A suppressed immune system is a complicating health factor in cancer patients that keeps them from achieving the highest quality of life possible. Moderate exercise is thought to boost the immune system in cancer patients. The aim of this project was to determine the effects of an eight week aerobic exercise program on the mucosal immune system of cancer survivors compared to non-cancer patients. Our hypothesis was that the immune system of the cancer patients would positively respond to a moderate exercise program, specifically increasing antibody production. To examine our hypothesis, five cancer and six non-cancer patients undertook a supervised moderate aerobic exercise program at the University of Northern Colorado. The subjects performed an incremental peak treadmill test to exhaustion at the start of the program and after 8 weeks of training. Saliva samples were taken at specific times for each peak exercise test: prior to testing, immediately after testing, and 30 minutes post-test. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assays (ELISA) were performed at Ball State University to analyze the levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) in saliva samples of cancer and non-cancer patients. Our findings demonstrated there was a significant increase in IgG after 8 weeks of moderate exercise in non-cancer patients 30 minutes after the treadmill test. A significant increase was also seen in salivary IgA levels after 8 weeks of moderate exercise in cancer patients 30 minutes after the treadmill test was administered, supporting our hypothesis that exercise enhances immune function. Eight weeks of moderate exercise has been shown to enhance immune function demonstrated by the increase of IgA and IgG levels in saliva. / Department of Biology

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Background: Thrombosis is a common and critical consequence of cancer. Changes in thrombotic potential were examined after exercise training in patients with cancer. Methods: Eight cancer patients (65 ± 11 yrs) completed this study, five exercising and three non-exercising controls. Venous blood samples were obtained at baseline and after approximately 12 weeks of study participation. Weekly physical activity was measured using a standard, validated physical activity questionnaire. APTT, PT, fibrinogen and factor VIII were measured before and after the 12-week intervention. Results: A time x group interaction trend (p=0.067) was observed for fibrinogen. Plasma concentrations decreased in the exercise group (355 ± 49.3 mg/dL to 331 ± 19.5 mg/dL), but increased in the control group (341 ± 52.4 mg/dL to 384 ± 107.9 mg/dL). Physical activity significantly decreased over time in both groups. Conclusions: Exercise training may reduce coagulation potential in cancer patients more than usual and customary care. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body (WB) and proximal femurs of physically active men with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to nonactive men with spinal cord injuries. Also, the lean muscle mass (LMM) of active men with SCI was compared to the LMM of nonactive men with SCI. In addition, BMD values of the radii of physically active men with SCI were compared to that of able bodied men of the same age. The subjects N. 46 were between the age of 20-55 (��=37.83 �� 6.63 years), and were at least 2 years post spinal cord injury. Subjects with SCI were matched on similar level of lesion of the spinal cord, age, height, weight, and years post injury for the purpose of analyzing data. There were 14 active men with paraplegia and 14 nonactive men with paraplegia, 9 active men with quadriplegia and 9 nonactive men with quadriplegia. All BMD data was obtained utilizing a Hologic QDR 1000W dual energy x-ray absorptiometer. A two-factor (level by group) analysis of variance revealed no significant difference for all sites (Whole body, Total hip, radii, LMM) comparing the active and nonactive men with SCI. T-scores and z-scores generated from the Ho logic QDR 1000/W were analyzed using two-factor ANOVA (level by group). The active men with paraplegia had significantly higher BMD levels for all sites when compared to the other groups. These values may be explained by the number of incomplete injuries in the experimental group. Subjects in the physically active group did not clearly show a statistically significant difference on any of the dependent measures. However, values for the dependent measures were higher for the physically active group compared to the values of the nonactive group. / Graduation date: 1995

Cancer-treatment-induced bone loss (CTBL) is a well-recognized co-morbidity that affects many cancer patients. Commonly used to treat breast and prostate cancer patients, hormone suppression therapy (HST) may accelerate bone loss, resulting in osteopenia or osteoporosis. Because of their broad clinical utility, lifestyle and dietary modifications, such as regular participation in bone-stressing exercise and calcium supplementation, are starting to play a much larger role in the prevention and treatment of CTBL. However, only limited information is available on the effects that these factors may have on bone mineral density (BMD). Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the degree of BMD change from the onset of HST to 6 months and to examine the impact that physical activity and calcium intake may have on BMD. Methods. Twelve subjects (8 females and 4 males) undergoing HST for breast or prostate cancer were enrolled in the study. BMD at the spine, dual femur, and total body was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at 0 and 6 months. In addition, subjects wore an accelerometer to assess physical activity level and completed a lifestyle questionnaire at baseline, 3, and 6 months after starting therapy. Aside from the 7 non-exercise subjects, 5 subjects chose to participate in The Cancer Exercise Program at Ball Memorial Hospital or complete bone-stressing exercises at home. Results. No significant changes in BMD were observed after 6 months of HST between the groups at any of the sites. When all subjects were examined together, a significant BMD decrease of 3.2% was observed at the lumbar spine. The accelerometer and lifestyle questionnaires revealed that the males were more active than the females and the exercisers were more active than the non-exercisers at both baseline and after 6 months of HST. Supplementation with calcium did not affect BMD changes at any site;although it is possible this is an effect of gender as all males were included in the same group. Lifestyle factors such as history of smoking and alcoholism were also examined, but were not correlated to changes in BMD. Conclusion. Treatment with HST results in decreases in BMD, particularly at the spine. Bone-stressing exercise helped maintain or improve total body BMD in 3 of the 5 subjects the exercise group. There appears to be no difference in BMD between those who supplemented with calcium and those who did not. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate practical methods of monitoring AIDS related wasting and lipodystrophy in a resource-poor clinical setting with HIV infected women as the population group of interest. Measurement of body composition changes using anthropometry is both cost- and time-efficient. Various different skinfolds were taken and two different equations (the equations of Pollock et al. (1975) and Durnin and Womersley (1974) for calculating body fat were used to determine the most promising method or methods of monitoring body composition changes in a clinical setting. Detailed anthropometric measurements were performed, as well as selected measurements for haematological parameters and quality of life (QoL) for a group of 8 participants on antiretroviral medication (ART group) and 6 participants who were not on treatment (TN group). New variables namely, intra-abdominal indicator (IAI) and a percent of ideal body mass to percent of ideal arm circumference ratio (%IBW:%IAC) were investigated as possible indicators of lipodystrophy. Although measurements were taken at various timepoints, three specific time-points were chosen for data-analysis for the ART group and two time points for the TN group. These three time-points were, baseline (on the day of recruitment for TN participants and within one month before the initiation of treatment for ART participants), short-term (2 to 12 weeks after treatment initiation or the baseline measurement or for the ART and the TN participants) and long-term (within one and a half year of treatment initiation for the ART group). ART and TN participants did not differ for many variables at baseline. The major differences between ART and TN were in measured and derived variables of the arm, especially percent of ideal arm circumference (%IAC) and upper arm fat area (UAFA), which were significantly lower in the ART group. CD4+ and QoL improved significantly for the ART participants from baseline to long-term. This was not associated with changes in muscle mass, but rather some fat mass variables. Participants on antiretroviral medication exhibited changes relating to abdominal obesity. It was concluded that antiretroviral therapy contributed greatly to the QoL of the participants and it probably aided in the recovery from wasting for at least one participant in this study. Measures of the arm can be used in a rural clinical setting to effectively monitor patients with regard to AIDS related wasting. The new variables IAI and %IBW:%IAC could be helpful in the monitoring of lipodystrophy and should be investigated in future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om praktiese metodes te ondersoek om VIGS-verwante uittering en lipodistrofie te meet in ‘n plattelandse kliniese omgewing (waar hulpbronne dikwels beperk is) met MIV ge-infekteerde vroue as populasiegroep. Die gebruik van antropometrie om veranderinge in liggaamssamestelling te meet is beide koste- en tydeffektief. Verskeie velvoumetings is geneem en twee verskillende vergelykings (die vergelykings van Pollock et al. (1975) en Durnin en Womersley (1974)) is gebruik om liggaamsvetinhoud te bereken, met die doel om ‘n belowende metode te vind om veranderinge in liggaamssamestelling te meet in ‘n kliniese omgewing. Verskeie antropometriese metings is geneem, sowel as uitgesoekte hematologiese en lewenskwaliteitmetings (QoL) vir ‘n groep van agt deelnemers wat antiretrovirale medikasie ontvang het (ART groep) en ses deelnemers wat nie hierdie behandeling ontvang het nie (TN groep). Nuwe veranderlikes (binnebuikindikator (IAI) en die verhouding van persentasie van ideale liggaamsmassa tot persentasie van ideale armomtrek (%IBW:%IAC)) is ondersoek as moontlike aanwysers van lipodistrofie. Drie spesifieke tydpunte vir die ART groep en twee tydpunte vir die TN groep is gekies uit die verskeie tydpunte waarby metings geneem is, nl. basislyn (gedefinieer as die dag wat TN deelnemers in die studie opgeneem is en 0 tot 4 weke voor die begin van behandeling vir die ART deelnemers), korttermyn (2 tot 12 weke nadat behandeling begin is of na die basislyn meting) en lang-termyn (binne een en ‘n half jaar nadat behandeling begin is vir die ART groep). By die basislyn tydpunt het min van die ART en TN deelnemers se gemete veranderlikes verskil. Die ART en TN groepe het hoofsaaklik verskil ten opsigte van veranderlikes wat betrekking het op die arm, veral persentasie van ideale armomtrek (%IAC) en bo-arm vetarea (UAFA). Hierdie twee veranderlikes was beduidend laer in die ART groep as in die TN groep. CD4+ seltelling en lewenskwaliteit tellings het beduidend verbeter vir die ART deelnemers van die basislyn tot die lang-termyn tydpunt. Hierdie veranderinge is nie samehangend met veranderinge in spiermassa nie, maar eerder met sommige vetmassa veranderlikes. Deelnemers wat antiretrovirale medikasie ontvang het, het veranderinge getoon wat gedui het op ‘n verhoogde neerlegging van vet in die buikarea. Ten slotte is bevind dat antiretrovirale medikasie bygedra het tot die verbeterde lewenskwaliteit van die deelnemers en dat dit waarskynlik ook die omkeer van uittering van ten minste een deelnemer aangehelp het. Daar is ook bevind dat armverwante metinge gebruik kan word in die plattelandse kliniese omgewing om pasiënte suksesvol te monitor ten opsigte van VIGSverwante uittering. Die nuwe veranderlikes, IAI en %IBW:%IAC kan moontlik gebruik word om lipodistrofie-verwante veranderings te meet en die gebruik van hierdie veranderlikes behoort ondersoek te word in verdere navorsing.