Training Protocol Research Articles

Effect of Melilotus Extract and Exercise on Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in an Alzheimer's Mouse Model

Background: Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are key factors in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training on gene expression and certain neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress indicators in the hippocampus and testicular tissue of male rats with AD. Methods: Fifty-five eight-week-old male Wistar rats were obtained and randomly divided into four groups: Alzheimer's control, Alzheimer's + training, Alzheimer's + melilotus, and Alzheimer's + melilotus + training. An additional 11 rats were included in a healthy control group. Alzheimer's disease was induced in the rats. The intervention protocol included resistance training and melilotus administration. In the resistance training protocol, a weight was attached to the rats' tails, requiring them to lift these weights up 26 steps of a ladder. Complementary groups also received melilotus. Seventy-two hours after the last session, the rats were euthanized, and the hippocampus was extracted for further analysis. A two-way ANOVA test was used to estimate differences between groups after the induction of AD (P ≤ 0.05). Primers were designed, cDNA was prepared, and specific tissues were analyzed. Results: The results showed that exercise and melilotus consumption decreased the levels of the beta-secretase enzyme, testicular clusterin, nerve growth factor (NGF), and Brain-Derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes, and increased nuclear erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), and lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B), with significant differences observed between the groups. Conclusions: The intervention of exercise and melilotus extract consumption positively affected health and reduced the progression of AD. The independent variables' intervention modified the expression of genes related to AD, likely due to increased brain blood flow from exercise, synaptic strengthening of neurons, and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of melilotus.

Effects of a Virtual Reality Reaction Training Protocol on Physical and Cognitive Skills of Young Adults and Their Neural Correlates: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

Increasing evidence shows that virtual reality (VR) training is highly effective in cognitive and motor rehabilitation. Another modern form of training is cognitive-motor dual-task training (CMDT), which has been demonstrated to rapidly improve physical and cognitive functions in real environments. This study aims to test whether a VR-based CMDT protocol can be used for motor and cognitive skill enhancement in young, healthy subjects. For this aim, 24 university students participated in a randomized control trial. The experimental group participated in a 5-week virtual reality reaction training (VRRT), performing 30 min sessions once a week. The control group did not receive any training but was tested twice with the same measures and temporal distance as the experimental group. Before and after the intervention, motor, cognitive, and electrophysiological measures were assessed. The results showed that following VRRT, the response time for both physical and cognitive tests was improved by about 14% and 12%, respectively, while the control group did not show significant changes. Moreover, electrophysiological data revealed a significant increase in anticipatory motor readiness in premotor brain areas in the experimental group only; however, cognitive top-down control tended to be increased in prefrontal areas after VRRT. This training protocol in a VR modality seems to be as effective as other CMDT methodologies carried out in a real modality. Still, it has the advantages of being more flexible and more user-friendly compared to standard training. The VRRT's efficacy on physical and cognitive functions indicates that virtual reality applications can be used by the young population, not only for entertainment purposes but also in the form of cognitive-motor training.

A Preliminary Study on the Effects of 4-Week Training Program with Interactive Floor Support on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Sedentary Individuals

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate on the effects of foot exercises by using interactive floor support as a modality of rehabilitation technology on plantar pressure distribution in sedentary individuals. Methods: Participants who were aged between 18-35, who agreed to participate voluntarily and had no pathology developed in the lower extremities in the past 6 months were included in this study. In order to determine the plantar pressure distribution change of all participants, the first and last evaluation was measured with Emed® Pedobarography. Balance and proprioception exercises on both lower extremities for 12 sessions (for four weeks, three sessions per week, lasts 15 minutes each) were performed with an interactive floor device. Results: A total of 15 healthy and sedentary subjects (12 female, 3 male, with a mean of 20,27±0,961 years and 21,31 ± 3,027 kg/m2 BMI) completed the four-week training protocol. Maximum force of total and hindfoot in both feet significantly decreased after 4-week training (p.05). Conclusion: Based on our results, the present study revealed that the 4-week training programme with interactive floor support for ankle joint could decrease maximum force of total and hindfoot on the bottom of the dominant and non-dominant side feet in healthy and sedentary individuals. Future investigation should be conducted to clarify the effects of long-term training programs with interactive floor support on plantar pressure distribution in patients with foot deformities.

Effects of 34 Weeks of Military Service on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Military Cadets of Angola.

Military personnel need physical fitness to effectively carry out operational military activities within their specific field of operation. This research investigates the effects of a 34-week training program on Angolan cadets' body composition, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Seventy-four volunteer recruits, aged 18 to 26 years, were monitored during their eight-month military service, following an exercise program protocol comprising 12 weeks of strength training followed by 24 weeks of endurance training. Anthropometric variables, including body mass, body mass index, and fat mass, were assessed, along with cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), sprint performance, countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw, push-ups, and curl-ups. The physical training protocol encompassed running sessions, strength exercises, agility drills, and flexibility exercises. The initial assessment revealed gender differences in various parameters such as body mass, body fat percentage, VO2max, sprinting, countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw, and push-ups. Following the training program, changes were observed in all variables (effect size between 0.48 and 2.33, p < 0.01) for the participants. Significant interactions (sex × time) were found in body mass (F = 5.18, p = 0.03, ηp2 = 0.06), body fat percentage (F = 5.31, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.14), and medicine ball throw (F = 10.84, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.13). Specifically, males exhibited a greater reduction in body mass (females: 2.70%, males: 3.47%, p < 0.05) and a substantial improvement in ball throwing performance (females: 7.74%, males: 11.47%, p < 0.01), while females experienced a greater reduction in fat mass (females: 5.34%, males: 3.15%, p < 0.01). The physical training regimen effectively influenced body composition, particularly in enhancing strength performance among males. The integration of exercise programs with military service led to a notable reduction in fat tissue and an increase in lean tissue. Hence, the development of tailored training protocols is imperative to enhance the physical capacity and overall health of military recruits, considering sex-specific characteristics and physical attributes.

Enhancing ultrasound education in obstetrics and gynecology in Germany: insights and innovations from postgraduate training

BackgroundUltrasound (US) has become integral to obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn), necessitating proficient training during residency. Despite its clinical importance, there is a perceived gap in the quality and structure of postgraduate ultrasound education in Germany.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among Ob/Gyn residents in Germany from October 2023 to March 2024, using the LimeSurvey platform. The survey, distributed via email, social media, and physical flyers, garnered 211 participants, with 115 completing all sections. The questionnaire covered demographic details, US training experiences, and the perceived importance of US in clinical practice.ResultsAlthough US was highly valued by respondents, with an average of 26.1% of their clinical activity devoted to it, there was significant dissatisfaction with the training quality. Key issues included inadequate supervision, the necessity of self-training, and low participation in certification courses. Despite 93.0% awareness of professional US organizations like the German Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM), engagement with structured training programs was minimal.DiscussionThe study highlights a critical need for standardized US training protocols and curricular reform in Ob/Gyn residencies in Germany. The discrepancy between the recognized importance of US and the quality of training indicates a pressing need for improvements. Addressing these gaps through comprehensive, structured educational reforms could significantly enhance the proficiency and confidence of future Ob/Gyn specialists, ultimately improving patient care.

Effects of using stanozolol on heart morphology in sedentary and athlete rats

The indiscriminate use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) causes harm to several systems such as reproductive, hepatic, skeletal muscle, endocrine, renal, cardiovascular and dermatological. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects on the morphology of the heart of sedentary rats and athletic rats using stanozolol. For this purpose, 40 male Wistar rats, 90 days old, were used, subdivided into four vehicle control groups (CV), control treated with stanozolol (CT), exercise vehicle (EV) and the exercise group treated with stanozolol (ET). Stanozolol was applied at a dosage of 20 mg/kg/week for 8 weeks intramuscularly, the training protocol consisted of swimming, five times a week, for nine consecutive weeks. Histological slides were prepared from the animals' left ventricle and analyzes were carried out under light microscopy. There were no histological changes in the morphology of the heart in sedentary animals and athletes, both using stanozolol.

Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery versus robotic transabdominal specimen extraction surgery for early-stage rectal cancer: a multicenter propensity score-matched analysis (in China).

Despite the global increase in the adoption of robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (R-NOSES), its advantages over robotic transabdominal specimen extraction surgery (R-TSES) for treating early-stage rectal cancer remain debated. There is scant nationwide, multicenter studies comparing the surgical quality and short-term outcomes between R-NOSES and R-TSES for this condition. This retrospective cohort study was conducted nationally across multiple centers to compare the surgical quality and short-term outcomes between R-NOSES and R-TSES in early-stage rectal cancer. Multicenter retrospective cohort trial. Eight experienced surgeons from 8 high-volume Chinese colorectal cancer treatment centers. The study included 1086 patients who underwent R-NOSES or R-TSES from October 2015 to November 2023 at the 8 centers. Inclusion criteria were: (1) histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma; (2) robotic total mesorectal excision; (3) postoperative pathological staging of TisN0M0 or T1-2N0M0; (4) availability of complete surgical and postoperative follow-up data. Patients were matched 1:1 in the R-NOSES and R-TSES groups using the propensity score matching (PSM) technique. After PSM, 318 matched pairs with well-balanced patient characteristics were identified. The operation time for the R-NOSES group was significantly longer than that for the R-TSES group [140min (125-170min) vs. 140min (120-160min), P = 0.032]. Conversely, the times to first flatus and initial oral intake in the R-NOSES group were significantly shorter than those in the R-TSES group [48h (41-56h) vs. 48h (44-62h), P = 0.049 and 77h (72-94h) vs. 82h (72-96h), P = 0.008], respectively. Additionally, the length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the R-NOSES group compared with the R-TSES group [7 day (7-9 day) vs. 8 day (7-9 day), P = 0.005]. The overall postoperative complication rates were similar between the groups (10.7% in the R-NOSES group vs. 11.9% in the R-TSES group, P = 0.617). However, the R-NOSES group had a lower incidence of wound complications compared to the R-TSES group (0.0% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.015). Regarding surgical stress response, the R-NOSES group showed superior outcomes. Additionally, patients in the R-NOSES group required fewer additional analgesics on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5 and reported lower pain scores compared to the R-TSES group. The body image scale (BIS) and cosmetic scale (CS) scores were also significantly higher in the R-NOSES group. Furthermore, the R-NOSES group demonstrated significantly better outcomes in functional dimensions such as physical, role, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning, and in symptoms like fatigue and pain, when compared to the R-TSES group. It is imperative to ensure the safe and standardized implementation of R-NOSES through the establishment of a uniform training protocol. These results affirm that R-NOSES is a safe and effective treatment for early-stage rectal cancer when meticulously executed by skilled surgeons.

Structured different exercise protocols improve lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke patients. A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background The effect of core stabilization exercises (CSE) alone, or in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Kinesio taping (KT) on lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke is not fully known. Objective To compare the efficacy of NMES and KT applied with CSE on lung functions, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke. Methods A total of 45 stroke patients were randomly assigned to the core stabilization exercises (CSE) group, CSE+KT group or CSE+NMES group, respectively. All groups received the training protocol for 30–45 minutes, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. Lung functions were measured using portable spirometry. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed using an analog manometer to measure maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Peak cough flow (PCF) was measured with a peak flow meter. Respiratory muscles thickness were determined using ultrasonography. Results Except for FVC (%pred) (F=4.432, p=0.018, np2=0.174), FEV1(%pred) (F=3.725, p=0.032, np2=0.151), and MEP (F=3.861, p=0.029, np2=0.155), the overall group by time interaction for rmANOVA showed that there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05). After post hoc analysis, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of FVC (%pred), FEV1(%pred) and MEP (p>0.025). Conclusions The addition of NMES or KT to core stabilization exercises did not appear to provide additional benefit in improving lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke patients.

Effects of circuit training and Yoga on biochemical and psychological responses to stress and cardiovascular markers: A randomized clinical trial with nursing and medical students in Southern Brazil

A Randomized Controlled Trial involving 158 Brazilian medical and nursing students assessed one of three conditions over an 8-week period: 1) a circuit training protocol (CTG); 2) a yoga protocol (YG); or 3) no intervention (CG). The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of circuit training and yoga protocols in reducing perceived mental stress and examining their effects on serum cortisol levels, as well as on traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs), during an academic semester. Mental stress was measured using self-reported stress questionnaires. For the CTG, comparisons of pre- vs. post-intervention data indicated a reduction in self-reported stress levels on a Brazilian scale (p < 0.001) and an international scale (p < 0.05). Regarding CRFs, there was a reduction in waist circumference (WC) (p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p < 0.05), and heart rate (HR) (p < 0.001). No changes were observed in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.211) and serum cortisol (SC) (p = 0.423). In the YG, pre- vs. post-intervention data indicated a reduction in self-reported stress levels on the ISSL (p < 0.001), in both resistance and exhaustion stress levels on the PSS scale (p < 0.001), and in SC levels (p < 0.001), WC (p < 0.05), and SBP (p < 0.05); however, HR and DBP did not change (p = 0.168 and p = 0.07, respectively) in this group. No changes were noted in any measures in the CG. The intervention protocols demonstrated that both CTG and YG can positively impact mental or biochemical stress responses, as well as CRFs.

Imbalance and Falls in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Causes and Recent Developments in Training and Sensor-Based Assessment.

Imbalance and falls in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) do not only reduce their quality of life but also their life expectancy. Aging-related symptoms as well as disease-specific motor and non-motor symptoms contribute to these conditions and should be treated when appropriate. In addition to an active lifestyle, advanced exercise training is useful and effective, especially for less medically responsive symptoms such as freezing of gait and postural instability at advanced stages. As treadmill training in non-immersive virtual reality, including dual tasks, significantly reduced the number of falls in PD patients, the mechanism(s) explaining this effect should be further investigated. Such research could help to select the most suitable patients and develop the most effective training protocols based on this novel technology. Real-life digital surrogate markers of mobility, such as those describing aspects of endurance, performance, and the complexity of specific movements, can further improve the quality of mobility assessment using wearables.

Sheep (Ovis aries) training protocol for voluntary awake and unrestrained structural brain MRI acquisitions

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique that requires the participant to be completely motionless. To date, MRI in awake and unrestrained animals has only been achieved with humans and dogs. For other species, alternative techniques such as anesthesia, restraint and/or sedation have been necessary. Anatomical and functional MRI studies with sheep have only been conducted under general anesthesia. This ensures the absence of movement and allows relatively long MRI experiments but it removes the non-invasive nature of the MRI technique (i.e., IV injections, intubation). Anesthesia can also be detrimental to health, disrupt neurovascular coupling, and does not permit the study of higher-level cognition. Here, we present a proof-of-concept that sheep can be trained to perform a series of tasks, enabling them to voluntarily participate in MRI sessions without anesthesia or restraint. We describe a step-by-step training protocol based on positive reinforcement (food and praise) that could be used as a basis for future neuroimaging research in sheep. This protocol details the two successive phases required for sheep to successfully achieve MRI acquisitions of their brain. By providing structural brain MRI images from six out of ten sheep, we demonstrate the feasibility of our training protocol. This innovative training protocol paves the way for the possibility of conducting animal welfare-friendly functional MRI studies with sheep to investigate ovine cognition.

Hybrid SPEAK OUT! protocol improves aerodynamic measurements and PROMs in Parkinson's disease.

SPEAK OUT! has been shown to enhance various aspects of voice such as intensity, prosody, voice quality and perception of voice. However, their impacts on expiration and communication effectiveness have not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hybrid SPEAK OUT! method on aerodynamic measurements and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study included 157 participants with PD who underwent an intensive 8-week multidisciplinary treatment program. The Hybrid SPEAK OUT! method consisted of three sessions per week, including two group sessions and one individual treatment session. Voice-related aerodynamic measures included maximum phonation time (MPT), vocal cord function using the S/Z ratio, and expiratory flow measures including peakexpiratoryflow (PEF) and peak cough flow (PCF). Two PROMs were included: the Hebrew version of the voice handicap index-10 and communication effectiveness questionnaire. The results of 111 participants were analysed. MPT duration increased, PEF and PCF increased, and better scores were found in PROMs. These findings would appear to support the effectiveness of the Hybrid SPEAK OUT! methods improving function, activity and participation in individuals with PD. However, further research is needed. What is already known on the subject Prior research has demonstrated the effectiveness of behavioral therapies, including the SPEAK OUT! program, in managing speech symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). These therapies have shown improvements in voice intensity, fundamental frequency, voice quality, and voice perception. However, the impact on aerodynamic measures, expiratory flow, and patient-reported outcome measures has not been extensively studied. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study adds to the existing knowledge by demonstrating that a Hybrid SPEAK OUT! approach, can lead to improvements in aerodynamic measures, including maximum phonation time (MPT), expiratory and cough peak flow. In terms of motor learning, we found that two non-speech exhalation-related tasks that were not directly trained improved following the intensive speech training protocol. Furthermore, it shows positive changes in patient-reported outcome measures, with reduced voice-related disability and improved communication efficiency. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The findings of this study have important clinical implications for the management of speech symptoms in individuals with PD. The Hybrid SPEAK OUT! program, which combines group and individual sessions, can effectively improve voice, aerodynamic measurements and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), ultimately enhancing the overall quality of life for patients. These findings support the effectiveness of the Hybrid SPEAK OUT! methods for improving function, activity, and participation in individuals with PD.

Development of the Children’s ACuTe UltraSound (CACTUS) point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)-accredited training in the UK: a descriptive study

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an established, evidence-supported tool that can be used in neonatal and paediatric medicine, offering clinicians immediate diagnostic insights, assessment of interventions and improved safety profiles and...

FCAN : Speech emotion recognition network based on focused contrastive learning

Traditional speech emotion recognition (SER) models predominantly utilize cross-entropy loss for supervised optimization. Yet, given the limited size of SER datasets, relying solely on cross-entropy loss does not adequately capture the intricacies within the data. Moreover, conventional contrastive learning techniques, though improving performance, do not completely harness the inherent data structure across samples. To surmount these limitations, we introduce an innovative emotion recognition network founded on focused contrastive learning. Our model employs bidirectional gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks to seize critical contextual dependencies. By integrating an attention mechanism, we adeptly merge the contextual features of dialogues with individual utterance attributes, forming a comprehensive multi-stage feature fusion framework. This strategy extracts more elaborate emotional features from the constrained dataset. Additionally, by amalgamating the focal loss function into our training protocol, we mitigate imbalanced sample issues to a degree. We further refine our contrastive loss function by enacting a weighted strategy for intra-dialogue category assignments, where higher penalty weights are ascribed to harder-to-identify categories, thus incentivizing the model to concentrate on distinguishing subtler category differences. This refinement significantly bolsters the model’s proficiency in learning various emotional feature distributions, thereby enhancing its emotion recognition capabilities. Experimental validation on IEMOCAP and MELD benchmark datasets underpins our model’s superiority.

The Role of Virtual Reality in the Management of Football Injuries

Injuries represent a serious concern for football players, with a significant loss in terms of sport participation and long periods of rehabilitation. According to the 2019/20 UEFA Élite Club Injury Report, the average incidence of injuries during training is 2.8 per 1000 h of training, with an average absence from training of 20 days. In addition, injured athletes are 4 to 7 times more likely to relapse than uninjured athletes. High workloads and reduced recovery periods represent two of the most important modifiable risk factors. In this context, prevention and an adequate rehabilitation protocol are vital in managing injuries, reducing their incidence, and improving the return to competition. In recent years, technological development has provided new tools in rehabilitation, and Virtual reality (VR) has shown interesting results in treating neurologic and orthopedic pathologies. Virtual Reality (VR) technology finds application in the sports industry as a tool to examine athletes’ technical movements. The primary objective is to detect the biomechanical risk factors associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury. Additionally, VR can be used to train athletes in field-specific techniques and create safe and controlled therapeutic environments for post-injury recovery. Moreover, VR offers a customizable approach to treatment based on individual player data. It can be employed for both prevention and rehabilitation, tailoring the rehabilitation and training protocols according to the athletes’ specific needs.

Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training on Anxiety Reduction and Brain Activity: a Randomized Active-Controlled Study Using EEG.

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) is a promising anxiety-reducing intervention that increases vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) through slow-paced breathing and feedback of heart rhythm. Several studies have reported the anxiety-reducing effects of HRVBF; however, some studies have reported such training as ineffective. Furthermore, the effects of training and underlying brain activity changes remain unclear. This study examined the anxiety-reducing effects of HRVBF training and related brain activity changes by randomly assigning participants, employing an active control group, and measuring anxiety-related attentional bias using the emotional Stroop task and electroencephalography (EEG). Fifty-five healthy students with anxiety were randomly assigned to the HRVBF or control groups, and 21 in the HRVBF group and 19 in the control group were included in the analysis. Both groups performed 10 training sessions of 20min each within 3 weeks. They were assessed using resting vmHRV, event-related potential (ERP), time-frequency EEG, attentional bias, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ (STAI-JYZ) before and after training. The results demonstrated increased resting vmHRV in the HRVBF group compared to the control group after training. However, no differences were observed in ERP, time-frequency EEG, attentional bias, and STAI-JYZ. Participants with higher pre-training resting vmHRV achieved higher heart rhythm coherence in HRVBF training and had reduced attentional bias. This study suggests that individuals with higher resting vmHRV are more likely to be proficient in HRVBF training and benefit from its anxiety-reducing effects. The findings contribute to participant selection to benefit from HRVBF training and modification of the training protocols for non-responders.Clinical trial registrationOrganization: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), JapanRegistration number: UMIN000047096Registration date: March 6, 2022.

Effects of combining a high-intensity interval training programme with a standard programme on mobility and function in lower limb amputees.

High-energy expenditure during walking is one of the most important limiting factors for lower limb amputees. Although several physical training methods have been proposed to reduce energy expenditure, little is known about the effects of high-intensity interval training in lower limb amputees. This study aimed to test the effects of a 6-week high-intensity interval training protocol in subjects with lower limb amputation on walking distance, physiological cost of walking, and functional mobility. A quasi-experimental pre and post-study included 13 subjects with lower limb amputation. They performed 12 sessions of a high-intensity interval training protocol with a frequency of 2 days/week for 6 weeks. Walking distance, physiological cost of walking, and functional mobility before and after the training protocol were assessed. Walking distance increased from 204.48 to 229.09 m ( P = 0.003), physiological cost of walking decreased from 0.66 to 0.31 beats/m ( P = 0.001), and functional mobility improved from 30.38 to 33.61 points ( P = 0.001). High-intensity interval training improved walking distance, physiological cost of walking, and functional mobility in subjects with lower limb amputation.

A Comparative Analysis of Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses in Whole-Body and Ergometer-Based High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols.

The primary aim of the present investigation was to compare the acute physiological and perceptual responses between two modes of interval training using a randomized crossover design. More specifically, eleven young adult participants (23 ± 4 years, 77 ± 13 kg, 178 ± 7 cm) performed two protocols: one composed of whole-body calisthenics exercises and another on a cycle ergometer. Both protocols encompassed eight 20 s bouts at intensities equivalent to all-out (HIIT-WB) and 170% of the maximal power output (HIIT-C), respectively, interspersed with 10 s of passive rest. The peak and average heart rate, the rating of perceived effort, and blood lactate, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were measured. Aside from blood lactate (HIIT-WB = 9.4 ± 1.8 mmo/L; HIIT-C = 12.5 ± 2.5 mmol/L, p < 0.05) and the rating of perceived exertion (HIIT-WB = 8.8 ± 0.9; HIIT-C = 9.6 ± 0.5, p < 0.05), physiological responses did not significantly differ between protocols (all p > 0.05), with high average heart rate values (HIIT-WB = 86 ± 6% HRmax; HIIT-C = 87 ± 4% HRmax) and a low magnitude of muscle damage, as inferred by CK and LDH concentrations (HIIT-WB = 205.9 ± 56.3 and 203.5 ± 72.4 U/L; HIIT-C = 234.5 ± 77.1 and 155.1 ± 65.3 U/L), respectively. It can be concluded that both protocols elicit vigorous heart rate responses and a low magnitude of muscle damage and, therefore, appear as viable alternatives to improve aerobic fitness. The inclusion of a whole-body HIIT protocol may be an interesting alternative for training prescription in relation to more common interval training protocols.

Combined physical exercise re-synchronizes expression of Bmal1 and REV-ERBα and up-regulates apoptosis and metabolism in the prostate during aging

BackgroundAging increases the prevalence of prostate cancer. The circadian clock coordinates metabolism, cell cycle, and tumor suppressor p53. Although physical exercise has several effects on preventing prostate diseases, its effect on regulating genes and proteins of the circadian rhythm of the prostate needs to be better evaluated. The present study verified expression of REV-ERBα (Nr1d1), Bmal1, apoptosis, tumor suppressors, energetic metabolism markers, and androgen receptors in the prostatic microenvironment in 18-month-old mice submitted to combined physical training. MethodsC57BL/6 J mice were divided into 2 groups: 6 months-old (n = 10) and 18 months-old, (n = 20). The 18-month-old animals were divided into 2 subgroups: sedentary (n = 10, 18 m Sed) and submitted to combined physical training (n = 10, 18 m TR). Combined physical training protocol was performed by running on the treadmill (40–60 % of incremental load test) and climbing strength training (40–50 % of maximum repetition test), consisting of 5×/week (3 days aerobic and 2 days strength) for 3 weeks. The prostate was prepared for Western blot and RT-qPCR analysis, and the plasm was prepared for the biochemistry analysis. ResultsCombined physical exercise during aging led to increased levels of Bmal1 and decreased levels of REV-ERBα in the prostate. These results were accompanied by a reduction in the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α proteins and an increase in the PI3K/AKT and p53/PTEN/caspase 3 pathways, promoting apoptotic potential. ConclusionThese findings suggest that strength and aerobic physical exercise may be preventive in the development of preneoplastic molecular alterations and age-related features by re-synchronizes Bmal1 and REV-ERBα in prostatic tissues.

Contributions of Griffith Pugh to Success on Mt. Everest and His Impact on the Advancement of Altitude and Environmental Physiology.

Griffith Pugh, MD (1909-1994), was a pioneer in altitude physiology. During World War II, he developed training protocols in Lebanon to improve soldier performance at altitude and in the cold. In 1951 he was chosen to join the British Everest team as a scientist. In preparation, he developed strategies for success on a training expedition on Cho Oyu in 1952. Results from Cho Oyu led to the use of supplemental oxygen at higher flow rates during ascent than used previously (4 L/min vs 2 L/min) and continued use (at a reduced rate of 2 L/min) during descent, enabling increased performance and improved mental acuity. Oxygen was also used during sleep, leading to improved sleep and warmth. Adequate hydration (∼3 L/day) was also stressed, and a more appealing diet led to improved nutrition and condition of the climbers. Improved hygiene practices and acclimatization protocols were also developed. These strategies contributed to the first successful summiting of Mount Everest in 1953. Pugh was then appointed as the lead scientist for a ground-breaking eight-and-a-half-month research expedition where the team was the first to overwinter at high altitude (5800 m) in the Himalayas. This current work summarizes Pugh's scientific contributions as they relate to success on Mount Everest and in inspiring future altitude research by generations of successful researchers.