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Smartwatches are increasingly used to monitor and motivate physical activity. Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) often do not meet national physical activity recommendations. They may, thus, benefit from a physical activity program using smartwatches. The Life Plus smartwatch is designed to facilitate activity monitoring by counting steps, but its validity needs to be determined, particularly in patients who may not have a normal gait, such as those with cardiovascular pathology. This study evaluates the accuracy of the Life Plus smartwatch (versions 2 and 3) in healthy adults, patients with CVD, and patients with PAD at different walking speeds (1.8, 2.5, 3.2, and 4 km/h) and different localizations (wrists, hips, and ankles) to determine best accuracy. In total, 34 participants, comprising healthy individuals (n=10), patients with CVD (n=14), and patients with PAD (n=10), wore 6 Life Plus watches simultaneously (3 of version 2 and 3 of version 3), located on wrists, hips, and ankles. Participants walked on a treadmill for 3-minute sessions at speeds of 1.8, 2.5, 3.2, and 4 km/h; they then performed a 10-minute free walking on the ground and again walked for 3-minute sessions on a treadmill at the same speeds. Actual step counts were recorded through video footage. When worn at the wrist, no significant difference between the actual number of steps and step count by version 2 watches was found in each group independently (healthy group: P=.25; CVD group: P=.50; and PAD group: P=.37). Significant differences were found with the version 2 watches at the wrist in the healthy group at 3.2 (-5.26%; P=.01) and 4 km/h (-6.13%; P=.008) and in the CVD group at 2.5 (-5.94%; P=.008), 3.2(-13.1%; P=.008), and 4 km/h (-13.96%; P=.004). When worn at the wrist, no significant difference between actual number of steps and step count by version 3 watches was found in the healthy group (P=.02) and the PAD group (P=.90). Significant differences were found with the version 3 watches at the wrist in the CVD group at 3.2 (-6.43%; P=.001) and 4 km/h (-7.3%; P=.01) and in the PAD group at 4 km/h (-5.77%; P=.04). For optimized counting when worn at the wrist, healthy individuals should prefer version 2 watches for slow walking (1.8 and 2.5 km/h) and version 3 for higher speeds (3.2 and 4 km/h). Patients (CVD and PAD) should prefer version 2 watches at 1.8 km/h and version 3 watches for higher speeds (2.5, 3.2, and 4 km/h).

Exercise in long COVID is poorly studied. Nevertheless, exerciserehabilitation could improve cardiorespiratory, muscular and autonomic functions. We aimed to investigate improvement in physical and autonomic performances of long COVID patients (n = 38) after a 4-week exercise rehabilitation program (3 sessions/week) compared to two control groups composed of coronary artery disease (n = 38) and fibromyalgia patients (n = 38), two populations for whom exercise benefits are well known. Efficacy of exercise training was assessed by a cardiopulmonary exercise test, a handgrip force test, and a supine heart rate variability recording at rest before and after the rehabilitation program. Cardiorespiratory and muscular parameters were enhanced after exercise rehabilitation in the three groups (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed for the autonomic variables. Through this comparative study with control groups, we confirm and reinforce the interest of caring for long COVID patients without post-exertional symptom exacerbation by exercise rehabilitation of both strength and endurance training, by personalizing the program to the patient and symptoms.

BACKGROUND As physical activity is recognized as key in cardiovascular disease management, maintenance of physical activity following the completion of a supervised cardiac rehabilitation program remains a challenge for many patients. Wearable devices such as the Life Plus connected watch may help patients maintain physical activity through self-monitoring, goal setting and motivational features. OBJECTIVE To assess physical activity maintenance with the Life Plus connected watch (version 2.3.100) after of a supervised center-based cardiac rehabilitation program, motivation and key factors of behavior change maintenance. METHODS Forty-three participants wore a Life Plus connected watch at the wrist for 8 weeks (2 last weeks of the supervised center-based cardiac rehabilitation program and 6 weeks after the end of the cardiac rehabilitation program). Physical activity parameters (number of global steps, number of active walking steps, activity duration) were retrieved at the end of the 8-week intervention. Motivation, states of change and quality of life were assessed pre intervention and post intervention through three scales (echelle de Motivation à la pratique d’une Activité Physique à des fins de Santé,self-efficacy scale for physical activity, state of change)and one questionnaire (quality of life Short-Form 12 items). Acceptability and perceived usefulness were assessed through oral discussion. RESULTS No significant difference was found for total number of steps P=.88 ; 95% CI (-523.04; 448.41)), number of active steps (P=.39; CI 95% (-609.48; 243.92)) and mean active duration (P=.26; CI 95% (-8.18; 2.23)) between the 2 last weeks of the supervised center-based cardiac rehabilitation program and the 6 weeks following the end of the supervised center-based cardiac rehabilitation program. No significant difference was found for total number of steps, number of active steps and activity duration for each 8 weeks of intervention. Physical activity was maintained through the 8 weeks at the same level. Self-efficacy toward exercise (P=.04), self-determined motivation (P<.01) and physical quality of life (P=.002) were significantly enhanced at the end of the intervention. Patients moved from a state of readiness and action to a state of maintenance of change for physical activity and expressed perceived usefulness. CONCLUSIONS Using a tool such as the Life Plus watch version 2.3.100 could help physical activity maintenance after a supervised center-based cardiac rehabilitation program and help improving self-efficacy and self-determined motivation as well as moving from action states to maintenance state of change for physical activity. This is important as the Life Plus watch was used as the only tool to help the maintenance of physical activity and didn’t involve any health care personal as it is often the case in other studies. CLINICALTRIAL This study was approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne in January 2023 (IRBN1072022/CHUSTE).

Influenza virus infections are major public health threats due to their high rates of morbidity and mortality. Upon influenza virus entry, host cells experience modifications of endomembranes, including those used for virus trafficking and replication. Here we report that influenza virus infection modifies mitochondrial morphodynamics by promoting mitochondria elongation and altering endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria tethering in host cells. Expression of the viral RNA recapitulates these modifications inside cells. Virus induced mitochondria hyper-elongation was promoted by fission associated protein DRP1 relocalization to the cytosol, enhancing a pro-fusion status. We show that altering mitochondrial hyper-fusion with Mito-C, a novel pro-fission compound, not only restores mitochondrial morphodynamics and endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites but also dramatically reduces influenza replication. Finally, we demonstrate that the observed Mito-C antiviral property is directly connected with the innate immunity signaling RIG-I complex at mitochondria. Our data highlight the importance of a functional interchange between mitochondrial morphodynamics and innate immunity machineries in the context of influenza viral infection.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009340.].

AbstractAtomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) is a mission designed to test Einstein’s theory of General Relativity from the International Space Station (ISS). A primary frequency standard based on laser cooled caesium atoms (PHARAO) and an active H-maser (SHM) generate a clock signal that is distributed to a network of clocks on the ground to perform space-to-ground comparison. With a fractional frequency stability of 1 × 10−16 after 10 days of integration time and an accuracy of 1 – 2 × 10−16, ACES will provide an absolute measurement of the gravitational redshift, it will search for time variations of fundamental constant, and perform Standard Model Extension (SME) tests. The ACES payload is currently completing its qualification tests before flying. The mission status, the latest test results, and the ACES performance for testing General Relativity are discussed.Graphical abstract