Effects of acute exercise and training status on glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) expression in human skeletal muscle.

Interactions between statin therapy and physical exercise complicate effective cardiovascular prevention. Emerging evidence suggests that muscle strain related changes in the expression of the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) may be involved. Therefore, we measured GILZ mRNA expression levels in M.

Assessment of myocardial function and cardiac performance using left ventricular global longitudinal strain in athletes after COVID-19: a follow-up study.

Background: It has not yet been conclusively determined whether reduced left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) after COVID-19 contributes to a reduction in exercise capacity. Our own studies showed a possible mild myocardial involvement in the form of reduced LV GLS in athletes after COVID-19 compared with healthy athletes. The aims of this prospective follow-up study were to investigate the development of LV GLS over a 3-month period in athletes after COVID-19 and the possible relationship between LV GLS and physical performance.

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.

Lymph Node Positivity: Indication for Preoperative MRI?

Background: The purpose was to determine what factors help predict benefit from preoperative MRI.

Methods: We conducted an IRB approved retrospective review of patients with breast cancer who underwent preoperative MRI (2018-2021). Patients were divided into a cohort of no new disease detected on MRI versus new disease detected.

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).

Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain as a Parameter of Mild Myocardial Dysfunction in Athletes after COVID-19.

Whether symptoms during COVID-19 contribute to impaired left ventricular (LV) function remains unclear. We determine LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) between athletes with a positive COVID-19 test (PCAt) and healthy control athletes (CON) and relate it to symptoms during COVID-19. GLS is determined in four-, two-, and three-chamber views and assessed offline by a blinded investigator in 88 PCAt (35% women) (training at least three times per week/>20 MET) and 52 CONs from the national or state squad (38% women) at a median of two months after COVID-19.

Strain Echocardiography in Acute COVID-19 and Post-COVID Syndrome: More than Just a Snapshot.

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has become an established, widely available diagnostic method in the past few years, making its value clear in cases of COVID-19 and the further course of the disease, including post-COVID syndrome. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many studies have been published on the use of STE in this condition, enabling, on the one hand, a better understanding of myocardial involvement in COVID-19 and, on the other, a better identification of risk to patients, although some questions remain unanswered in regard to specific pathomechanisms, especially in post-COVID patients. This review takes a closer look at current findings and potential future developments by summarising the extant data on the use of STE, with a focus on left and right ventricular longitudinal strain.

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.

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.

Human Gut Microbiota-associated Gastrointestinal Malignancies: A Comprehensive Review.

The human gastrointestinal tract houses trillions of microbes. The gut and various types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea, form a complex ecosystem known as the gut microbiota, and the whole genome of the gut microbiota is referred to as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota is essential for homeostasis and the overall well-being of a person and is increasingly considered an adjunct "virtual organ," with a complexity level comparable to that of the other organ systems.

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.

Sarcopenia Screening Allows Identifying High-Risk Patients for Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Allogenic stem cell transplantation (aSCT) is the only potentially curative treatment for high-risk hematological diseases. Despite advancements in supportive measures, aSCT outcome is still affected by considerable transplant-related mortality. We implemented a new sarcopenia assessment prior to aSCT to evaluate its predictive capability for all-cause and non-relapse mortality.

Differences in V˙O2max Measurements Between Breath-by-Breath and Mixing-Chamber Mode in the COSMED K5.

Purpose: Automated metabolic analyzers are frequently utilized to measure maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max). However, in portable devices, the results may be influenced by the analyzer's technological approach, being either breath-by-breath (BBB) or dynamic micro mixing chamber mode (DMC). The portable metabolic analyzer K5 (COSMED, Rome, Italy) provides both technologies within one device, and the authors aimed to evaluate differences in V˙O2max between modes in endurance athletes.

Inter- and intra-unit reliability of the COSMED K5: Implications for multicentric and longitudinal testing.

Purpose: To evaluate the intra-unit (RELINTRA) and inter-unit reliability (RELINTER) of two structurally identical units of the metabolic analyser K5 (COSMED, Rome, Italy) that allows to utilize either breath-by-breath (BBB) or dynamic mixing chamber (DMC) technology.

Methods: Identical flow- and gas-signals were transmitted to both K5s that always operated simultaneously either in BBB- or DMC-mode. To assess RELINTRA and RELINTER, a metabolic simulator was applied to simulate four graded levels of respiration.

Coronavirus disease 2019 induces multi-lineage, morphologic changes in peripheral blood cells.

The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies from mild symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome, hyperinflammation, and coagulation disorder. The hematopoietic system plays a critical role in the observed hyperinflammation, particularly in severely ill patients. We conducted a prospective diagnostic study performing a blood differential analyzing morphologic changes in peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients.

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.

Objectively-Measured Light-Intensity Physical Activity and Risk of Cancer Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Background: The impact of light-intensity physical activity (LPA) in preventing cancer mortality has been questioned. To address this concern, the present meta-analysis aimed to quantify the association between objectively-measured LPA and risk of cancer mortality.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus to January 2020.

The COSMED K5 in Breath-by-Breath and Mixing Chamber Mode at Low to High Intensities.

Purpose: The portable metabolic analyzer COSMED K5 (Rome, Italy) allows for switching between breath-by-breath (BBB) and dynamic micro-mixing chamber (DMC) modes. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the K5 in BBB and DMC at low, moderate, and high metabolic rates.

Methods: Two K5 simultaneously operated in BBB or DMC, whereas (i) a metabolic simulator (MS) produced four different metabolic rates (repeated eight times), and (ii) 12 endurance-trained participants performed bike exercise at 30%, 40%, 50%, and 85% of their individual power output at V˙O2max (repeated three times).

Decision points for individualized hormonal stimulation with recombinant gonadotropins for treatment of women with infertility.

It is essential that fertility treatment is individualized based on a thorough diagnostic work-up, with treatment tailored to the patients' requirements. This individualization should be kept in mind during the main decision points that occur before and during treatment. Treatment customization must include consideration of both the woman and her partner involved in the process together, including their collective treatment goals.

Feeding Tube Insertion and Placement Confirmation Using Electromagnetic Guidance: A Team Review.

Background: Challenges for bedside placement of small-bore feeding tube (SBFT) include iatrogenic injury, multiple exposures to x-rays, and prolonged placement times. In 2011, the study facility began a feeding tube placement team (FTPT) using the CORTRAK system (CS) in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) and medical-surgical populations. In 2013, a protocol was implemented using the CS to determine final SBFT location.

Rural Poverty Dynamics and Refugee Communities in South Africa: A Spatial-Temporal Model.

The assimilation of refugees into their host community economic structures is often problematic. The paper investigates the ability of refugees in rural South Africa to accumulate assets over time relative to their host community. Bayesian spatial-temporal modelling was employed to analyse a longitudinal database that indicated that the asset accumulation rate of former Mozambican refugee households was similar to their host community; however, they were unable to close the wealth gap.

eIF2α kinases regulate development through the BzpR transcription factor in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Background: A major mechanism of translational regulation in response to a variety of stresses is mediated by phosphorylation of eIF2α to reduce delivery of initiator tRNAs to scanning ribosomes. For some mRNAs, often encoding a bZIP transcription factor, eIF2α phosphorylation leads to enhanced translation due to delayed reinitiation at upstream open reading frames. Dictyostelium cells possess at least three eIF2α kinases that regulate various portions of the starvation-induced developmental program.