Search Results (17)

Background: Astragali radix is a traditional herb known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties and has gained attention for its potential to support post-exercise recovery. However, the effects of long-term supplementation coupled with resistance training are not well understood. Methods: Twenty-four moderately active participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the Astragali radix supplementation (ASTRA, n = 13) or placebo (PLA, n = 11) group. All participants underwent 8 weeks of regular resistance training (3 sessions/week) and 2 weeks of intensified training (6 sessions/week). Results: Before (BAS), after 8 weeks of resistance training (RT), and at the end of the intensified training (IT), knee extensors’ maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (MVIT), and leg press and leg extension one repetition max (1RM) were measured. Blood samples were collected to analyze inflammatory markers and testosterone. From BAS to after RT, MVIT, 1RM leg press, and 1RM leg extension increased in both ASTRA and PLA, with no differences between groups. After IT, MVIT, 1RM leg press and 1RM leg extension decreased in both ASTRA and PLA. CPK levels and myoglobin concentration increased while cortisol decreased significantly from BAS to IT, but no group differences were detected. TNF-α and IL-6 showed significant time × supplementation interactions, with lower values after IT in ASTRA compared to PLA. Conclusions: Astragali radix supplementation did not lead to additional benefits in muscle during the period of resistance training, nor did it prevent the decline in force following the intensified training period. However, Astragali radix supplementation prevented the increase in some inflammatory biomarkers, specifically TNF-α and IL-6, during the intensified period of training. Full article

Background: Regular aerobic exercise during childhood promotes critical physiological adaptations in the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Finswimming, a unique aquatic sport, requires high-intensity demands and specific breathing patterns. The present study aimed to compare respiratory function and cardiorespiratory responses between young male finswimmers and sedentary age-matched non-athletes. Methods: Thirty-two boys aged 8 to 12 years old were stratified into the finswimmers group (FSG, n = 16) and the non-athletes group (NAG, n = 16). Assessments included pulmonary function (spirometry) and respiratory muscle strength (Maximum Inspiratory Pressure, MIP/Maximum Expiratory Pressure, MEP). Exercise capacity was evaluated using the modified shuttle walk test (MSWT). Results: The FSG exhibited significantly higher pulmonary function (Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, Maximum Voluntary Ventilation; p < 0.05) and superior MIP compared to the NAG (105.3 ± 24.8 versus 87.3 ± 24.7 cmH₂O; p = 0.022). During the MSWT, FSG covered substantially greater distances (746.6 ± 97.2 versus 591.1 ± 86.4 m; p < 0.001) with lower levels of leg fatigue (Borg 0–10) (0.53 ± 0.39 versus 2.13 ± 1.93; p = 0.004) and demonstrated lower heart rate recovery time (4.47 ± 0.68 versus 5.75 ± 0.68 min; p < 0.001) compared to NAG. At the iso-level (8th level of MSWT), FSG scored lower levels of leg fatigue (0.13 ± 0.12 versus 2.02 ± 2.0; p = 0.001) compared to NAG, indicating better peripheral oxygen % saturation (100 ± 0.0 versus 98.14 ± 1.16; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Systematic exercise training enhances profound cardiorespiratory and peripheral muscle adaptations in children. Enhanced cardiorespiratory function allows young athletes to achieve higher workloads and recover faster than sedentary peers, highlighting the sport’s role in establishing a robust cardiorespiratory fitness. Full article

Background: This study investigated the diurnal variation in endurance performance and the corresponding ventilatory/metabolic responses during a maximal incremental cycling test. Methods: Thirty physically active young men (age = 23.5 ± 2.2 years; weekly exercise volume: ≥6 h·wk⁻¹) with regular daily routines were recruited for a randomized crossover study. Each participant completed two maximal incremental cycling tests to volitional exhaustion: one in the morning (07:00–09:00) and another in the evening (17:00–19:00). The two sessions were separated by a one-week washout period. Key ventilatory and metabolic variables, including maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), were continuously measured, and time to exhaustion (TTE) was monitored. Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare morning versus evening outcomes. Results: Key performance and physiological variables, including MVV (p < 0.01), VO_2max (p < 0.01), and TTE (p < 0.01), were significantly improved in the evening as compared to the morning. Conclusions: Both ventilatory/metabolic function and endurance performance during a maximal incremental cycling test induce a pronounced diurnal rhythm in trained young men, with superior outcomes observed in the evening. Full article

Tubular aggregate myopathy (TAM) is an inherited skeletal muscle disease associated with progressive muscle weakness, cramps, and myalgia. Tubular aggregates (TAs) are regular arrays of highly ordered and densely packed straight-tubules observed in muscle biopsies; the extensive presence of TAs represent a key histopathological hallmark of this disease in TAM patients. TAM is caused by gain-of-function mutations in proteins that coordinate store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE): STIM1 Ca²⁺ sensor proteins in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Ca²⁺-permeable ORAI1 channels in the surface membrane. Here, we assessed the therapeutic potential of endurance exercise in the form of voluntary wheel running (VWR) in mitigating TAs and muscle weakness in Orai1^G100S/+ (GS) mice harboring a gain-of-function mutation in the ORAI1 pore. Six months of VWR exercise significantly increased specific force production, upregulated biosynthetic and protein translation pathways, and normalized both mitochondrial protein expression and morphology in the soleus of GS mice. VWR also restored Ca²⁺ store content, reduced the incidence of TAs, and normalized pathways involving the formation of supramolecular complexes in fast twitch muscles of GS mice. In summary, sustained voluntary endurance exercise improved multiple skeletal muscle phenotypes observed in the GS mouse model of TAM. Full article

Background: Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is employed to enhance the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect and improve remission rates following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). However, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) remains a significant complication of both alloHCT and DLI. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce cancer risk, enhance treatment responses, and mitigate therapy-related toxicities. This study investigated the effects of voluntary wheel running on GvL and GvHD following DLI in a xenogeneic mouse model. Methods: Immunodeficient NSG-IL15 mice were challenged with a luciferase-expressing chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line (K562), and then they received DLI with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers (GvL model). Non-tumor bearing mice received DLI to model GvHD. Half of the mice in each group were then given free access to a running wheel. Tumor growth (bioluminescence), GvHD, and body weight were monitored biweekly for ~40 days. Results: In the GvHD model, exercise extended overall survival by 60% and reduced GvHD severity. In the GvL model, exercise significantly lowered tumor burden and extended tumor-free survival in both DLI and vehicle control groups by 44.5% and 37.5%, respectively, suggesting both immune-dependent and immune-independent mechanisms. RNA sequencing of bone marrow from saline-injected mice revealed that genes associated with mitochondrial function, protein synthesis, and metabolic processes were downregulated in tumors from exercised mice. Conclusions: In summary, voluntary wheel running improved DLI outcomes by enhancing GvL and reducing GvHD. These benefits may be mediated, in part, through exercise-induced metabolic reprogramming of leukemia cells. Full article

Background/Objectives: Smoking remains a major public health concern, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a crucial role in smoking cessation efforts. This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and smoking behaviors of Italian students and graduates in dental hygiene from different regional areas (Group A) and students in health disciplines at a single university (Group B). Methods: Two separate surveys were conducted using a specifically designed online questionnaire administered to voluntary participants between February and April 2024. The questionnaire collected data on smoking habits, awareness of smoke-free products, sources of information, and perceptions of health effects. Results: A total of 878 questionnaires were completed. While 49.8% of participants had never smoked, 16.3% were regular smokers and 14% were occasional users of either traditional cigarettes or alternative smoke-free products. Awareness of non-combustion products was high, with social circles (74%) and social media (47.9%) being primary sources of information. Users of smoke-free products reported subjective improvements in halitosis, dental discoloration, cough, exercise capacity, and sense of taste. Despite 78% of participants receiving specific training on smoking-related diseases, gaps in knowledge persisted, particularly regarding the toxicological nature of smoking and the role of nicotine in smoking-related diseases. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for continued education and training on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction among future HCPs. Strengthening evidence-based knowledge could enhance their ability to manage smoking-related diseases and promote effective cessation strategies. Full article

The Pilates breathing technique is theorized to improve neuromuscular efficiency, but its specific effects on peripheral muscles have not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated how Pilates breathing influenced the neuromuscular efficiency of the biceps brachii muscle during submaximal elbow flexion in comparison to regular breathing. Fifty-eight healthy adults without prior experience with the Pilates method of exercise performed concentric and eccentric elbow contractions at 20%, 40%, and 60% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction under two breathing conditions: the specialized Pilates breathing pattern (executing movements exclusively during expiration) and normal breathing patterns. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography, with neuromuscular efficiency quantified as the relationship between muscle electrical activity and force production. The results revealed significantly improved neuromuscular efficiency during Pilates breathing at all tested intensity levels, with the most substantial enhancement observed at 60% of maximal effort. The eccentric phase of movement demonstrated greater efficiency gains compared to the concentric phase. These findings indicate that the distinct breathing pattern used in Pilates can independently enhance neuromuscular performance in the biceps brachii. This study suggests that incorporating Pilates breathing techniques could be beneficial in rehabilitation programs and strength training regimens to optimize both muscle function and movement efficiency. Additional research is recommended to examine the long-term effects and practical applications in clinical and athletic settings. Full article

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common clinical entity in people with asthma. EIB is characterized by postexercise airway obstruction that results in symptoms such as coughing, dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, and increased fatigue. The underlying mechanism of EIB is not completely understood. “Osmotic theory” and “thermal or vascular theory” have been proposed. Initial assessment must include a specific work-up to exclude alternative diagnoses like exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), cardiac disease, or physical deconditioning. Detailed medical history and clinical examination must be followed by basal spirometry and exercise challenge test. The standardized treadmill running (TR) test, a controlled and standardized method to assess bronchial response to exercise, is the most adopted exercise challenge test for children aged at least 8 years. In the TR test, the goal is to reach the target heart rate in a short period and maintain it for at least 6 min. The test is then followed by spirometry at specific time points (5, 10, 15, and 30 min after exercise). In addition, bronchoprovocation tests like dry air hyperpnea (exercise and eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea) or osmotic aerosols (inhaled mannitol) can be considered when the diagnosis is uncertain. Treatment options include both pharmacological and behavioral approaches. Considering medications, the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) just before exercise is the commonest option strategy, but daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) can also be considered, especially when EIB is not controlled with SABA only or when the patients practice physical activity very often. Among the behavioral approaches, warm-up before exercise, breathing through the nose or face mask, and avoiding polluted environments are all recommended strategies to reduce EIB risk. This review summarizes the latest evidence published over the last 10 years on the pathogenesis, diagnosis using spirometry and indirect bronchoprovocation tests, and treatment strategies, including SABA and ICS, of EIB. A specific focus has been placed on EIB management in young athletes, since this condition can not only prevent them from practicing regular physical activity but also competitive sports. Full article

Millions of diabetic patients suffer from cardiovascular complications. One of the earliest signs of diabetic complications in the heart is diastolic dysfunction. Regular exercise is a highly effective preventive/therapeutic intervention against diastolic dysfunction in diabetes, but the underlying mechanism(s) remain poorly understood. Studies have shown that the accumulation of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria in the myocardium is at the center of this pathology. Here, we employed a mouse model of diabetes to test the hypothesis that endurance exercise training mitigates diastolic dysfunction by promoting cardiac mitophagy (the clearance of mitochondria via autophagy) via S555 phosphorylation of Ulk1. High-fat diet (HFD) feeding and streptozotocin (STZ) injection in mice led to reduced endurance capacity, impaired diastolic function, increased myocardial oxidative stress, and compromised mitochondrial structure and function, which were all ameliorated by 6 weeks of voluntary wheel running. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, we generated non-phosphorylatable Ulk1 (S555A) mutant mice and showed the requirement of p-Ulk1at S555 for exercise-induced mitophagy in the myocardium. However, diabetic Ulk1 (S555A) mice retained the benefits of exercise intervention. We conclude that endurance exercise training mitigates diabetes-induced diastolic dysfunction independent of Ulk1 phosphorylation at S555. Full article

The international literature emphasizes the importance of physical activity (PA) in the first steps after cancer surgery. The regular practice of physical exercise causes positive adaptations on several functional capacities, with positive consequences on patients’ quality of life. This project aims to evaluate the effect of a post-operative training protocol, structured by taking into account both cancer-related issues and the presence of comorbidities, on functional capacities and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Therefore, it was necessary to create a synergy between oncologists (referring physicians), sport medicine physicians (risk stratification and exercise prescription) and kinesiologists (trainers). Thirty-five post-surgery BC patients decided on a voluntary basis to attend an online Adapted PA (APA) protocol for 4 months, twice a week (APA Group) or Usual Care Group (UC Group). Functional capacity of the APA Group significantly increased, by 13.1% (p = 0.000), whereas perceived exertion decreased by 19.7% (p = 0.020). In the same group, the general health evaluated through the questionnaire EORTC-QLQ-C30 increased (p = 0.050). No differences were found in the UC Group. Operation Phalco, creating a network between oncologists, sports medicine physicians and kinesiologists, confirms the importance of structuring a post-operative path where APA should be included as early as possible in the cancer patient care. Full article

The sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA) actively transports Ca²⁺ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum to facilitate cardiac muscle relaxation. Phospholamban (PLN) allosterically inhibits SERCA, and an imbalance of SERCA2a, dominant cardiac isoform, and PLN content disrupts Ca²⁺ homeostasis and cardiac contractility. A previous study has shown that ovariectomized (OVX) rats have reduced SERCA activity due to lowered SERCA2a and increased PLN content. Furthermore, it was found that forced treadmill running in OVX rats restored SERCA activity and protein content levels. Here, we investigated whether voluntary wheel running (VWR) would produce similar effects on cardiac SERCA function in OVX mice. Female mice were divided into the following groups for 8 weeks: SHAM; OVX; SHAM + VWR; and OVX + VWR (n = 10/group). SERCA activity and Ca²⁺ uptake assays were performed in cardiac muscle homogenates. Protein levels of SERCA2, PLN, and pPLN were determined via Western blot analysis. We found statistical interactions for Ca²⁺ uptake, maximal SERCA activity, and SERCA2a content where VWR increased these parameters in SHAM mice but not in OVX mice. We detected a main effect of OVX on PLN content, and main effects of OVX and VWR on pPLN content. The OVX mice ran significantly less than the SHAM mice, suggesting that estrogen deprivation and lack of regular exercise may blunt the effects of voluntary aerobic exercise on cardiac SERCA function. Full article

The ageing process results in reduced neuromuscular function. This alongside prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with decreased muscle strength, force control and ability to maintain balance. Breaking up sedentary time with regular bouts of physical activity has numerous health benefits, though the effects on neuromuscular function are unknown. This study investigated the effect of breaking up sedentary time with calisthenic exercise on neuromuscular function. 17 healthy adults (33 ± 13.1 years), who spent ≥6 h/day sitting, were assigned to a four-week calisthenics intervention (n = 8) or control group (n = 9). The calisthenics intervention involved performing up to eight sets of exercises during the working day (09:00–17:00); with one set consisting of eight repetitions of five difference exercises (including squats and lunges). Before and immediately after the intervention, measures of knee extensor maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and submaximal force control (measures of the magnitude and complexity of force fluctuations), and dynamic balance (Y balance test) were taken. The calisthenics intervention resulted in a significant increase in knee extensor MVC (p = 0.036), significant decreases in the standard deviation (p = 0.031) and coefficient of variation (p = 0.016) of knee extensor force fluctuations during contractions at 40% MVC, and a significant increase in Y balance test posterolateral reach with left leg stance (p = 0.046). These results suggest that breaking up sedentary time with calisthenics may be effective at increasing muscle strength, force steadiness and dynamic balance all of which might help reduce the effects of the ageing process. Full article

Circadian rhythms are an inherent property of all living systems and an essential part of the external and internal temporal order. They enable organisms to be synchronized with their periodic environment and guarantee the optimal functioning of organisms. Any disturbances, so-called circadian disruptions, may have adverse consequences for health, physical and mental performance, and wellbeing. The environmental light–dark cycle is the main zeitgeber for circadian rhythms. Moreover, regular physical activity is most useful. Not only does it have general favorable effects on the cardiovascular system, the energy metabolism and mental health, for example, but it may also stabilize the circadian system via feedback effects on the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the main circadian pacemaker. Regular physical activity helps to maintain high-amplitude circadian rhythms, particularly of clock gene expression in the SCN. It promotes their entrainment to external periodicities and improves the internal synchronization of various circadian rhythms. This in turn promotes health and wellbeing. In experiments on Djungarian hamsters, voluntary access to a running wheel not only stabilized the circadian activity rhythm, but intensive wheel running even reestablished the rhythm in arrhythmic individuals. Moreover, their cognitive abilities were restored. Djungarian hamsters of the arrhythmic phenotype in which the SCN do not generate a circadian signal not only have a diminished cognitive performance, but their social memory is also compromised. Voluntary wheel running restored these abilities simultaneously with the reestablishment of the circadian activity rhythm. Intensively exercising Syrian hamsters are less anxious, more resilient to social defeat, and show less defensive/submissive behaviors, i.e., voluntary exercise may promote self-confidence. Similar effects were described for humans. The aim of the present paper is to summarize the current knowledge concerning the effects of physical activity on the stability of the circadian system and the corresponding consequences for physical and mental performance. Full article

Dysregulation of brain iron metabolism is one of the pathological features of aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment. While physical inactivity is one of the risk factors for AD and regular exercise improves cognitive function and reduces pathology associated with AD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the study is to explore the effect of regular physical exercise on modulation of iron homeostasis in the brain and periphery of the 5xFAD mouse model of AD. By using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and a variety of biochemical techniques, we measured total iron content and level of proteins essential in iron homeostasis in the brain and skeletal muscles of sedentary and exercised mice. Long-term voluntary running induced redistribution of iron resulted in altered iron metabolism and trafficking in the brain and increased iron content in skeletal muscle. Exercise reduced levels of cortical hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis, coupled with interleukin-6 (IL-6) decrease in cortex and plasma. We propose that regular exercise induces a reduction of hepcidin in the brain, possibly via the IL-6/STAT3/JAK1 pathway. These findings indicate that regular exercise modulates iron homeostasis in both wild-type and AD mice. Full article

Background: Aging and chronic degeneration are the primary threats to cardiometabolic health in elderly populations. Regular appropriate exercise would benefit the advanced aging population. Purpose: This study investigates whether the degree of weekly tennis participation exhibits differences in primary cardiometabolic parameters, including arterial stiffness, inflammation, and metabolic biomarkers in elderly tennis players. Methods: One hundred thirty-five long-term participants in elder tennis (>50 years old) were initially screened. Twenty-six eligible and voluntary subjects were divided into high tennis time group (HT) (14 ± 1.3 h/week) and low tennis time group (LT) (4.5 ± 0.7 h/week) by stratification analysis based on the amount of tennis playing activity time. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), blood pressure, ankle-brachial index (ABI), blood metabolic biomarkers, and insulin resistance were measured to compare the difference between HT and LT groups. Results: The baPWV was significantly lower in the HT group than that in the LT group (1283.92 ± 37.01 vs. 1403.69 ± 53.71 cm/s, p < 0.05). We also found that the HT insulin-resistant homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was significantly lower than that of LT (1.41 ± 0.11 vs. 2.27 ± 0.48 μIU/mL, p < 0.05). However, the blood lipid biomarkers (glucose, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride) were not statistical different between HT and LT groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated that under the condition of similar daily physical activity level, elderly with a higher time of tennis-playing (HT group) exhibited relatively lower arterial stiffness (lower PWV) and lower insulin resistance compared to those with lower time tennis-playing (LT). Full article