Although there is a plethora of information available regarding the impact of nutrition on exercise performance, many recommendations are based on male needs due to the dominance of male participation in the nutrition and exercise science literature. Female participation in sport and exercise is prevalent, making it vital for guidelines to address the sex-specific nutritional needs. Female hormonal levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate throughout the mensural cycle and lifecycle requiring more attention for effective nutritional considerations. Sex-specific nutritional recommendations and guidelines for the active female and female athlete have been lacking to date and warrant further consideration. This review provides a practical overview of key physiological and nutritional considerations for the active female. Available literature regarding sex-specific nutrition and dietary supplement guidelines for women has been synthesized, offering evidenced-based practical information that can be incorporated into the daily lives of women to improve performance, body composition, and overall health.

Background: While increased face mask use has helped reduce COVID-19 transmission, there have been concerns about its influence on thermoregulation during exercise in the heat, but consistent, evidence-based recommendations are lacking. Hypothesis: No physiological differences would exist during low-to-moderate exercise intensity in the heat between trials with and without face masks, but perceptual sensations could vary. Study Design: Crossover study. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: Twelve physically active participants (8 male, 4 female; age = 24 ± 3 years) completed 4 face mask trials and 1 control trial (no mask) in the heat (32.3°C ± 0.04°C; 54.4% ± 0.7% relative humidity [RH]). The protocol was 60 minutes of walking and jogging between 35% and 60% of relative VO2max. Rectal temperature (Trec), heart rate (HR), temperature and humidity inside and outside of the face mask (Tmicro_in, Tmicro_out, RHmicro_in, RHmicro_out) and perceptual variables (rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal sensation, thirst sensation, fatigue level, and overall breathing discomfort) were monitored throughout all trials. Results: Mean Trec and HR increased at 30- and 60-minute time points compared with 0-minute time points, but no difference existed between face mask trials and control trials ( P > 0.05). Mean Tmicro_in, RHmicro_in, and humidity difference inside and outside of the face mask (ΔRHmicro) were significantly different between face mask trials ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in perceptual variables between face mask trials and control trials ( P > 0.05), except overall breathing discomfort ( P < 0.01). Higher RHmicro_in, RPE, and thermal sensation significantly predicted higher overall breathing discomfort ( r2 = 0.418; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Face mask use during 60 minutes of low-to-moderate exercise intensity in the heat did not significantly affect Trec or HR. Although face mask use may affect overall breathing discomfort due to the changes in the face mask microenvironment, face mask use itself did not cause an increase in whole body thermal stress. Clinical Relevance: Face mask use is feasible and safe during exercise in the heat, at low-to-moderate exercise intensities, for physically active, healthy individuals.

Peripheral artery disease is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the extremities, particularly, the legs. When surgical intervention is warranted, the primary approach is balloon angioplasty. Drug coated balloons (DCB) designed to release antimitogenic agents to the site of the blockage are a relatively new product aimed at reducing artery re-narrowing, or restenosis, after intervention. However, first generation DCB utilize mainly direct application of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, along with hydrophilic excipients to facilitate uptake into the tissue, and the majority of drug is released from the DCB systemically. We thus designed a drug-eluting nanoparticle delivery system for firm attachment to the balloon surface and only slow release of its entrapped drugs within a fluid environment. We furthermore chose the relatively nontoxic polyphenols resveratrol and quercetin as active agents we've shown reduce smooth muscle cell proliferation and inflammatory cell and platelet activation, all contributing events in restenosis. A polymeric nanoparticle (pNP) system based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid but possessing a positive charge was designed for firm attachment to the balloon matrix, followed by adhesion to the negatively charged bilayer of the vascular wall. As a first step toward testing its biologic properties, drug elution into a simulated blood fluid was determined, as well as the fold enrichment of cells with drug after exposure to the drug-entrapped pNPs compared to drugs only. Cytotoxicity to vascular smooth muscle cells was assessed, along with their biocompatibility, determined as their ability to promote red blood cell lysis. The drug-entrapped pNP system showed excellent biocompatibility with limited cytotoxicity. In addition, the pNPs released the two drugs only very slowly over 10 days. Development of a spray process for delivering the drug-entrapped pNPs to a balloon surface and in vivo testing in small animals appears warranted. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 00B: 000-000, 2018.

Heat stress is a growing concern in the occupational setting as it endangers worker health, safety, and productivity. Heat-related reductions in physical work capacity and missed workdays directly and indirectly cause productivity losses and may substantially affect the economic wellbeing of the organization. This review highlights the physiological, physical, psychological, and financial harms of heat stress on worker productivity and proposes strategies to quantify heat-related productivity losses. Heat stress produces a vicious-cycle feedback loop that result in adverse outcomes on worker health, safety, and productivity. We propose a theoretical model for implementing an occupational heat safety plan that disrupts this loop, preventing heat-related productivity losses while improving worker health and safety.

Brewer, GJ, Blue, MNM, Hirsch, KR, Peterjohn, AM, and Smith-Ryan, AE. Appendicular body composition analysis: Validity of bioelectrical impedance analysis compared with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in Division I college athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 2920–2925, 2019—The purpose of this study was to evaluate validity of appendicular body composition measurements measured from a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA) compared with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) criterion in Division I athletes. One hundred sixty male (n = 44) and female (n = 116) collegiate athletes were enrolled: Men's Cross Country (n = 15), football linemen (n = 29), Women's Soccer (n = 27), Women's Field Hockey (n = 27), Women's Cross Country (n = 13), Women's Gymnastics (n = 16), and Women's Lacrosse (n = 33). Appendicular fat mass (FM) of the arms (AFM, right AFM, left AFM) and legs (LFM, right LFM, left LFM), appendicular fat-free mass (FFM) of the arms (AFFM, RAFFM, LAFFM) and legs (LFFM, RLFFM, LLFFM), total body FM and FFM, and total body %fat were collected from both devices. MF-BIA significantly underestimated appendicular FFM of the arms (AFFM mean difference [MD]: −0.7 kg; RAFFM: −0.4 kg; LAFFM: −0.4 kg, p < 0.001) and legs (LFFM MD: −3.8 kg; RLFFM: −1.9 kg; LLFFM: −1.9 kg, p < 0.001), and FM of the legs (LFM MD: −2.5 kg; RLFM: −1.3 kg; LLFM: −1.3 kg, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in appendicular FM measures of the arms (p = 0.174). All measures held true for male subjects and female subjects. Female subjects produced smaller differences compared with male subjects. The lack of validity, from raw and relative error, between the devices for most appendicular measures (FFM of arms and FFM and FM legs) and all total body measures (FM, FFM, and %fat) suggest that this MF-BIA may not be accurate in measuring a lean, athletic, population compared with DXA.