Impacts of zinc enriched spirulina as an adjunct to conventional treatment of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Study protocol for a North African randomized controlled trial (SPIRICOPD).

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition strongly related to oxidative stress. Recent studies have explored the potential benefits of nutritional supplementation in managing several conditions.

Aim: To investigate the effects of zinc-enriched Spirulina Supplementation (ZSS) on patients with COPD.

Timing matters: diurnal variation of maximal fat oxidation and substrate oxidation rates in metabolic syndrome-a randomized crossover study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if diurnal oscillation in maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and substrate oxidation rates during exercise exists in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: In a randomized crossover design, 14 MetS patients were assigned to two graded exercise tests conditions performed in the morning (between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m) and in the afternoon (between 4:00 and 5:00 p.

Effects of Ramadan on cognitive functions in young boys.

Fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset, potentially influencing cognitive functions essential for the intellectual development of the youth. Therefore, understanding the effects of fasting on these functions in children/adolescents provides valuable perspectives to enhance education and promote mental well-being. However, studies on children/adolescents in this context are still limited.

Effects of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program on submaximal exercise in patients with long-COVID-19 conditions: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and recommendations for future studies.

Introduction: Long-COVID-19 patients (LC19Ps) often experience cardiovascular and respiratory complications. Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation programs (CRRPs) have emerged as promising interventions to enhance exercise capacity in this population. This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of CRRPs on submaximal exercise performance, specifically the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) outcomes, in LC19Ps through an analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

ChatGPT for Sample-Size Calculation in Sports Medicine and Exercise Sciences: A Cautionary Note.

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of ChatGPT (Chat generative pretrained transformer), a large language model, in calculating sample size for sport-sciences and sports-medicine research studies.

Methods: We conducted an analysis on 4 published papers (ie, examples 1-4) encompassing various study designs and approaches for calculating sample size in 3 sport-science and -medicine journals, including 3 randomized controlled trials and 1 survey paper. We provided ChatGPT with all necessary data such as mean, percentage SD, normal deviates (Zα/2 and Z1-β), and study design.

Evaluation of muscle strength and quality in North African patients with chronic hepatitis B: A pilot case control study.

Early detection of alteration of muscle strength, quantity, and quality, and sarcopenia is useful in non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B (NC-CHB) patients. Studies, which explored the handgrip strength (HGS) are scarce with questionable results, and no previous case-control study explored the presence of sarcopenia.The aim of this study was to assess the muscle strength [i.

Prevalence and risk factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders in early period medical students: a pilot study in Tunisia.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are highly prevalent in medical students around the world. However, there is no specific data on FGIDs in Tunisia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of FGIDs in medical students according to the rome III criteria and to identify risk factors associated with these disorders.

Reversibility of pancreatic β-cells dysfunction after vitamin D and calcium supplementation: a pilot study in a population of obese and prepubescent North-African children.

The mechanisms of diabetogenesis in children remain largely obscure. This study aimed to determine the impact of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on pancreatic β-cells function in terms of insulin secretion and sensitivity. This was a quasi-experimental study involving 30 obese and prepubescent Tunisian children (57% boys).

In COVID-19 context : a look back at the transition to exclusive e-learning experiment and the engagement of medical students.

In a context of unprecedented pandemic, e-learning has emerged as the only possible alternative to pursue higher education. In this work, we carried out an experiment consisting in completely transforming a fundamental science course into e-learning via the tools offered by Moodle platform. The results were generally encouraging in terms of learning outcomes and evaluation.

Deficiency, incapacity and social disadvantage of patients with chronic hepatitis B: a case-control study.

Introduction: Studies examining impairment, disability and social disadvantage of patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) are scarce and present conflicting conclusions.

Aim: To assess the deficiency, incapacity, and social disadvantage of patients with CHB.

Methods: This is a project of a case-control study with two age-matched groups.

Relationships of the 5-Jump Test (5JT) Performance of Youth Players With Volleyball Specific' Laboratory Tests for Explosive Power.

Volleyball involves movements with and/or without horizontal approaches (i.e., spike jumps, jump setting, blocking).

Does Ramadan Observance Affect Cardiorespiratory Capacity of Healthy Boys?

Studies raising the issue of the effects of Ramadan observance (RO) on boys' 6-min walk test (6MWT) data are rare. The studies, which did not include control groups of non-fasters, presented contradictory results. This study aimed to compare the 6MWT data (6-min walk distance [6MWD; m, %predicted], heart rate [HR; bpm, % of maximal predicted HR]), oxy-hemoglobin saturation (Oxy-sat; %), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively; mmHg) determined at rest ( and at the end of the test) of a group of 22 healthy fasting boys (age: 12 to 15 years) with an age-matched non-fasting group ( = 10).

Does Ramadan Fasting Affect Spirometric Data of Healthy Adolescents?

Purpose: Several studies raised the effects of Ramadan fasting on healthy adults spirometric data, but none was performed in children. The aim of this study was to compare the spirometric data of a group of faster adolescents (n = 26) with an age-matched non-faster one (n = 10).

Methods: This comparative quasi-experimental study, including 36 healthy males aged 12 to 15 years, was conducted during the summer 2015 (Ramadan: June 18 to July 16).

Effects of cold water immersion on aerobic capacity and muscle strength of young footballers.

Aims: The main aim was to compare aerobic performance data, determined before «period1» and after «period2» cold water immersion in two groups of footballers (CWI and no-CWI groups).

Methods: This is an experimental study with matching and randomization. The 20 male footballers, aged 17 to 20 years, were divided into two groups (n = 10 for each) following a random draw.

The Effects of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting (RIF) on Spirometric Data of Stable COPD Patients: A Pilot Study.

No previous study has raised the effects of RIF on lung function data of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of RIF on spirometric data measured in male patients with a stable COPD. Sixteen patients with stable COPD (mean ± SD of age: 64 ± 7 years) who fasted during Ramadan volunteered to the study.

The Effects of Ramadan Fasting on the Spirometric Data of Healthy Adult Males.

The few studies carried out on the effects of Ramadan fasting (RF) on spirometric values present contradictory conclusions. This study aimed at assessing whether RF affects healthy adults' spirometric values. Twenty-nine nonsmoking healthy males ( M ± standard error of mean [ SEM] of age: 27 ± 1 years) who fasted during Ramadan (June 29-July 28, 2014) volunteered to the study.

6-min walk-distance norms in adults Arab populations: a literature review.

Introduction: The primary outcome of the 6-min walk-test is the 6-min walk-distance (6MWD). Its interpretation relies upon the comparison of the measured 6MWD with the predicted one from published norms.

Objective: The aim of the present review is to report the 6MWD norms published for healthy adults Arab populations.

Effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on North African children's heart rate and oxy-haemoglobin saturation at rest and during sub-maximal exercise.

Aim: To examine the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on the heart rate (HR) and oxyhaemoglobin saturation levels (oxy-sat) of boys at rest and during a six-minute walking test (6MWT).

Methods: Eighteen boys (age: 11.9 ± 0.

Influencing factors of the 6-min walk distance in adult Arab populations: a literature review.

Background Walk tests, especially the 6-min walk-test (6MWT), are commonly used in order to evaluate submaximal exercise capacity. The primary outcome of the 6MWT is the 6-min walk-distance (6MWD). Numerous demographic, physiological and anthropometric factors can influence the 6MWD in healthy adults.

Effects of one-night sleep deprivation on selective attention and isometric force in adolescent karate athletes.

Background: Most of the available literature related to aspects of sleep deprivation is primarily focused on memory and learning, and studies regarding its effects on selective attention and/or physical performance are scarce. Moreover, the available literature includes general population or people involved in team sports (e.g.

Ramadan fasting does not adversely affect neuromuscular performances and reaction times in trained karate athletes.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the concomitant effects of Ramadan intermittent fast (RIF) and muscle fatigue on neuromuscular performances and reaction times in young trained athletes.

Methods: Eight karate players (17.2 ± 0.

6-Min walk-test data in severe obstructive-sleep-apnea-hypopnea-syndrome (OSAHS) under continuous-positive-airway-pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Introduction: Few studies have evaluated the functional capacity of severe OSAHS.

Aims: To assess their functional capacity, identify their 6-min walking-distance (6MWD) influencing factors and compare their data with those of two control-groups.

Methods: Sixty (42 males) clinically consecutive stable patients with severe OSAHS under CPAP were included.

Effects of Ramadan on physical capacities of North African boys fasting for the first time.

Introduction: Most of the literature related to the effects of Ramadan fasting on physical performance has focused on adults, and only three studies have examined its impact on children's physical performance.

Aims: To examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on first-time fasting boys' performance in short-term explosive exercises [vertical and horizontal jump tests (VJT and HJT), 20-m and 30-m sprints and medicine-ball throw (MBT)], as well as in sub-maximal endurance [6-min walking distance (6MWD) measured during the 6-min walk test (6MWT)].

Methods: Eighteen Tunisian boys [mean±standard deviation (SD) of age and body mass (BM): 11.