How Does Physical Activity Modulate Hormone Responses?

Physical activity highly impacts the neuroendocrine system and hormonal secretion. Numerous variables, both those related to the individual, including genetics, age, sex, biological rhythms, nutritional status, level of training, intake of drugs or supplements, and previous or current pathologies, and those related to the physical activity in terms of type, intensity, and duration of exercise, or environmental conditions can shape the hormonal response to physical exercise. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of physical exercise on hormonal levels in the human body, focusing on changes in concentrations of hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, and insulin in response to different types and intensities of physical activity.

Lower PHI, [-2]proPSA/fPSA and testosterone/estradiol ratios in healthy black men: preliminary results and potential implications in prostate cancer clinical management.

Background: Black men residing in Western countries are more likely to develop prostate cancer (PCa), have higher mortality and are younger than the general population at initial diagnosis. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the reasons for these racial disparities can also be attributed to social determinants of health such as low health literacy of this population and poor awareness of health services. Little is known about laboratory tests for PCa in black men.

Serum (-2)proPSA/freePSAratio, (-2)proPSA/freePSA density, prostate health index, and prostate health index density as clues to reveal postoperative clinically significant prostate cancer in men with prostate-specific antigen 2-10 ng/mL.

Background: There is a strong clinical need to fill the gap of identifying clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gray zone values. Promising, but not definitive results have been obtained using PSA derivatives such as prostate health index (PHI) and PHI density (PHID) and the percentage (-2)proPSA/free PSA (%p2PSA/fPSA). Thus, this study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of PHI, PHID, %proPSA/fPSA, and (-2)proPSA/freePSA density (-2pPSA/fPSAD) for csPCa in the patients with PSA within 2-10 ng/mL.

Low Interferon-γ Levels in Cord and Peripheral Blood of Pregnant Women Infected with SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 is characterized by the immune system's overreaction resulting in a 'cytokine storm', consisting in a massive release of cytokine into the bloodstream, leading to local and systemic inflammatory response. This clinical picture is further complicated in case of infection of patients with a peculiar immunological status, such as pregnancy. In this paper, we focused on Interferon-γ, which plays a pivotal immunomodulatory role in normal pregnancy and fetal development, as well as in defense against pathogens.