Cardiac Function and Structure before and after Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Elite Athletes Using Biventricular and Left Atrial Strain.

Background/objectives: Myocardial involvement has been observed in athletes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is unclear if these changes are due to myocardial damage per se or to an interruption in training. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac function and structure in elite athletes before and after infection (INFAt) and compare them to a group of healthy controls (CON).

Effect of Sugar- and Polyphenol-Rich, Diluted Cloudy Apple Juice on the Intestinal Barrier after Moderate Endurance Exercise and in Ultra-Marathon Runners.

Background: Exercise and the consumption of sugars result in a dysfunction of the intestinal barrier (IB). Here, we determined the effect of sugar in a natural matrix on the intestinal barrier after moderate (A) and intensive endurance exercise (B).

Method: The IB function was determined before (pre) and after running (post), and 120 and 180 min after consuming the drink by measuring serum endotoxin concentrations (lipopolysaccharides-LPS), IL-6, CD14, and i-FABP.

Functional and Morphological Differences of Muscle Mitochondria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or post-COVID syndrome (PCS) exhibit a reduced physiological performance capability. Impaired mitochondrial function and morphology may play a pivotal role. Thus, we aimed to measure the muscle mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity and assess mitochondrial morphology in CFS and PCS patients in comparison to healthy controls (HCs).

COVID-19 in Female and Male Athletes: Symptoms, Clinical Findings, Outcome, and Prolonged Exercise Intolerance-A Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Cohort Study (CoSmo-S).

Background: An infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a variety of symptoms and complications, which can impair athletic activity.

Objective: We aimed to assess the clinical symptom patterns, diagnostic findings, and the extent of impairment in sport practice in a large cohort of athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2, both initially after infection and at follow-up. Additionally, we investigated whether baseline factors that may contribute to reduced exercise tolerance at follow-up can be identified.

Acute Effects of Single Versus Combined Inhaled β2-Agonists Salbutamol and Formoterol on Time Trial Performance, Lung Function, Metabolic and Endocrine Variables.

Background: High prevalence rates of β2-agonist use among athletes in competitive sports makes it tempting to speculate that illegitimate use of β2-agonists boosts performance. However, data regarding the potential performance-enhancing effects of inhaled β2-agonists and its underlying molecular basis are scarce.

Methods: In total, 24 competitive endurance athletes (12f/12m) participated in a clinical double-blinded balanced four-way block cross-over trial to investigate single versus combined effects of β2-agonists salbutamol (SAL) and formoterol (FOR), to evaluate the potential performance enhancement of SAL (1200 µg, Cyclocaps, Pb Pharma GmbH), FOR (36 µg, Sandoz, HEXAL AG) and SAL + FOR (1200 µg + 36 µg) compared to placebo (PLA, Gelatine capsules containing lactose monohydrate, Pharmacy of the University Hospital Ulm).

Decreased physical performance despite objective and subjective maximal exhaustion in post-COVID-19 individuals with fatigue.

Introduction: Fatigue is a common symptom in post-COVID-19 patients. Individuals with fatigue often perform less well compared to healthy peers or without fatigue. It is not yet clear to what extent fatigue is related to the inability to reach maximum exhaustion during physical exercise.

Blood Profiling of Athletes after COVID-19: Differences in Blood Profiles of Post-COVID-19 Athletes Compared to Uninfected Athletic Individuals-An Exploratory Analysis.

Blood profiling data in athletic populations and their respective responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection are lacking. Thus, this exploratory pilot study aimed to analyze and compare clinical blood markers in previously infected trained athletes (ATH; 30 m/29 f) and a not previously infected healthy athletic control group (HC; 12 m/19 f). The ATH group undertook a sports medical examination which included extended blood analyses.

Monitoring of strength, inflammation and muscle function in allogenic stem-cell transplantation patients - a pilot study for novel biomarker and risk stratification determination.

Background: Low aerobic capacity is associated with an increased mortality risk in allogenic stem-cell transplantation (alloSCT) patients, but currently used risk scores in the pre-transplantation workup are still underestimating physical activity as a prognostic factor.

Aim: To examine the physical condition, muscle function, blood inflammation and training adherence of alloSCT patients during inpatient time to identify potential biomarkers associated with development of myopathy and sarcopenia.

Methods: Patients undergoing alloSCT were examined at four time points (T0: before alloSCT; T: hospital admission; T1: engraftment; T2: inpatient discharge).

Relationship between physical performance and perception of stress and recovery in daily life post COVID-19-An explorative study.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a multi-systemic disease which can target the lungs and the cardiovascular system and can also affect parts of the brain for prolonged periods of time. Even healthy athletes without comorbidities can be psychologically affected long-term by COVID-19.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate athletes' perceived mental stress and recovery levels in daily life, and their maximal aerobic power, at three different time points, post COVID-19.

Inflammation and severity of depressive symptoms in physically active individuals after COVID-19 - An exploratory immunopsychological study investigating the effect of inflammation on depressive symptom severity.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms such as lack of energy, loss of interest, and depressed mood. Inflammatory processes might underline this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and the severity of depression after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the predictive effect of inflammatory markers on the severity of depressive symptoms.

SARS-CoV-2 Altered Hemorheological and Hematological Parameters during One-Month Observation Period in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.

Hematological and hemorheological parameters are known to be altered in COVID-19; however, the value of combined monitoring in order to deduce disease severity is only scarcely examined. A total of 44 acute SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (aCOV) and 44 age-matched healthy controls (Con) were included. Blood of aCOV was sampled at admission (T0), and at day 2 (T2), day 5 (T5), day 10 (T10), and day 30 (T30) while blood of Con was only sampled once.

Recovery of performance and persistent symptoms in athletes after COVID-19.

Introduction: After the acute Sars-CoV-2-infection, some athletes suffer from persistent, performance-impairing symptoms, although the course of the disease is often mild to moderate. The relation between cardiopulmonary performance and persistent symptoms after the acute period is still unclear. In addition, information about the development of this relationship is lacking.

Running for Your Life: Metabolic Effects of a 160.9/230 km Non-Stop Ultramarathon Race on Body Composition, Inflammation, Heart Function, and Nutritional Parameters.

Moderate endurance exercise leads to an improvement in cardiovascular performance, stress resilience, and blood function. However, the influence of chronic endurance exercise over several hours or days is still largely unclear. We examined the influence of a non-stop 160.

Kynurenine serves as useful biomarker in acute, Long- and Post-COVID-19 diagnostics.

Introduction: In patients with SARS-CoV-2, innate immunity is playing a central role, depicted by hyperinflammation and longer lasting inflammatory response. Reliable inflammatory markers that cover both acute and long-lasting COVID-19 monitoring are still lacking. Thus, we investigated one specific inflammatory marker involved as one key player of the immune system, kynurenine (Kyn), and its use for diagnosis/detection of the Long-/Post-COVID syndrome in comparison to currently used markers in both serum and saliva samples.

Pro-inflammatory and (Epi-)genetic markers in saliva for disease risk in childhood obesity.

Background And Aim: Childhood obesity is an emerging problem often leading to earlier onset of non-communicable diseases in later life. Biomarkers to identify individual risk scores are insufficient in routine clinical practice, which is related to the need for easily sampled, non-invasive survey methods in children. We aimed to investigate and strengthen possible pro-inflammatory markers and epigenetic risk factors in saliva of obese children compared to lean controls.

COVID-19 in German Competitive Sports: Protocol for a Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study (CoSmo-S).

It is unclear whether and to what extent COVID-19 infection poses health risks and a chronic impairment of performance in athletes. Identification of individual health risk is an important decision-making basis for managing the pandemic risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in sports and return to play (RTP). This study aims 1) to analyze the longitudinal rate of seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in German athletes, 2) to assess health-related consequences in athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2, and 3) to reveal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in general and of a cleared SARS-CoV-2 infection on exercise performance.

Differences in Immune Response During Competition and Preparation Phase in Elite Rowers.

Metabolic stress is high during training and competition of Olympic rowers, but there is a lack of biomedical markers allowing to quantify training load on the molecular level. We aimed to identify such markers applying a complex approach involving inflammatory and immunologic variables. Eleven international elite male rowers (age 22.

Do skeletal muscle composition and gene expression as well as acute exercise-induced serum adaptations in older adults depend on fitness status?

Background: Inactive physical behavior among the elderly is one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, immobility and increased all-cause mortality. We aimed to answer the question whether or not circulating and skeletal muscle biomarkers are differentially expressed depending on fitness status in a group of elderly individuals.

Methods: Twenty-eight elderly individuals (73.

The ELSA trial: single versus combinatory effects of non-prohibited beta-2 agonists on skeletal muscle metabolism, cardio-pulmonary function and endurance performance-study protocol for a randomized 4-way balanced cross-over trial.

Background: Asthma and/or airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) are common in elite endurance athletes with a high prevalence rate of beta-2 adrenoreceptor (beta-2) agonists use. Nevertheless, there are data on dose-dependent ergogenic effects of beta-2 agonists suggesting increased muscle strength, endurance and neuromuscular performance. Therefore, most beta-2 agonists belong to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) list of prohibited substances and it is tempting to speculate that illegitimate use of beta-2 agonists might be a common practice to boost performance in competitive sports.

Effects of Training Status and Exercise Mode on Global Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle.

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in skeletal muscle gene expression of highly trained endurance and strength athletes in comparison to untrained individuals at rest and in response to either an acute bout of endurance or strength exercise. Endurance (ET, = 8, VOmax 67 ± 9 mL/kg/min) and strength athletes (ST, = 8, 5.8 ± 3.

Two-year follow-up after a six-week high-intensity training intervention study with breast cancer patients: physiological, psychological and immunological differences.

Purpose: Previously we demonstrated the feasibility of a six-week-long combination of high-intensity interval endurance and strength training (HIT/HIRT) for women with nonmetastatic breast cancer leading to improvements in psychological well-being and performance. Now we report results of a 24-month follow-up.

Methods: Previous intervention (IG,  = 10; 58.

Does endurance training improve red blood cell aging and hemorheology in moderate-trained healthy individuals?

Objective: To examine the impact of a 6-week endurance training on red blood cell (RBC) aging and deformability of healthy participants to detect possible improved hemorheological and performance-related adaptations.

Methods: A total of 31 participants (17 females and 14 males) performed a 6-week moderate training protocol (three 1-h running sessions per week at 70% of maximal heart rate). Blood was sampled before and after the training.

Monitoring of RBC rheology after cryopreservation to detect autologous blood doping in vivo? A pilot study.

Background: Autologous blood doping (ABD) is applied to improve performance capacity. ABD includes blood donation, red blood cell (RBC) storage at -80°C and re-infusion prior to or during competition. ABD is not directly detectable with current detection techniques.

Beneficial Molecular Adaptations In -Mutation Carriers By Combined HIT/HIRT Intervention: Results From A Pilot Study.

Based on growing evidence that breast cancer (BRCA) also plays a pivotal role in the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism and the response to anti-oxidative stress, we examined the influence of regular exercise in human mutation carriers on their BRCA1 gene/protein expression and inflammatory/oxidative response. Sixteen -mutation carriers were assigned to an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). IG received a combination of high-intensity interval endurance (HIT) and strength training (HIRT) for six weeks, whereas CG received a low-intensity activity program.