Publications by authors named "Raphael Fabricio DE Souza"

Article Synopsis
  • - The paper reviews how enriched environments (EE) influence epigenetic changes in the brain under stressful conditions through an analysis of 14 relevant studies from databases like PubMed and Scopus.
  • - Findings indicate that after EE exposure, there are notable changes in microRNA expression and histone modifications, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which affect brain plasticity and potentially improve behavioral outcomes.
  • - The study suggests that EE could serve as a simple, non-drug method to enhance brain health and mitigate symptoms associated with brain-affecting conditions.
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Extensive research has delved into the impact of environmental circumstances on the pacing and performance of professional marathon runners. However, the effects of environmental conditions on the pacing strategies employed by marathon participants in general remain relatively unexplored. This study aimed to examine the potential associations between various environmental factors, encompassing temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloud cover, wind speed, and dew point, and the pacing behavior of men and women.

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Introduction: The present review aimed to systematically summarize the impacts of environmental enrichment (EE) on cerebral oxidative balance in rodents exposed to normal and unfavorable environmental conditions.

Methods: In this systematic review, four databases were used: PubMed (830 articles), Scopus (126 articles), Embase (127 articles), and Science Direct (794 articles). Eligibility criteria were applied based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) strategy to reduce the risk of bias.

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This systematic review aims to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment (EE) on oncological factors in experimental studies involving various types of cancer models. A comprehensive search was conducted in three databases: PubMed (161 articles), Embase (335 articles), and Scopus (274 articles). Eligibility criteria were applied based on the PICOS strategy to minimize bias.

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The present systematic review aimed to discuss the impacts of different triathlon protocols on the level of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as biomarkers related to the performance of healthy individuals. Four databases [PubMed (28 articles), Scopus (24 articles), Science Direct (200 articles), and SPORT Discus (1101 articles) were assessed. The eligibility criteria were applied, and the selected articles were used in the peer review, independently, as they were identified by March 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • Drop jumps (DJ) are commonly used in training to enhance long jump performance, but their immediate effects as a Conditioning Activity (CA) had not been studied before.
  • This study tested eleven male long jumpers to see how performing five drop jumps just before competition attempts affected their jump distances.
  • Results showed that jumps performed after DJ had greater distances and take-off velocities than those without the conditioning, suggesting that DJs can significantly improve long jump performance through increased vertical take-off velocity.
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We purpose to determine the nationality of the European middle-distance athletes under 18 years (U18) and under 20 years (U20) during the last decade, to verify the participation trend for each country, and to assess whether the place of competition can be associated with the athletes ranking position. The sample comprised 902 European male runners, ranked among the best finishers from 2009 to 2020. The athletes were divided into two categories ( ​= ​266; and  ​= ​636) of two distances ( ​= ​397;  ​= ​505).

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Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) affects many tissues and contributes to the development and severity of chronic diseases. In contrast, regular physical exercise (PE) has been considered a powerful tool to prevent and control several chronic diseases. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of different PE protocols on ER stress markers in central and peripheral tissues in rodents.

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The benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain function, cognitive response, and motor ability are well described in scientific literature. Nevertheless, the effects of tDCS on athletes' performance remain unclear. To compare the acute effects of tDCS on the running performance of 5000 m (m) runners.

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Background: Ultramarathons with distances over 180 km might lead to different results regarding participation, performance, and age compared to shorter runs of 50 and 100 km.

Objective: To evaluate ultramarathons with distances above 180 km in relation to runners' peak age and performance.

Method: s.

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Background: We investigated the effects of brain-computer interface (BCI) combined with mental practice (MP) and occupational therapy (OT) on performance in activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke survivors.

Methods: Participants were randomized into two groups: experimental ( = 23, BCI controlling a hand exoskeleton combined with MP and OT) and control ( = 21, OT). Subjects were assessed with the functional independence measure (FIM), motor activity log (MAL), amount of use (MAL-AOM), and quality of movement (MAL-QOM).

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Background: To evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of Aerobic Physical Training (AET) on the mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative balance in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) of leptin deficiency-induced obese mice (ob/ob mice).

Methods: Then, the mice were submitted to an 8-week protocol of aerobic physical training (AET) at moderate intensity (60% of the maximum running speed). In the oxidative stress, we analyzed Malonaldehyde (MDA) and Carbonyls, the enzymatic activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione S Transferase (GST), non-enzymatic antioxidant system: reduced glutathione (GSH), and Total thiols.

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Up to 75% of marathon runners ingest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during competition. Despite the doubt whether or not they contribute to performance, the effect of NSAID in endurance sports is unclear. We evaluated the effect of ibuprofen (IBU) use on oxidative stress, muscle damage, physical performance, and vertical jump of runners participating in a 42-km-trail running.

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Background: Strength training (ST) is commonly used to improve muscle strength, power, and neuromuscular adaptations and is recommended combined with runner training. It is possible that the acute effects of the strength training session lead to deleterious effects in the subsequent running. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to verify the acute effects of ST session on the neuromuscular, physiological and performance variables of runners.

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Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) training is typically intense and causes fatigue and alterations in the immune system. Objective: To analyze whether IBU would affect performance and the immune system after training in PP. Methodology: 10 athletes at the national level (NL) and 10 at the regional level (RL) participated in the study, where force and blood indicators were evaluated after training.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study assessed the effects of three strength training methods (Kaatsu, Tension, and Traditional) on local temperature, lactate, and blood glucose levels in 12 male subjects with experience in strength training.
  • Results showed that the Tension method produced the highest local temperature response post-exercise, while no significant differences were found in lactate or blood glucose levels among the methods.
  • Overall, the findings suggest that coaches can choose among these training methods based on the specific physiological responses they aim to achieve in athletes.
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Long-distance running is an exhausting effort for the whole organism. Prolonged aerobic exercise induces changes in inflammatory markers. However, predicting muscle damage in response has limitations in terms of selecting biomarkers used to measure inflammatory status.

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