of physical exercise during the pandemic and to identify risk factors for inactivity. An international online survey with 13,881 adult participants from 18 countries/regions was conducted during the initial COVID-19 related lockdown (between April and May 2020). Read More

Am J Hematol 2021 12 20;96(12):1630-1638. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been used in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), in conjunction with tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), to assess risk of having pulmonary hypertension. Exercise-induced vital sign changes (VSCs) are predictors of clinical outcomes in other diseases. In this study, we assess the predictors and prognostic value of 6MWT VSC in adult SCD patients. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2022 01 28;74(1):99-106. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Bristol Royal Infirmary and University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.

Objective: To explore patient perceptions of physical activity in giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: This was a multinational qualitative study, analyzing interview data collected from participants from the UK (n = 25) and Australia (n = 11) with a definitive diagnosis of GCA from imaging or biopsy. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to physical activity. Read More

BMJ Open 2021 08 9;11(8):e051381. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabiliation Technologies, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

Objectives: This study aimed to achieve an expert consensus on how to define and group footwear interventions for children, with a further focus on the design characteristics and prescription of off-the-shelf stability footwear for children with mobility impairment.

Setting: A group of multinational professionals, from clinicians to those involved in the footwear industry, were recruited to ensure a spectrum of opinions.

Participants: Thirty panellists were contacted, of which 24 consented to participate and six withdrew before round 1, a further two withdrew after round 1. Read More

Acta Clin Belg 2022 Jun 12;77(3):671-678. Epub 2021 Jul 12.

Respiratory Division, University Hospital UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and high symptom burden that interferes with physical activity and results in a vicious cycle of inactivity and symptom worsening. The aim of this multicenter, observational study was to determine the prevalence and severity of morning, daytime and night-time symptoms as well as patterns of physical activity levels (PALs) and their interrelation in Belgian COPD patients, enrolled in the multinational SPACE study (NCT03031769).

Methods: Socio-demographic, socio-economic and disease characteristics data were collected from patients' medical records as part of a routine visit to their primary care practice or pulmonologist. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2021 15;8:642739. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.

The objective of the study was to assess the physical activity (PA) and exercise patterns among participants in a large multinational spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) registry. Patients and Methods: Participants with SCAD enrolled from March 2011 to November 2019 completed surveys including details regarding PA and exercise habits prior to SCAD, and PA counseling received from their provider after SCAD. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected by electronic record review. Read More

Obesity (Silver Spring) 2021 06;29(6):966-970

Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Objective: Weight stigma is prevalent across the world. However, little is known about whether and how the harmful health consequences of weight stigma may vary across countries. The current study examined the association between experiences of weight stigma and multiple eating and exercise-related indicators among a large, multinational sample of adults. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 26;8:578959. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States.

Most countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have repeatedly restricted public life to control the contagion. However, the health impact of confinement measures is hitherto unclear. We performed a multinational survey investigating changes in mental and physical well-being (MWB/PWB) during the first wave of the pandemic. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 02 24;18(5). Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.

Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Read More

Med J (Ft Sam Houst Tex) 2021 Jan-Mar(PB 8-21-01/02/03):144-149

Deputy Division Surgeon/Medical OPS, 1st Cavalry Division.

The 1st Cavalry Division Forward (1CD FWD) along with Polish ally, subordinate brigades, adjacent supporting commands, and the 7th Army Training Command successfully executed large scale combat operations training in the Defender Europe 2020 Plus (DE20P) exercise in a biologically compromised environment. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) presented many unique challenges and opportunities across all warfighting functions. Still, it proved that it is possible to train in a large-scale multinational exercise while effectively mitigating the contraction and contamination of COVID-19. Read More

Mil Med Res 2021 02 23;8(1):15. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

Integrative & Experimental Exercise Science & Training, Institute of Sport Science, University of Wuerzburg, 97082, Wuerzburg, Germany.

Background: Technological advancements in modern military and acrobatic jet planes have resulted in extraordinary psychophysiological loads being exerted upon flying personnel, including inducing neck and back pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on 1) the volume and strength of the neck and shoulder muscles and 2) muscular activity upon exposure to helmets of different masses and elevated G forces in a long-arm centrifuge in high-performance aircraft personnel.

Methods: Eighteen participants underwent 12 weeks of functional strength training (n = 12) or the control protocol (n = 6) without additional strength training. Read More

EClinicalMedicine 2021 Jan 21;31:100681. Epub 2020 Dec 21.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

Background: Poor quality sleep adversely impacts on adolescent wellbeing. More multinational research is needed to understand modifiable risk factors, such as dietary behaviours. This study aimed to examine the association of carbonated soft drink and fast food intake with stress-related sleep disturbance among adolescents across 64 countries. Read More

J Sport Health Sci 2021 01 22;10(1):48-54. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 62, Basel 4055, Switzerland.

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the link between physical activity (PA) and life satisfaction in a large international study of adolescents. We also aimed to test whether overweight and underweight perceptions act as mediators and whether age and sex acted as moderators.

Methods: For this purpose, we analyzed data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, which comprises 727,865 observations from 44 nations at 4 measurement occasions. Read More