The impact of track and field training on dynapenia: gender differences in age-related decline of vertical jump performance among older adults.

Introduction: Alongside sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle strength and power, known as dynapenia, increases the risk of functional disability and mortality in older adults. However, engaging in sporting activities during old age appears to enhance functional capacity. The differences in effects between athletes and sedentary individuals, as well as between genders, have yet to be fully clarified.

How to navigate the many direct-to-consumer microbiota analyses and why to use them.

Gut microbiota analysis, until a few years ago an exclusive research tool, has recently begun to spread among doctors and nutritionists around the world as a means aimed at better understanding patient disorders. As often happens, the commercial push has literally exploded and today there are numerous companies that offer microbiota analysis of dubious quality and/or as a business appliance aimed at selling supplements and the like. For non-experts it can therefore be difficult to find one's way among the numerous proposals.

Effects of Phytosome on Sleep Quality: Results of a Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Cross-Over Study.

Background: standardised extracts, characterised by the presence of hydroxycinnamic acids, have been experimentally demonstrated to be endowed with anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia pharmacological actions. These effects, probably attributable, at least in part, to the role played by rosmarinic acid on GABA-T, have not always been observed in a reproducible manner in humans, perhaps due to the poor bioavailability of these compounds.

Methods: as nutraceuticals and botanicals could be an alternative option to prescription medications for alleviating symptoms of mild anxiety and insomnia, we have verified in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and cross-over study the supporting role on sleep quality played by a highly standardised extract, formulated as Phytosome™ (MOP) to improve the oral bioavailability of its active polyphenolic components.

Assessment of Perceived Effort Through On-Field Hydration Monitoring: A Case Analysis.

This case report examines the correlation between hydration, weight variation, and perceived effort in a 43-year-old amateur athlete during a self-supported 81.5 km crossing of Death Valley, completed over 3 days with significant elevation changes. Studies have shown that a body mass loss greater than 2-3% can lead to an increased perception of effort and a decline in performance.

Efficacy of Blis K12 in the Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Physically Active Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigates the efficacy of K12 in preventing upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in healthy adults. URTIs are a common issue, particularly in physically active individuals, leading to significant disruptions in daily life. Probiotics, such as K12, have emerged as a potential preventive strategy for these infections.

A Controlled, Retrospective, Single-Center Study to Evaluate the Role of a Probiotic Mixture Administered during Pregnancy in Reducing Streptococcus Agalactiae Swab Positivity and the Frequency of Premature Rupture of Amniochorionic Membranes.

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, considered able to prevent streptococcal transmission from mother to newborn and its severe negative consequences, leads to microbiota dysbiosis, described as having a negative impact on well-being in both elements of the dyad. L3 is a probiotic strain capable of exerting strong antagonistic activity against most streptococci, including , due to the production of bacteriocins (known as enterocins A and B). A proprietary probiotic mixture containing the strain L3 demonstrated, in 2016, a significant reduction in episodes of PROM in pregnant women, with a less-than-expected effect on the vaginal-rectal presence of the pathogen .

Draft genome sequence of non-pathogenic 5C LMG S-33222, isolated from healthy donor feces.

We present the genome sequence of 5C LMG S-33222, a non-pathogenic microorganism with potential probiotic features. The strain was isolated in 2021 from a fecal sample of a healthy Italian infant. The total genome size is 4,712,575 bp with a G + C content of 51%.

The Anti-Constipation Effect of Bifidobacterium Longum W11 Is Likely Due to a Key Genetic Factor Governing Arabinan Utilization.

Recent investigations have highlighted, both experimentally and clinically, that probiotic strains equipped with arabinofuranosidase, in particular and , favor regular intestinal motility, thus counteracting constipation. By analyzing the gene expression and the proliferative response in the presence of arabinan of the probiotic W11, a strain previously validated as an anti-constipation probiotic, we have speculated that its response mechanism to arabinan can effectively explain its clinical action. Our approach could be used in the future to select probiotics endowed with arabinofuranosidase-related anti-constipation effects.

The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Particularly Butyrate, in Oncological Immunotherapy with Checkpoint Inhibitors: The Effectiveness of Complementary Treatment with 588.

The discovery of immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1) and their impact on the prognosis of oncological diseases have paved the way for the development of revolutionary oncological treatments. These treatments do not combat tumors with drugs "against" cancer cells but rather support and enhance the ability of the immune system to respond directly to tumor growth by attacking the cancer cells with lymphocytes. It has now been widely demonstrated that the presence of an adequate immune response, essentially represented by the number of TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) present in the tumor mass decisively influences the response to treatments and the prognosis of the disease.

Sports-Related Gastrointestinal Disorders: From the Microbiota to the Possible Role of Nutraceuticals, a Narrative Analysis.

Intense physical exercise can be related to a significant incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, with a prevalence documented in the literature above 80%, especially for more intense forms such as running. This is in an initial phase due to the distancing of the flow of blood from the digestive system to the skeletal muscle and thermoregulatory systems, and secondarily to sympathetic nervous activation and hormonal response with alteration of intestinal motility, transit, and nutrient absorption capacity. The sum of these effects results in a localized inflammatory process with disruption of the intestinal microbiota and, in the long term, systemic inflammation.

The Potential Role of Probiotics, Especially Butyrate Producers, in the Management of Gastrointestinal Mucositis Induced by Oncologic Chemo-Radiotherapy.

Many clinical studies have now highlighted how the composition of the intestinal microbiota can regulate the effects of many oncological therapies. In particular, the modulation of microbial composition has been shown to enhance their efficacy and reduce potential side effects. Numerous adverse events induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy appear to be strongly associated with an alteration in the intestinal microbiota caused by these treatments.

Safety and efficacy of a class II medical device based on highly purified and standardized plant extracts in the management of post-menopausal patients with vulvar and vaginal atrophy: a single-center prospective observational study.

Background: Despite the gold standard treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is based on the use of local or systemic estrogen-containing products, the typical long-term side effects of hormonal treatments and, most importantly, the contraindications in patients with history of breast and endometrial neoplasms do limit in some extent its use. As hyaluronic acid and some highly purified botanicals have clearly demonstrated their anti-inflammatory and mucosa-protecting properties, we have tested, in women with GSM, a class II vaginal medical device containing hyaluronate gel and a mucoadhesive active enriched with purified alkylamides from Zanthoxylum bungeanum, triterpenes from Centella asiatica and high molecular weight polysaccharides from Tamarindus indica.

Methods: Our single-center, open-label, prospective and observational study was conducted on 50 menopausal women enrolled at the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital in Rome, Italy.

Effect of Berberine Phytosome on reproductive, dermatologic, and metabolic characteristics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a controlled, randomized, multi-centric, open-label clinical trial.

Berberine is a poorly absorbed natural alkaloid widely used as nutraceutical to counteract diarrhoea and to lower cholesterol and hyperglycaemia. It has also been reported to reduce signs and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To explore, through a multi-centric, randomized, controlled and prospective study, the possible role played by a form berberine that is more easily absorbed (Berberine Phytosome, BP) in 130 Pakistani women with a diagnosis of PCOS and fertility problems due to menstrual and ovary abnormalities.

Effect of M247 Administration on Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Undergoing IVF: A Controlled, Retrospective, Observational, and Open-Label Study.

The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate whether the oral administration of (M247) could increase pregnancy and live birth rates in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures. Enrolled women (N = 160) were divided into two groups: treated (N = 80) or untreated (N = 80) with the probiotic strain. The odds ratio (OR) for a treated woman to have a clinical pregnancy (CP) was 1.

Preliminary Assessment of the Acute Effects of Far Infrared-Emitting Garments: What Are the Possible Implications for Recovery and Performance?

Technical clothing has recently been brought into the spotlight as one of the most promising tools to improve sports performance and to enhance sports recovery. Among technical clothing items, garments engineered to emit far infrared (FIR) spectrum frequencies have come to the fore as a treatment for pain, muscle fatigue, and tissue healing due to their potential antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, with applications not only during recovery phases but also in the active phases of exercise. These garments, composed of fibers mixed with noble metals and/or bioceramics that respond to body infrared frequencies by returning an FIR emission backwards, are thought to improve muscle oxygenation and therefore recovery.

Influence of the microbiota on the effectiveness and toxicity of oncological therapies, with a focus on chemotherapy.

Recent studies have highlighted a possible correlation between microbiota composition and the pathogenesis of various oncological diseases. Also, many bacterial groups are now directly or indirectly associated with the capability of stimulating or inhibiting carcinogenic pathways. However, little is known about the importance and impact of microbiota patterns related to the efficacy and toxicity of cancer treatments.

PRL2020: Antibiotic-Resistant Profile and Genomic Detection of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants.

Antibiotics are one of the greatest scientific achievements of modern medicine, but excessive use is creating challenges for the future of medicine. Antibiotic resistance (AR) is thought to cause changes in bowel habits and an increased risk of gastroenteritis, but it may also increase the risk of overweight, obesity, autoimmune and atopic diseases, and a low response to vaccines and cancer, likely mediated by antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis. Probiotic add-on therapy could partially prevent antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis, but their antibiotic sensitivity features likely limits this potential.