Search Results (324)

Balance is a fundamental quality for trampoline athletes, the basis for completing complex skills. We aimed to compare balance control strategies between elite trampolinists (ETs) and sub-elite trampolinists (Sub-ET) by integrating linear and nonlinear center of pressure (COP) measures across stable and unstable surfaces. Twenty-four male athletes (12 ET, 12 Sub-ET) participated. Each participant performed 15-s static standing trials with eyes closed on a firm surface (FI) and a foam surface (FO). COP parameters were extracted, including ellipse area, sway velocity, sway range, and sample entropy (SampEn) in the medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) directions. Repeated-measures ANOVA was applied to examine the effects of group and surface condition. Linear analyses indicated that ET athletes exhibited greater sway amplitudes and faster velocities than Sub-ET athletes, with both groups showing larger sway on FO compared with FI. Nonlinear analyses revealed that ET athletes demonstrated lower SampEn, suggesting more structured and automatized control strategies. ET athletes maintained consistent entropy across both conditions, reflecting stronger adaptability to unstable surfaces. These results emphasize the importance of combining linear and nonlinear measures in balance assessment and suggest that incorporating unstable or trampoline-like surfaces into training may enhance adaptability, improve performance, and reduce injury risk. Full article

Background: Although luteolin (Lut) is well recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, its potential role in preventing vascular senescence remains underexplored in primary vascular aging. This study aimed to investigate the anti-vascular-aging effects of Lut in both cellular and murine aging models and to elucidate its conserved molecular mechanisms across species. Methods: Canine and feline vascular endothelial cells (cVECs and fVECs) were subjected to doxorubicin-induced senescence, while senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8) received an 8-week dietary supplementation with Lut. Senescence markers, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant activities, vascular biomechanics, and histological changes were assessed. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were combined to identify molecular pathways. Statistical significance was determined by one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s or Games–Howell post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Lut markedly reduced senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, suppressed interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase expression (p < 0.05), and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels (p < 0.05) in cVECs, fVECs, and SAMP8 sera. In aged mice, Lut alleviated arterial wall thickening and vascular inflammation, improved vascular biomechanics and systemic oxygenation (p < 0.05), and attenuated cardiac and hepatic inflammatory infiltration. Multi-omics analyses in cVECs revealed that Lut targets aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 to increase 9-cis retinoic acid, thereby activating the retinol X receptor–peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) network, which accelerates lipid clearance and oxidation. Consistent activation of this pathway was validated in murine vascular transcriptomes. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Lut delays vascular aging by activating the retinoic acid–PPAR axis and reprogramming lipid metabolism. This conserved mechanism was consistently observed in doxorubicin-induced cVEC senescence and the SAMP8 model, underscoring the robustness of Lut’s action across distinct contexts of vascular aging. Full article

This study investigated the anti-fatigue and anti-aging benefits of continuous intake of resveratrol (RES)-rich beverages. Locomotion and forelimb grip strength performance were significantly improved in medium- and high-dose RES groups. In terms of aging indices, the scores for the medium- and high-dose groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. In the PAT and active shuttle avoidance tests, the three RES groups performed better than the control group. A significant increase in SOD and catalase activity in the liver and a reduction in TBARS and 8-OHdG levels in the brain were observed in the medium- and high-dose groups. Thus, supplementation with RES-rich beverages for 13 weeks significantly improved fatigue, locomotor performance, learning and memory abilities, and liver antioxidant activity and reduced brain peroxide levels in SAMP8 mice. Full article

To compare lower limb joint angle variability between functional ankle instability (FAI) and healthy controls (CONs) at different running speeds using linear and nonlinear methods. Fifteen males with right-side FAI and fifteen matched CONs ran on a treadmill at self-selected, 20% faster, and 20% slower speeds. From 25 gait cycles, the mean coefficient of variation (CV), Sample Entropy (SampEn), and largest Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) of hip, knee, and ankle angles were computed. A two-way (two groups × three speeds) mixed-design ANOVA was applied (α = 0.05). No significant interaction effects were observed. No significant differences were observed in the CV. SampEn showed group effects: FAI had lower values in hip horizontal, knee sagittal/coronal, and ankle coronal planes, but higher in the hip sagittal plane. Speed effects showed greater SampEn in the ankle sagittal and lower in the hip coronal plane at slow speed. LyE was reduced in FAI for hip, knee, and ankle sagittal planes. Speed effects indicated higher LyE in the knee sagittal and lower in the hip coronal plane at slow speed. FAI showed reduced variability, particularly in the sagittal plane, reflecting rigid control. Slower speeds increased ankle and knee sagittal variability but decreased hip coronal variability. Full article

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lacks effective therapeutic strategies. Electroacupuncture (EA) offers promising neuroprotective effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: To explore the mechanisms of EA’s neuroprotective effects on AD via microbiome and metabolome integration. Methods: Utilizing a well-established model of AD, Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8), EA intervention was performed. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and serum metabolomics were conducted on SAMP8 mice, SAMP8 mice after EA intervention, and their normal control group Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice. Results: SAMP8 mice were subjected to electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at the Baihui (GV20) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints for 15 min daily over a period of four weeks. EA enhanced cognitive function and reduced neuronal damage in AD models. The treatment lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and AD-related pathologies (tau, Aβ_1-42). EA also rebalanced gut microbiota by increasing beneficial Gastranaerophilales while decreasing harmful Proteobacteria. Additionally, it restored purine and phenylpropanoid metabolism by regulating key metabolites. Importantly, EA reduced levels of specific metabolites linked to pro-inflammatory bacteria (Sphingomonas, Massilia, Escherichia-Shigella), simultaneously decreasing their abundance. These findings highlight EA’s multi-target effects on neuroinflammation, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in AD. Notably, the interactions between EA-regulated key metabolites and AD-related targets, predicted via PubChem and ChEMBL databases, remain computational and have not been validated by experimental studies. Conclusions: EA exerts neuroprotective effects in AD via modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic pathways, representing a novel non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy. Full article

This study aims to compare different classifiers in the context of distinguishing two classes of signals: nonlinear electrocardiography (ECG) signals and stochastic artifacts occurring in ECG signals. The ECG signals from a single-lead wearable Movesense device were analyzed with a set of eight features: variance (VAR), three fractal dimension measures (Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD), Katz fractal dimension (KFD), and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA)), and four entropy measures (approximate entropy (ApEn), sample entropy (SampEn), and multiscale entropy (MSE) for scales 1 and 2). The minimum-redundancy maximum-relevance algorithm was applied for evaluation of feature importance. A broad spectrum of machine learning models was considered for classification. The proposed approach allowed for comparison of classifier features, as well as providing a broader insight into the characteristics of the signals themselves. The most important features for classification were VAR, DFA, ApEn, and HFD. The best performance among 34 classifiers was obtained using an optimized RUSBoosted Trees ensemble classifier (sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 99.8, 73.7%, 99.8, and 74.3, respectively). The accuracy of the Movesense device was very high (99.6%). Moreover, the multifractality of ECG during sleep was observed in the relationship between SampEn (or ApEn) and MSE. Full article

The surface temperature of grain piles is sensitive to environmental fluctuations and exhibits nonlinear, multi-scale temporal patterns, making accurate prediction crucial for grain storage risk early warning. This paper proposes a decomposition–reconstruction prediction method integrating Sample Entropy (SampEn), variational mode decomposition (VMD), and a variant Long Short-Term Memory network (vLSTM). SampEn determines the optimal decomposition parameters, VMD extracts intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and vLSTM, with peephole connections and coupled gates, conducts synchronous multi-IMF prediction. To explicitly account for environmental influences, a support vector regression (SVR) model driven by dew point temperature and vapor pressure deficit is employed to estimate the surface temperature variation $\mathrm{\Delta }T$. This component enhances the adaptability of the framework to dynamic storage conditions. The environment-derived $\mathrm{\Delta }T$ is then integrated with the VMD-SampEn-vLSTM output to obtain the final forecast. Experiments on real-granary data from Liaoning, China demonstrate that the proposed method reduces mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) by 25% and 14%, respectively, compared with baseline models, thus achieving a significant improvement in prediction performance. This integration of data-driven prediction with environmental adjustment significantly improves forecasting accuracy and robustness. Full article

Detecting physical fatigue can help prevent overexertion. While typically defined at the muscle level, systemic fatigue remains less clear. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic adaptability to physical stressors and may provide insight into fatigue-related responses. This study investigated the impact of physical fatigue on HRV and its correlation with endurance performance. Twenty participants (9 F, 11 M; 23.4 ± 5.0 y) walked on the treadmill at 1.25 m/s with progressively increased incline. HRV metrics were derived from baseline standing (STAND), pre-fatigued (PRE) and post-fatigued walking (POST). Time-domain HRV measures (lnTRI and lnTINN) were significantly reduced at POST compared to PRE or STAND (p < 0.05). Non-linear measures (DFA-α1, lnApEn, and lnSampEn) decreased at POST, while lnPoincaré SD2/SD1 increased. Normalized frequency-domain measures showed no condition effects. Baseline non-linear measures (lnApEn, lnSampEn, lnPoincaré SD2/SD1), normalized frequency measures and Total Power were significantly correlated with total fatiguing duration. Significant reductions in HRV and irregularity were observed post-fatigue. Greater baseline variability, irregularity, and high-frequency band power, reflecting parasympathetic activity, were associated with better endurance performance. Time-domain and non-linear measures were more sensitive to fatigue, whereas frequency-domain measures remain useful for identifying associations with endurance. The findings highlight HRV features that could enhance wearable sensing for fatigue and performance. Full article

Background: ETAS^®, a standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem, has been found to alleviate cognitive impairment in senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8) and is now considered a functional food in aging. The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of ETAS^® on relieving aging-related muscle atrophy in SAMP8 mice. Methods: The SAMP8 mice were fed a regular diet supplemented with 200 or 1000 mg/kg BW ETAS^®50 for 12 weeks. Grip strength, muscle mass, and molecular markers of protein synthesis, degradation, and mitochondrial quality were assessed. Results: We found that ETAS^® significantly increased grip strength and muscle mass in SAMP8 mice. At the molecular level, ETAS^® significantly upregulated protein synthesis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K and downregulated protein degradation via FoxO1a/atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 and myostatin via NFκB expression. In addition, ETAS^® improved mitochondrial quality via promoting mitochondrial biogenesis genes, oxidative respiration genes, fusion/fission genes, PGC1α, and PINK1 proteins and maintained the autophagic flux via reducing ATG13, LC3-II/LC3-I, and p62. Conclusions: ETAS^® exerts beneficial effects on sarcopenia by modulating the positive protein turnover and improving mitochondrial quality in aging. Full article

As the size of the elderly population increases, the need for an improved understanding of what leads to the age-related decline in physiological function continues to grow. SAMP8 mice were selected for their accelerated aging phenotype. The low levels of glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), the main enzyme that removes the reactive dicarbonyl methylglyoxal (MGO), in the cerebral cortex of SAMP8 mice prompted us to produce the first transgenic mice overexpressing Glo1 against the SAMP8 background, aimed at rescuing the accelerated aging phenotype. Selected health and biochemical endpoints were assessed in ten-month-old SAMP8 mice overexpressing Glo1. Glo1 overexpression increased median survival in males (21%) and females (4.6%), which was associated with better memory performance. Glo1 overexpression also increased synaptic markers (synaptophysin and SNAP25) as well as markers of mitochondrial function (NDUFB8, SDHB) and negative modulators of oxytosis/ferroptosis (NQO1, FTH1, and GPx4) in the cerebral cortex. For all parameters analyzed, the effect of Glo1 overexpression was more pronounced in males. Overall, the data support the beneficial effects of overexpressing Glo1 in multiple tissues, especially in SAMP8 males, suggesting a possible gender effect of MGO in aging. Both modulation of oxytosis/ferroptosis and mitochondrial metabolism warrant further investigation as potential mechanisms underlying the improved health span of Glo1 mice. Full article

Affecting over 50% of stroke patients, dysphagia is still challenging to diagnose and manage due to its complex multifactorial nature and can be the result of disruptions in the coordination of cortical and subcortical neural activity as reflected in electroencephalographic (EEG) signal patterns. Sample Entropy (SampEn), a signal complexity or predictability measure, could serve as a tool to identify any abnormalities associated with dysphagia. The present study aimed to identify quantitative dysphagia biomarkers using SampEn from EEG recordings in post-stroke patients. Sample entropy was calculated in the theta, alpha, and beta bands of EEG recordings in a repetitive swallowing task performed by three groups: 22 stroke patients without dysphagia (controls), 36 stroke patients with dysphagia, and 21 healthy age-matched individuals. Post-stroke patients, both with and without dysphagia, exhibited significant differences in SampEn compared to healthy subjects in the alpha and theta bands, suggesting widespread alterations in brain dynamics. These changes likely reflect impairments in sensorimotor integration and cognitive control mechanisms essential for effective swallowing. A significant cluster was identified in the left parietal region during swallowing in the beta band, where dysphagic patients showed higher entropy compared to healthy individuals and controls. This finding suggests altered neural dynamics in a region crucial for sensorimotor integration, potentially reflecting disrupted cortical coordination associated with dysphagia. The precise quantification of these neurophysiological alterations offers a robust and objective biomarker for diagnosing neurogenic dysphagia and monitoring therapeutic interventions by means of EEG, a non-invasive and cost-efficient technique. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Serratus Anterior Muscle Pain Syndrome (SAMPS) is an underdiagnosed cause of anterior chest wall pain, often attributed to myofascial trigger points of the serratus anterior muscle (SAM) or dysfunction of the Long Thoracic Nerve (LTN), leading to significant disability and affecting ipsilateral upper limb movement and quality of life. Current diagnosis relies on exclusion and physical examination, with limited treatment options beyond conservative approaches. This case report presents a novel approach to chronic SAMPS, successfully diagnosed using Sonoguided Digital Palpation (SDP) and treated with ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the LTN using 5% dextrose in water (D5W) without local anesthetic (LA), in a patient where conventional treatments had failed. Case Presentation: A 72-year-old male presented with a three-year history of persistent left chest pain radiating to the upper back, exacerbated by activity and mimicking cardiac pain. His medical history included two percutaneous coronary interventions. Physical examination revealed tenderness along the anterior axillary line and a positive hyperirritable spot at the mid axillary line at the 5th rib level. SDP was used to visualize the serratus anterior fascia (SAF) and LTN, and to reproduce the patient’s concordant pain by palpating the LTN. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the LTN was then performed using 20–30cc of D5W without LA to separate the nerve from the surrounding tissues, employing a “fascial unzipping” technique. The patient reported immediate pain relief post-procedure, with the pain reducing from 9/10 to 1/10 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and sustained relief and functional improvement at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: Sonoguided Digital Palpation (SDP) of the LTN can serve as a valuable diagnostic adjunct for visualizing and diagnosing SAMPS. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the LTN with D5W without LA may provide a promising and safe treatment option for patients with chronic SAMPS refractory to conservative management, resulting in rapid and sustained pain relief. Further research, including controlled trials, is warranted to evaluate the long-term efficacy and generalizability of these findings and to compare D5W to other injectates. Full article

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by atypical behavioural and cognitive diversity, yet the neural underpinnings linking brain activity and individual presentations remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal complexity and intelligence (full-scale intelligence quotient (FIQ); verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ); and performance intelligence quotient (PIQ)) in male adults with ASD (n = 14) and matched neurotypical controls (n = 15). Methods: We used three complexity-based metrics: Hurst exponent (H), fuzzy approximate entropy (fApEn), and fuzzy sample entropy (fSampEn) to characterise resting-state fMRI signal dynamics, and correlated these measures with standardised intelligence scores. Results: Using a whole-brain measure, ASD participants showed significant negative correlations between PIQ and both fApEn and fSampEn, suggesting that increased neural irregularity may relate to reduced cognitive–perceptual performance in autistic individuals. No significant associations between entropy (fApEn and fSampEn) and PIQ were found in the control group. Group differences in brain–behaviour associations were confirmed through formal interaction testing using Fisher’s r-to-z transformation, which showed significantly stronger correlations in the ASD group. Complementary regression analyses with interaction terms further demonstrated that the entropy (fApEn and fSampEn) and PIQ relationship was significantly moderated by group, reinforcing evidence for autism-specific neural mechanisms underlying cognitive function. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into how cognitive functions in autism may not only reflect deficits but also an alternative neural strategy, suggesting that distinct temporal patterns may be associated with intelligence in ASD. These preliminary findings could inform clinical practice and influence health and social care policies, particularly in autism diagnosis and personalised support planning. Full article

Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. (Cistaceae) is a herbaceous species native to southwestern Europe, traditionally used to treat wounds, ulcers, and inflammatory or infectious skin conditions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of its aqueous leaf extract and evaluate its skin-related in vitro biological activities. The phenolic composition was determined using UHPLC-HRMS/MS, HPLC-DAD, and quantitative colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was assessed against synthetic free radicals, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, transition metals, and pro-oxidant enzymes. Enzymatic inhibition of tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, collagenase, and elastase were evaluated using in vitro assays. Cytocompatibility was tested on human keratinocytes and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts using MTT and resazurin assays, respectively, while wound healing was evaluated on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts using the scratch assay. Antifungal activity was investigated against several Candida and dermatophyte species, while antibiofilm activity was tested against Epidermophyton floccosum. The extract was found to be rich in phenolic compounds, accounting for nearly 45% of its dry weight. These included flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins, with ellagitannins (punicalagin) being the predominant group. The extract demonstrated potent antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and antidermatophytic activities, including fungistatic, fungicidal, and antibiofilm effects. These findings highlight the potential of T. lignosa as a valuable and underexplored source of bioactive phenolic compounds with strong potential for the development of innovative approaches for skin care and therapy. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare movement variability (MV) during the spike jump (S) action with and without a ball in volleyball players of different categories and playing positions. Methods: A total of 48 volleyball players participated in this study. The players were divided according to the following categories: under-14 (U-14) (n = 12); U-16 (n = 12); U-19 (n = 12); and SENIOR (n = 12). Also, they were divided according to playing position: hitters (n = 24); liberos (n = 5); middle blockers (n = 12); and setters (n = 7). The S action with and without a ball was analyzed. Acceleration was analyzed using an IMU device. Acceleration was used to calculate MV through sample entropy (SampEn). Results: Differences were observed in all categories when comparing the S action with and without the ball (p < 0.001). SampEn was higher in the U-14 category (p < 0.001). Regarding playing positions, SampEn was lower in the hitter position compared to the middle blocker (p < 0.001) and libero (p < 0.001). There were significant inverse correlations between years of experience and SampEn (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The inclusion of a ball during the S action increases MV. MV is higher in the U-14 category compared to the rest. The hitter position showed lower MV compared to the other playing positions. Full article