Publications by authors named "Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou A"

Background: Acute sarcopenia is sarcopenia lasting less than 6 months, typically following acute illness or injury. It may impact patient recovery and quality of life, advancing to chronic sarcopenia. However, its development and assessment remain poorly understood, particularly during hospitalisation.

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  • - The study evaluated the reliability of a method called detrended fluctuation analysis of heart rate variability (DFA-α1) for determining exercise intensity thresholds and compared it to traditional methods based on blood lactate and gas exchange for a group of 37 participants.
  • - Test results showed that DFA-α1 had good reliability and moderate agreement with the other two methods, although the accuracy of thresholds varied depending on participants' cardiorespiratory fitness levels.
  • - The findings indicated that male participants had a higher bias in threshold measurements compared to females, and to improve DFA-α1 accuracy, adjustments should be made based on both sex and fitness levels.
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  • A study was conducted with 13 female netball players over 14 days to assess their energy and fluid needs during matches and training.
  • The findings showed that total energy expenditure (TEE) was significantly higher on match days compared to training and rest days, with mean TEE at 13.46 MJ per day.
  • The research aims to provide dietary guidance for female netball players based on their assessed energy and fluid turnover, which was highest on match days.
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This randomized, double-blinded, experimental study investigated the effects of a four-week daily pre-workout supplementation (200 mg caffeine, 3.3 g creatine monohydrate, 3.2 g β-alanine, 6 g citrulline malate, and 5 g BCAA) vs.

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Fatty acids are stored within the muscle as intramyocellular lipids (IMCL). Some, but not all, studies indicate that following a high-fat diet (HFD), IMCL may accumulate and affect insulin sensitivity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the effects of an HFD on IMCL.

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  • The review discusses how cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic diseases (MDs) are linked to sarcopenia and highlights the importance of non-drug therapies like combined training in managing these issues, especially in individuals with type II diabetes.
  • It emphasizes the critical role nutrition plays in treating sarcopenia, suggesting methods like increasing protein intake, using plant-based sources, and ensuring nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are adequate.
  • Lastly, the review advocates for multidisciplinary strategies that incorporate behavioral science to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of sarcopenia treatments while calling for more rigorous research to refine these interventions for older adults.
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Physical activity (PA) is a key strategy for improving symptoms in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study was to investigate and rank the importance of known barriers and facilitators for engaging in PA, from the perspective of people living with RMD. Five hundred thirty-three people with RMD responded to a survey (nine questions) disseminated by the People with Arthritis and Rheumatism (PARE) network of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR).

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously generated single-stranded RNAs that play crucial roles in numerous biological processes, such as cell development, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism and apoptosis. They negatively regulate target gene expression by repressing translation of messenger RNA into a functional protein. Several miRNAs have been implicated in the development and progression of RA.

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Physical inactivity is common in people with chronic airways disease (pwCAD) and associated with worse clinical outcomes and impaired quality of life. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterise and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions promoting step-based physical activity (PA) in pwCAD. We searched for studies that included a form of PA promotion and step-count outcome measure.

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Background: Exercise is advocated in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, uncertainty around the acute effects of exercise on pain and inflammation may be stopping people with RA from exercising more regularly.

Objectives: To determine the acute effects of exercise on pain symptoms, clinical inflammatory markers, and inflammatory cytokines in RA.

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There is convincing evidence to suggest that exercise interventions can significantly improve disease-related outcomes as well as comorbidities in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). All exercise interventions should be appropriately defined by their dose, which comprises of two components: a) the FITT (frequency, intensity, time and type) and b) the training (ie, specificity, overload, progression, initial values, reversibility, and diminishing returns) principles. In the published RMD literature, exercise dosage is often misreported, which in "pharmaceutical treatment terms", this would be the equivalent of receiving the wrong medication dosage.

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The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions have significantly reduced population-wide physical activity (PA) levels. However, the impact of the pandemic and relevant restrictions on PA participation, and any potential barriers to it, in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not clear. Furthermore, we are unsure if any such PA changes have affected their body weight, mental wellbeing, and/or quality of life (QoL).

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between specific erythrocyte fatty acid levels and vascular health in type 1 diabetes (T1D) with and without insulin resistance (IR).

Methods: We analyzed baseline pretreatment data in a subset of 23 patients with T1D from a previously published randomized controlled trial consisting of comprehensive erythrocyte-derived fatty acid profiles and a panel of inflammation-associated endothelial markers. Estimated glucose disposal rate was used to identify and categorize patients with IR.

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  • The study aimed to assess the accuracy of an iPhone® pedometer compared to a traditional pedometer in adults with and without asthma during specific walking tests and in free-living conditions.
  • Ten adults with asthma and ten healthy participants were tested on a treadmill and during self-paced walks, with their step counts measured using different pedometer placements and a manual video count as a reference.
  • Results showed that the iPhone® pedometer performed well, particularly when worn on the lower body, suggesting it could be a reliable tool for tracking physical activity in both populations, but further research is needed for conclusive results.
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We examined changes in selected muscle performance parameters after 8 weeks of interval training using two opposite running inclinations. We hypothesized that the uphill training will affect endurance muscle performance outcomes, whereas the downhill training will affect power muscle performance outcomes. Fourteen physically active volunteers were randomly assigned into either the Uphill group (UG; n = 7; uphill interval running at +10% incline) or the Downhill group (DG; n = 7; downhill interval running at -10% incline) and completed 16 training sessions.

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Background: The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA), and the potential impact of n-3PUFA supplementation, in the treatment and management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear and controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of daily high-dose-bolus n-3PUFA supplementation on vascular health, glycaemic control, and metabolic parameters in subjects with T1D.

Methods: Twenty-seven adults with T1D were recruited to a 6-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

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Purpose: Preparticipation health screening is recommended to detect individuals susceptible to serious adverse cardiovascular complications during exercise. Although expert opinion and best available scientific evidence have informed recent modifications, there remain limited experimental data to support or refute current practice. We therefore aimed to quantify the impact of change to the preparticipation health screening guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on risk classification and referral for medical clearance in a large cohort of undergraduate university students.

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People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both pharmacological treatment and exercise are suggested in the management of CVD risk in RA. This study explored the effects of exercise and anti-TNF treatment on CVD risk in RA.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different physical fitness levels [assessed by the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test] with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with RA.

Methods: A total of 150 RA patients were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness with a VO2max test and, based on this, were split in three groups using the 33rd (18.1 ml/kg/min) and 66th (22.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with significant functional impairment and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Along with pharmacological therapy, exercise seems to be a very promising intervention to improve disease-related outcomes, including functional ability and systemic manifestations, such as the increased cardiovascular risk. In this review, we discuss the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves inflammation, cardiovascular risk and psychological health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and describe in detail how exercise can be incorporated in the management of this disease using real examples from our clinical practice.

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Childhood obesity is increasing alarmingly, and a strong association with chronic diseases has been established. Specific adipokines are released from the adipose tissue and relate with chronic diseases even in the pediatric population. Adiponectin levels are lower in obesity and increase with decreasing body weight.

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Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients display high levels of oxidative stress. Transient exercise-induced increases in oxidative stress are thought to be adaptive in healthy populations. This study investigated the effect of exercise on markers of oxidative stress in RA, following acute exercise and a period of exercise training.

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Objective: RA associates with an increased rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD). A prolonged QTc interval has been associated with arrhythmogenic and SCD in patients with long QT syndrome. Despite the previously reported contemporary association of CRP with SCD, thus far no studies have examined the association of QTc with mortality in RA, a condition characterized by high inflammatory burden.

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Background: We investigated the effects of individualised combined resistance and aerobic exercise on microvascular and macrovascular function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Forty age-matched, gender-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients were allocated to either an exercise group, receiving a 6 months tailored aerobic and resistance exercise intervention, or controls receiving only information about the benefits of exercise. Participants were assessed for microvascular (acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)) and macrovascular (flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)) endothelial function, maximal oxygen uptake, disease activity and severity (C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score 28 and health assessment questionnaire).

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