The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of inertial training on the muscle strength, on breast-cancer-related lymphedema, and on quality of life in breast cancer survivors. After a mastectomy, 24 women (age, 66.2 ± 10.6 years) were randomized to a training (n = 12) or control group (n = 12). The training group performed inertial training twice per week for 6 weeks with a training load of about 70% of the maximal force. Before and after training, we tested the maximum force of shoulder flexors, extensors, abductors, and adductors; body composition; breast-cancer-related lymphedema; and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand. Inertial training significantly improved the strength in all tested muscles (from 32 to 68%; effect size (ES) from 0.89 to 1.85 in the impaired limb and from 31 to 64%; ES from 0.86 to 1.57 in the unimpaired limb). However, changes in the control group were not significant. Quality of life improved following treatment; the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score decreased significantly by 24.5% (ES from—0.29 to 1.38), p ≤ 0.05 in the training group and by 3.99% (ES from −0.49 to 1.14) in the control group p > 0.05. Breast-cancer-related lymphedema and body composition did not change significantly after the intervention in either group. We recommend inertial training for increasing muscle strength and improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the viscoelastic properties of tissues and breast-cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). After a mastectomy, 46 females were allocated into a lymphedema group (L; n = 15, lymphedema occurred) and a control group (C; n = 31, lack of lymphedema). Bioimpedance spectroscopy was used to test BCRL. The mechanical properties of the tissues in both upper limbs were tested using myotonometry. In group L, tone, stiffness, relaxation time, and creep measured on the biceps brachii of the impaired limb significantly differed from the results on the unimpaired limb. In group C, the differences were not significant. Moreover, both tone and stiffness were inversely correlated with the level of lymphedema (r = −0.72 and r = −0.88, respectively), and both relaxation and creep were significantly related to the level of lymphedema (r = 0.71 and r = 0.59, respectively), when myotonometry was completed on the biceps brachii of the impaired limb in group L. The relationships were not significant in group C. Measurements of viscoelastic properties can provide useful information concerning lymphedema. Our findings suggest that significant correlations between selected mechanical properties of the tissues and BCRL can be used in BCRL detection and treatment.

Compression therapy along with the use of compression materials is one of the main prevention methods against scars and keloids. Compression knitted fabrics must be characterized by parameters that enabling to reaching class I compression (16–24 mmHg). When constant pressure higher than capillary vessels pressure is applied to scars, it will have a negative influence on formation of keloids and significantly prevents their hypertrophy. Long-term pressure causes tissue hypoxia, slowed-down metabolism, and reduction of the amount of fibroblasts. One of key elements of compression therapy is choosing the required knitted fabric with necessary structure and physicomechanical parameters as well as designing methodology based on Laplace law, which will ensure the application of desired value of single-unit pressure on post-burn scar. Apart from physicomechanical parameters, a medical device, such as compression garment, must be characterized by high level of biocompatibility. An added value in terms of functional parameters is the antibacterial action of the product. It was obtained from the fibers used which contain a compound in their matrix and out of which silver ions are released. Additionally, the antibacterial action was also obtained via impregnation of the knitted fabric in RUCO-BAC AGP which contains silver. In the course of the research presented in the article, compression fabric was designed with a special construction—a knitted fabric comprising two layers. The first layer, which is in direct contact with human skin, is manufactured out of a yarn with conductive-diffusive characteristics. The second layer is made of microfibers which keep the moisture out of skin surface and also diffuse it to the outside. The following article describes the final stage of developing a compression garment aiding the external treatment process; the mentioned stage is related to biological tests such as microbiological contamination, cytotoxicity, sensitization, and irritation. The article closes a series of publications presented by the Authors in bibliography. It also presents the antibacterial activity tests done on the developed double-layer knitted fabric enriched with silver. The obtained results suggest that the fabric may be used not only in compression therapy, but also in the field of cosmetics and aesthetics.

Body composition parameters are critical in determining overall health in breast cancer (BC) patients. Phase angle (PhA), measured via non-invasive Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), is emerging as a superior biomarker compared to body mass index (BMI). This study examined the relationship between PhA and body composition across different BC stages. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed in 833 BC patients who were stratified into early-, intermediate-, and advanced-stage groups based on TNM (tumour, node, metastasis) classification and treatment approach. Body composition parameters, including water compartments, muscle mass, and metabolic age, were analysed and compared between groups. Phase angle differed significantly across cancer stages (p = 0.0065) and was correlated with age independently of stage (p = 0.0033). Differences in extracellular water (ECW; p = 0.0392), intracellular water (ICW; p = 0.0014), total body water (TBW; p = 0.0069), and muscle mass (p = 0.0085) were observed between stages. Phase angle was significantly associated with ICW across all stages, with additional correlations found between PhA and predicted muscle mass (PMM), as well as TBW, in early- and intermediate-stage patients. Metabolic age varied by cancer stage (p = 0.0052) and influenced PhA independently of stage (p = 0.1906), with higher PhA observed in patients metabolically older than their chronological age. Phase angle is closely linked to key body composition parameters, particularly water and muscle content, with some associations varying by cancer stage. This is the first study to report a stage-independent relationship between PhA and metabolic age in BC patients, warranting further investigation into its clinical relevance.

Introduction: Cardiotoxic effect of chemotheraphy represents known and challenging problem, thus search for potentially cardioprotective factors plays a key role in the contemporary cardio-oncology. Physical activity may allievate side effects of chemotheraphy and improve quality of live. Myocardial Work is a novel echocardiographic technique and promising tool for cancer patients assesement. Purpose: The aim of this randomised pilot study was to assess left ventricle function using speckle tracking myocardial strain (2D STE) with Myocardial Work (MW) module in young women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotheraphy due to breast cancer and the impact of supervised high-intensity interval physical activity on these echocardiographic parameters. Material and methods: We evaluated 24 women aged 27–41 (mean 34±4 yrs) with invasive breast cancer undergoing standard neoadjuvant chemotheraphy and randomized them into two groups: control - (CG, 15 pts) and experimental - with 6 months of supervised high-intensity interval exercise (SHIIEG, 9 pts). Every patient underwent echocardiographic examination 2D STE and MW before chemotheraphy and at 6 months follow-up. The following parameters were evaluated: Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), Global Work Index (GWI), Global Constructive Work (GCW), Global Work Efficiency (GWE), Global Waste Work (GWW). Results: Following parameters significantly decreased after chemotherapy: EF (65.4±5.7 vs 60.5±7.0%; p=0.003), GLS (20.4±2.5 vs 18.4±2.0%; p=0.001), GWI (1835.4±206.9 vs 1594.1±228.3 mmHg%; p=0.0004), GCW (2240.5±270.8 vs 1884.9±241.3 mmHg%; p=0.0001), GWE (95.9±1.5 vs 94.9±1.7%; p=0.02). No signifficant changes in GWW (78.6±36.4 vs 80.5±32.2 mmHg%; p=0.7) were found. The comparison of control (CG) and experimental group (SHIIEG) at 6 months follow-up revealed no signifficant differences in the following parameters: GLS (p=0.9), GWI (p=0.3), GCW (p=0.2), GWE (p=0.3) and GWW (p=0.5). However analysis of relative percentage change from baseline in GLS and GWW (Δ%GLS, Δ%GWW) almost reached statistical significance [for CG and SHIIEG respectively: Δ%GLS (−15.6 vs −4.4; p=0.07), Δ%GWW (+39.4 vs −7.3; p=0.06)]. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy administered in young women with invasive breast cancer impaires the function of left ventricle after 6 month of theraphy, resulting in decrease of GLS, GWI, GCW and GWE. The supervised high-intensity interval physical activity impacts the relative change of GLS (Δ%GLS) and GWW (Δ%GWW), therefore may have cardioprotective effect on left ventricle function. Funding Acknowledgement: Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland