Testosterone/cortisol ratio: gender effect and prediction of podium results in beach sprint master rowers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to address the lack of data on the stress and motivation response in master athletes during competitions, as athletic performance in this age group can be significantly impacted by stress rather than appropriate training.

Methods: Coastal rowing beach sprint master athletes aged 43-57 years were examined to assess the saliva levels of stress biomarkers, cortisol, and testosterone. Specifically, samples were collected at awakening and before and after the boat race.

Classification of Physical Activity Programs Based on the Kellgren & Lawrence Scale for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a common orthopaedic disease, is the leading cause of disability in the elderly, and can lead to pain, loss of function, and reduced quality of life. This research aims to determine how PA programs can be effectively classified and customised to align with the stages of knee OA according to the KL classification.

Objective: The research aims to fill the gap in understanding the relationship between the type and intensity of PA and the stages of OA as defined by the KL classification.

A case report on dietary needs of the rowing athlete winner of the triple crown.

Sports nutrition is a topic that is often misinterpreted and sometimes abused. The often-used "shot-gun" method to meeting caloric needs by simply increasing caloric intake disregarding nutrient source is scientifically contrary to the need for a more careful study of the nutritional requirements of rowers. Rowing by itself is a very demanding sport as typical training sessions use exercise intensities that range from very low submaximal work to short term supramaximal efforts.

The Prevention of Childhood Obesity Is a Priority: The Preliminary Results of the "EpPOI: Education to Prevent Childhood Obesity" Project.

Background: The increase in childhood obesity rates represents a serious public health problem. The project "EpPOI: Education to prevent childhood obesity" is aimed at a multidisciplinary approach to raise awareness of the importance of preventing childhood obesity through lifestyle education.

Methods: Two actions by experts were performed: an intervention with children in schools and a meeting for both parents and school staff.

Effects of Physical Exercise and Motor Activity on Depression and Anxiety in Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome.

Background: Chronic post-surgical pain is a condition persisting for not less than 3 months after surgical intervention. It is evaluated that 25-60% of women who underwent breast cancer excision suffer from post-mastectomy pain syndrome, and anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and catastrophizing. Physical activity can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and has a good impact on mood and cognitive function.

Testosterone:cortisol ratio as a predictor of podium in adolescent rowing athletes.

Purpose: There is a lack of data regarding the stress and motivation response in adolescent athletes during competitions. The athletic performance can be highly influenced by stress rather than appropriate training, at this age. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the level of stress markers in adolescent rowers in different competition settings that might alter their stress status and performance.

Effects of Physical Exercise and Motor Activity on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome.

It is estimated that 10-50% of interventions can generate persistent post-surgical pain. Chronic post-mastectomy pain is a condition persisting for at least three months after surgery. It has been shown that physical activity in the cancer patient allows the improvement of the pain symptom.

Use of Drugs and Dietary Supplements in University Students of Sports Science: Results of a Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Dietary supplements are used to implement and balance common dietary habits. The general belief is that natural substances reduce the risk of chronic diseases and amplify sports performance with no harmful side effects. Since sports science students will become professionals of sport activities and may also have a role in suggesting the use of dietary supplements to athletes, the aim of this study was to evaluate if physical activity influences the use of drugs and dietary supplements.

Physical Activity and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Aging Decay: Modulation of Pathways in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

: Bones and the skeletal muscle play a key role in human physiology as regulators of metabolism in the whole organism. Bone tissue is identified as a complex and dynamic living unit that could react to physical activity. Hormones, growth factors, signaling factors, and environmental factors control osteogenesis, and it could be regulated at a post-transcriptional level.

Effects of Cannabidiol on Locomotor Activity.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second cannabinoid, in order of importance after Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), from . Unlike THC, CBD does not cause psychotomimetic effects, and although these compounds have the same chemical formula, their pharmacological characteristics are not equivalent. Preclinical studies suggest that CBD has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic properties and influences the sleep-wake cycle.

Saliva testing as noninvasive way for monitoring exercise-dependent response in teenage elite water polo players: A cohort study.

Excessively increased training volume and/or intensity and competition can lead to development of overtraining syndrome, causing a performance decrement in athletes. Tracking individual response to exercise intensity is crucial for establishing recovery strategies.We assessed the exercise intensity-dependent variability of stress response biomarkers, namely cortisol (C), testosterone (T), s-IgA, and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), in saliva samples of teenage elite water polo players.

Mutual Influence of Psoriasis and Sport.

The link between psoriasis and sport is a controversial issue. The topic has been poorly investigated, and nowadays there are many unsolved questions, dealing with the role of psoriasis in influencing the sporting habits of patients and, vice versa, the impact of sport activity on course, severity and extent of the disease, with particular regard to the indirect benefits on cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the role of physical activity on patients' quality of life and the potential limitations on physical activity due to joint involvement have not been well elucidated until now.

Irisin and Vascular Inflammation: Beneficial Effects of a Healthy Lifestyle Beyond Physical Activity.

Vascular inflammation is responsible for many cardiovascular diseases and endothelial dysfunction is often the first trigger. Many factors can contribute to altering vascular homeostasis and despite that some risk factors cannot be changed, some lifestyle changes might dramatically improve vascular function. In this regard, physical activity has been identified as one of the most important interventions that can positively affect endothelial dysfunction.

An immunofluorescence study on VEGF and extracellular matrix proteins in human periodontal ligament during tooth movement.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a highly vascularized connective tissue surrounding the root of a tooth. In particular, the PDL is continuously exposed to mechanical stresses during the phases of mastication, and it provides physical, sensory, and trophic functions. It is known that the application of orthodontic force creates a change in periodontal structures.

Human calf muscles changes after strength training as revealed by diffusion tensor imaging.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a non-invasive MR technique widely employed to study muscle anatomy. DTI parameters have been used to investigate microstructural changes dependent on demographic factors or transient condition such as exercise. The present study is aimed at investigating the diffusion parameters changes of the human calf muscles after a 3-months strength training protocol.

The Limbic and Sensorimotor Pathways of the Human Amygdala: A Structural Connectivity Study.

The amygdala plays a key role in gathering social cues to context-appropriate responses that require refined motor behavior, involving either direct or indirect connections with sensorimotor-related areas. Although, several studies investigated the structural and functional limbic connectivity of the amygdala both in animals and in humans, less is known about the limbic modulation on sensorimotor-related areas. However, recent evidences suggest the amygdala as a possible cornerstone in the limbic-motor interface.

Analysis on sarcoglycans expression as markers of septic cardiomyopathy in sepsis-related death.

The post-mortem assessment of sepsis-related death can be carry out by many methods recently suggested as microbiological and biochemical investigations. In these cases, the cause of death is a multiple organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated inflammatory response occurring after the failure of infection control process. It was highlighted also that the heart can be a target organ in sepsis which determines the so-called septic cardiomyopathy characterized by myocardial depression.

Role of Genetic Background in Cardiovascular Risk Markers Changes in Water Polo Players.

Methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene polymorphisms have been associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress increase, that are established cardiovascular risk factors. Given that intense physical activity may increase the susceptibility to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, here we investigated the effects of MTHFR C677T and A1298C as well as PON1 Q192R gene polymorphisms on cardiovascular risk markers in twenty-eight male water polo elite players. The mean plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were above reference limits in resting conditions, and increased after competition.

The Oxidative Stress Response in Elite Water Polo Players: Effects of Genetic Background.

Acute exercise is known to induce oxidative stress. Here we assessed the effects of gene polymorphisms SOD2 A16V, CAT -844 G>A, and GPx-1 rs1800668 C>T on oxidative stress markers in 28 elite water polo male players prior to and after a routinely programmed friendly match. The mean plasma concentrations of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs), as well as lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, creatine kinase (CK) activity, CK-MB, and myoglobin, were significantly increased after exercise, while blood antioxidant potential (BAP) and total free thiols were significantly decreased, compared with those measured before exercise.

Persistent left superior vena cava and partially left inferior vena cava: a case report of a dangerous central venous catheterization.

Background: The coexistence of a double superior vena cava (SVC) and a partially left inferior vena cava (PLIVC) with a circumaortic collar, associated with other congenital malformations, was not described previously.

Case Description: We present a 33-year-old woman in hemodialysis with complete exhaustion of the brachial routes for vascular access, admitted to our Nephrology Unit for a long-term central venous catheter (CVC) implant, usually by us performed under EchoScopic Technique (EST), an echographic venipuncture followed by continuous radioscopic control of guidewire and catheter in all the steps of implant. An intraoperative venography showed a complete stop of right internal jugular vein, a right SVC, a persistent left SVC, a left inferior vena cava in the iliac and subrenal tracts, a circumaortic venous collar in the renal tract, and normal right suprarenal and hepatic tracts.

Muscle contracture diagnosis: the role of sonoelastography.

Background: Sonoelastography plays today a major role in musculoskeletal disease, showing minor muscle injuries not well appreciable in conventional B-mode ultrasonography and integrating it in major muscle injuries diagnosis. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ability of elastosonography in the diagnosis of muscular contracture in football players presenting negative basic echography.

Methods: We examined twenty-two football players using basic echography and elastosonography approximately 24-48 hours after the traumatic event and we subsequently re-evaluated them after two weeks.

Assessment of glutathione peroxidase-1 polymorphisms, oxidative stress and DNA damage in sensitivity-related illnesses.

Aims: Oxidative stress increase is a key event for development of sensitivity-related illnesses (SRIs). The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of a genetic variant in the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) on oxidative stress development in SRIs.

Main Methods: GPx1 rs1800668 genotype, as well as glutathione, ubiquinone, and DNA damage were assessed in 34 SRI patients and 36 healthy subjects.

Influence of MTHFR polymorphisms on cardiovascular risk markers in elite athletes.

Objectives: To investigate the distribution of MTHFR C677T and A1298C as well as PON1 Q192R gene polymorphisms, known to be involved in hyperhomocysteinemia-related cardiovascular risk, in elite athletes.

Design And Methods: Genetic background at MTHFR and PON1 loci and plasma levels of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels were assessed in thirty-seven 400m male hurdlers and thirty-four sedentary subjects.

Results: Homocysteine plasma levels and AOPPs were significantly higher in hurdlers bearing the TT677/AA1298 diplotype than in both hurdlers and sedentary subjects with other diplotypes.

Sarcoglycans and gaba(a) receptors in rat central nervous system: an immunohistochemical study.

Sarcoglycan subcomplex is a transmembrane glycoprotein system which connects extracellular matrix to cytoskeleton. Although this complex has been found in several non-muscular tissues, no data exist about a sarcoglycan subcomplex in brain. Only the presence of ε-sarcoglycan in brain has been described in detail because its mutation determines Myoclonus Dystonia Syndrome.