Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Hydration Status in Air Force ROTC Cadets

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program prepares young individuals for their future as officers in the United States Air Force. This is a unique population because these cadets are college students who must maintain physical fitness through regular group exercise training. Previous research has identified that proper hydration is important to optimize training sessions. However, it is unknown whether the body size of this population is connected to their hydration status before and after exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and hydration status and the differences between BMI classifications of AFROTC cadets. METHODS: Eighteen (13 male and 5 female) AFROTC cadets volunteered for this study (mean ± SD; age: 21.4 ± 3.2 y, height: 168.6 ± 6.3 cm, body mass: 67.3 ± 10.3 kg). Before training, height was measured with a stadiometer, and nude body mass was measured with an electronic scale. BMI was expressed as kg·m-2. Hydration status was determined with analysis of urine specific gravity (USG) through a urine sample collected before and after exercise. RESULTS: There was no correlation between BMI and pre-exercise USG (r= -0.116, p= 0.646) and post-exercise USG (r= -0.224, p= 0.372). There was no difference in USG between normal and overweight cadets before exercise (normal weight USG: 1.024 ± 0.007, overweight USG: 1.022 ± 0.004; t(16) = 0.777, p = 0.448) and after exercise (normal weight USG: 1.021 ± 0.007, overweight USG: 1.018 ± 0.004; t(16) = 0.916, p = 0.373). CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between BMI and hydration status. There was also no difference in hydration status between normal and overweight cadets. The normal weight group remained above the 1.020 threshold, while the overweight group dropped below 1.020 suggesting their hydration status may have improved through voluntary fluid intake during exercise. Future research should examine the relationship between BMI and hydration status amongst other BMI categories (as our study excluded underweight & obese groups) and study the drinking behaviors of the differing groups

Relationship Between Exercise Intensity and Voluntary Fluid Intake in Air Force ROTC Cadets

Air Force ROTC cadets are college students simultaneously receiving training to serve as officers in the United States Air Force. Regular group exercise is part of this training program, and good hydration habits would be conducive to optimizing the exercise sessions. However, it is unclear whether exercise intensity might influence this special population\u27s voluntary drinking behaviors in a manner that is sufficient for optimizing exercise training sessions. PURPOSE: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise intensity and voluntary fluid intake in Air Force ROTC cadets during a typical training session. METHODS: Nine male and 2 female Air Force ROTC cadets (mean ± SD; age: 22 ± 3 y, height: 170.0 ± 5.1 cm, mass: 71.2 ± 9.5 kg) were fitted with heart rate (HR) monitors prior to exercise. Intensity was expressed as a percentage of HR reserve. A hydration station was set up in the exercise area where water bottles were made readily available. Fluid intake was calculated as the difference in the water bottle mass before and after the exercise session. RESULTS: During the 60-min exercise session, participants exercised at a moderate intensity based on a percentage of HR reserve (50.1 ± 10.2%) with a mean HR of 129 ± 15 beats·min-1. Mean voluntary fluid intake volume was 404.5 ± 168.2 mL. There was no correlation between fluid intake volume and exercise intensity (r = 0.186, p = 0.584). CONCLUSION: It is possible that another mechanism stronger than exercise intensity would stimulate the thirst mechanism to drive voluntary fluid intake. It is also possible the cadets did not have sufficient fluid breaks, although this was not tracked in the current study. This study lends further support of incorporating structured water breaks and individualized hydration strategies during exercise training, especially for cadets training to become tactical operators

Correlation Between Voluntary Fluid Intake and Sweat Rate of Air Force ROTC Cadets During Outdoor Exercise

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program that gives individuals the opportunity to become leaders in and outside of the classroom while they prepare for their careers as officers in the United States Air Force or Space Force. This is a unique group of college students training to become tactical operators, which involves participating in regular group physical training. To optimize training, cadets should incorporate proper hydration strategies. Ideally, fluid intake volume should match sweat losses, however ROTC cadets’ hydration practices remain unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between voluntary fluid intake and whole-body sweat rate (WBSR) of Air Force ROTC cadets during a typical outdoor exercise session to determine whether their hydration behaviors are appropriate. METHODS: Five men and three women (mean ± SD; 22 ± 3 y, 168.3 ± 4.7 cm, 68.2 ± 9.5 kg) completed their regular 60-min training session in outdoor conditions. Nude body mass was measured before and after exercise to determine whole-body sweat rate. Water bottles were made readily available in the exercise area, and cadets drank voluntarily. Fluid intake was quantified as the difference in the water bottle weight before and after exercise. RESULTS: Mean voluntary fluid replenishment (309.5 ± 208.9 mL) during the 60-min exercise bout did not match mean sweat rate (407.5 ± 89.2 mL/h). There was no correlation between fluid intake volume and whole-body sweat rate (r = 0.234, p = 0.576). CONCLUSION: When cadets were drinking voluntarily, this was not sufficient to replace sweat loss during the exercise bout, and there was no relationship between how much they drank and how much they sweated. This study lends support to previous reports that voluntary fluid intake is insufficient to replace sweat losses. Moreover, there might be other mechanisms that influence voluntary fluid ingestion other than whole-body sweat rate. While this population is undergoing physical training for a unique purpose, this study shows that their drinking behaviors are not different from other types of exercisers

Effect of Daily Training on Hydration Status of Elite Marching Arts Performers: A Pilot Study

Every year, elite groups of of marching arts performers travel across the United States during the summer months of June through August, where they encounter different climates. Daily training for marching arts performers often takes place outdoors in the heat, but it is unclear what these individuals experience with regard to their hydration levels. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate daily changes in hydration status among marching arts performers. METHODS: For this pilot investigation, we studied 3 men and 1 woman (mean ± SD; age: 20 ± 1 y, height: 174.1 ± 4.6 cm, body mass: 70.0 ± 8.6 kg) and completed measurements on three training sessions, across three consecutive days. To assess their hydration status, urine samples were collected before and after a 4-hour training block for urine specific gravity (USG) analysis. RESULTS: There was no interaction between Day (1-3) and Time (p = 0.519; Day 1-Pre: 1.022 ± 0.002, Post: 1.012 ± 0.010; Day 2-Pre: 1.024 ± 0.002, Post: 1.018 ± 0.006; Day 3-Pre: 1.025 ± 0.004, Post: 1.020 ± 0.004), and there was no main effect of Time (p = 0.069). There was a main effect of Day (p = 0.021), with post-hoc analyses revealing that USG was significantly higher on Day 3 (1.022 ± 0.003) compared to Day 1 (1.017 ± 0.008). CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that these elite level performers progressively became more hypohydrated with each day of training. Further exploration of this topic should elucidate the magnitude of dehydration experienced by these individuals with daily training, which should help exercise professionals create more individualized hydration plans

Correlation Between Pre-Exercise Hydration Status and Heart Rate of Female Division II Collegiate Distance Runners During a Training Session

Female athletes participating in Division II collegiate sports are an understudied population. While athletes’ pre-exercise hydration status is known to have an important impact on a variety of performance metrics, it is unknown whether their pre-exercise hydration is associated with heart rate responses during a subsequent exercise bout. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between pre-exercise hydration status and exercise heart rate (HR) of female distance runners on a Division II collegiate track and field team. METHODS: 8 female distance runners (Mean ± SD; age: 21 ± 1.8 y, height: 161.2 ± 10.8 cm, mass: 54.7 ± 7.9 kg) provided a urine sample for urine specific gravity (USG) analysis prior to two team training sessions. Exercise HR was recorded with an HR monitor during two separate training sessions, one indoors and one outdoors. RESULTS: Pre-exercise USG was not different between sessions (indoors: 1.021 ± 0.006; outdoors: 1.019 ± 0.008; t(7) = 0.64, p = 0.542). Mean HR during exercise was also not different between sessions (indoors: 169 ± 17 beats/min; outdoors: 172 ± 12 beats/min; t(7) = -1.00, p = 0.349). There was no significant correlation between pre-exercise USG and session HR for either session (indoors: r = -0.121, p = 0.776; outdoors: r = 0.447, p = 0.267). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, an individual’s hydration status at exercise onset was not related to mean HR during the exercise bout. It is possible that the homogeneity of this sample of trained runners with similar pre-exercise hydration states near borderline hypohydration might have given a limited view of the relationship between the two variables. Exercise professionals should continue to encourage athletes in this level of competition to begin exercise in a well hydrated state as research on this population continues to develop

Relationship Among BMI, Body Surface Area, Fluid Intake, and Sweat Rate on Elite Marching Arts Performers: A Pilot Study

Elite groups of marching arts performers train at various intensities for long durations. They travel the country through a variety of climates, making hydration an important consideration. PURPOSE: The purpose of our pilot study was to evaluate the relationships between body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), fluid intake, and sweat rate in elite marching arts performers. METHODS: We sampled 6 male and 1 female elite marching arts performers (mean ± SD; age: 20 ± 1 y, height: 177.0 ± 6.0 cm, body mass: 72.3 ± 9.1 kg). BMI was calculated by collecting height on a stadiometer and nude body mass on an electronic scale. Nude body mass was taken before and after participants’ rehearsal block to calculate sweat rate. Pre-measured water containers were provided to participants to track fluid intake. BSA was calculated using the DuBois formula. RESULTS: There were statistically significant, strong positive correlations between BMI and sweat rate (r = 0.838, p = .019), fluid intake and sweat rate (r = 0.776, p = .040), and fluid intake and BSA (r = 0.865, p = .012). While there were strong positive correlations between BMI and fluid intake (r = 0.755, p = .050), as well as between sweat rate and BSA (r = 0.721, p = .067), these were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: This population of elite performers has been under-studied and learning about them would benefit their safety and performance. Part of the intention of the current pilot study was to determine if it was feasible to measure this type of traveling group. This initial study has given us insight into the requisite protocols and logistics, paving the way for continued research with a larger sample size and in varying climates

Schedule-selective biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal cancer – a phase II study

BACKGROUND: 5-fluorouracil remains the standard therapy for patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the biological modulation of 5-fluorouracil by methotrexate and leucovorin. This phase II study was initiated to determine the activity and toxicity of sequential methotrexate – leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled onto the study. Methotrexate – 30 mg/m(2) was administered every 6 hours for 6 doses followed by a 2 hour infusion of LV – 500 mg/m(2). Midway through the leucovorin infusion, patients received 5-fluorouracil – 600 mg/m(2). This constituted a cycle of therapy and was repeated every 2 weeks until progression. RESULTS: The median age was 64 yrs (34–84) and the Eastern Cooperative Group Oncology performance score was 0 in 37%, 1 in 55% and 2 in 8% of patients. Partial and complete responses were seen in 31% of patients with a median duration of response of 6.4 months. The overall median survival was 13.0 months. The estimated 1-year survival was 53.7%. Grade III and IV toxic effects were modest and included mucositis, nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: This phase II study supports previously reported data demonstrating the modest clinical benefit of 5-FU modulation utilizing methotrexate and leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Ongoing studies evaluating 5-fluorouracil modulation with more novel agents (Irinotecan and/or oxaliplatin) are in progress and may prove encouraging

Phase III trial of postoperative cisplatin, interferon alpha-2b, and 5-FU combined with external radiation treatment versus 5-FU alone for patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma – CapRI: study protocol [ISRCTN62866759]

After surgical intervention with curative intention in specialised centres the five-year survival of patients with carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas is only 15%. The ESPAC-1 trial showed an increased five-year survival of 21% achieved with adjuvant chemotherapy. Investigators from the Virginia Mason Clinic have reported a 5-year survival rate of 55% in a phase II trial evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy and external-beam radiation. DESIGN: The CapRI study is an open, controlled, prospective, randomised multi-centre phase III trial. Patients in study arm A will be treated as outpatients with 5-Fluorouracil; Cisplatin and 3 million units Interferon alpha-2b for 5 1/2 weeks combined with external beam radiation. After chemo-radiation the patients receive continuous 5-FU infusions for two more cycles. Patients in study arm B will be treated as outpatients with intravenous bolus injections of folinic acid, followed by intravenous bolus injections of 5-FU given on 5 consecutive days every 28 days for 6 cycles. A total of 110 patients with specimen-proven R0 or R1 resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma will be enrolled. An interim analysis for patient safety reasons will be done one year after start of recruitment. Evaluation of the primary endpoint will be performed two years after the last patients' enrolment. DISCUSSION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the overall survival period attained by chemo-radiotherapy including interferon alpha 2b administration with adjuvant chemotherapy. The influence of interferon alpha on the effectiveness of the patients' chemoradiation regimen, the toxicity, the disease-free interval and the quality of life are analysed. Different factors are tested in terms of their potential role as predictive markers

The clinical and economic benefits of capecitabine and tegafur with uracil in metastatic colorectal cancer

Two oral fluoropyrimidine therapies have been introduced for metastatic colorectal cancer. One is a 5-fluorouracil pro-drug, capecitabine; the other is a combination of tegafur and uracil administered together with leucovorin. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these oral therapies against standard intravenous 5-fluorouracil regimens. A systematic literature review was conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of the therapies and costs were calculated from the UK National Health Service perspective for drug acquisition, drug administration, and the treatment of adverse events. A cost-minimisation analysis was used; this assumes that the treatments are of equal efficacy, although direct randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparisons of the oral therapies with infusional 5-fluorouracil schedules were not available. The cost-minimisation analysis showed that treatment costs for a 12-week course of capecitabine (£2132) and tegafur with uracil (£3385) were lower than costs for the intravenous Mayo regimen (£3593) and infusional regimens on the de Gramont (£6255) and Modified de Gramont (£3485) schedules over the same treatment period. Oral therapies result in lower costs to the health service than intravenous therapies. Further research is needed to determine the relative clinical effectiveness of oral therapies vs infusional regimens