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Asthmatic patients experience an increase in airway resistance that overburdens both respiratory and non-respiratory muscles. The objective of the present study was to determine whether children with persistent asthma present muscle shortening and postural changes. The 60 boys evaluated, aged 7-12 (pubertal ages up to Tanner stage G2) were divided into three age- and BMI-matched groups of equal number: CON (no history of asthma or allergy); MPA (mild persistent asthma); SPA (severe persistent asthma). Pulmonary function, muscle shortening and static posture were evaluated. The SPA group presented higher protraction of the head and shoulder compared with the CON group [9.5 (6.0-12.0) degrees vs 5.5 (0.0-12.0) degrees, P < 0.05; 0.89 (0.80-0.94) anterior/posterior ratio vs 0.94 (0.87-1.1) anterior/posterior ratio, P < 0.01)]. Severe asthmatic patients also presented shortening of arm flexor and posterior muscle of the thigh compared with the CON group [18.0 (10.0-24.0) degrees vs 12.0 (6.0-16.0) degrees, P < 0.05; and 16.5 (10.0-38.5) cm vs 8.0 (0.0-21.0) cm, respectively, P < 0.05]. Chest expansion at axillar and xiphoid levels were limited in SPA subjects compared with CON subjects [3.7 (1.5-6.5) cm vs 5.5 (2.0-8.0) cm and 4.7 (1.5-6.5) vs 6.0 (3.5-8.0) cm, respectively, P < 0.01]. SPA subjects also presented a higher incidence of lumbar spine straightening compared with CON and MPA subjects. Moderate asthmatic subjects presented intermediate values compared with severe and control subjects in five out nine evaluated outcomes. Our data suggest that severe asthmatic children present postural adaptations and muscle shortening that seem to be related to disease severity.

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Objective: To evaluate the role of an aerobic physical training program on psychosocial characteristics, quality of life, symptoms and exhaled nitric oxide of adults with moderate or severe persistent asthma. Methods: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to a Control Group (CG, n= 10, education program and respiratory exercises) and a Trained Group (TG, n= 10, education program and respiratory exercises plus aerobic training at 70% of the maximum power obtained). The intervention took place twice a week for three months. Maximum aerobic capacity, pulmonary function, effort dyspnea, anxiety levels, depression levels and quality of life were assessed before and after the treatment. Exhaled nitric oxide at rest and the number of days without asthma symptoms were evaluated every month. Results: The TG presented increased numbers of symptom-free days (TG 24.8 days [95%CI= 23-27] versus CG 15.7 days [95%CI= 9-21]; p< 0.05), decreased exhaled nitric oxide levels (TG 25.8 ppb [95%CI= 15.3-44.0] versus CG 44.3 ppb [95%CI= 24-60]; p< 0.05), decreased anxiety scores (TG 39.3 [95%CI= 37-50] versus CG 40.9 [95%CI= 37-50]; p< 0.001), decreased depression scores (TG 6.6 [95%CI= 1-21] versus CG 9 [95%CI= 1-20]; p< 0.001), improved quality of life (TG 42.8% [95%CI= 34.3-71.7] versus CG 69.6% [95%CI= 45.1-87.9]; p< 0.001) and improved aerobic aptitude (TG 25.7 mL/kg/min [95%CI= 6.2-31.3] versus CG 20.5 mL/kg/min [95%CI= 17.3-24.1]; p< 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that physical training reduces exhaled nitric oxide and symptoms and improves the quality of life and psychosocial characteristics of adults with moderate or severe persistent asthma.

Compartmentalized structures obtained in all‐aqueous settings have shown promising properties as cell encapsulation devices, as well as reactors for trans‐membrane chemical reactions. While most approaches focus on the preparation of spherical devices, advances on the production of complex architectures have been enabled by the interfacial stability conferred by emulsion systems, namely mild aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPS), or non‐equilibrated analogues. However, the application of non‐spherical structures has mostly been reported while keeping the fabricated materials at a stable interface, limiting the free‐standing character, mobility and transposition of the obtained structures to different setups. Here, the fabrication of self‐standing, malleable and perfusable tubular systems through all‐aqueous interfacial assembly is shown, culminating in the preparation of independent objects with stability and homogeneity after disruption of the polymer‐based aqueous separating system. Those hollow structures can be fabricated with a variety of widths, and rapidly printed as long structures at flow rates of 15 mm s−1. The materials are used as compartments for cell culture, showcasing high cytocompatibility, and can be tailored to promote cell adhesion. Such structures may find application in fields that benefit from freeform tubular structures, including the biomedical field with, for example, cell encapsulation, and benchtop preparation of microfluidic devices.