Cardiac and respiratory muscle responses to dietary N-acetylcysteine in rats consuming a high-saturated fat, high-sucrose diet.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? This study addresses whether a high-fat, high-sucrose diet causes cardiac and diaphragm muscle abnormalities in male rats and whether supplementation with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine reverses diet-induced dysfunction. What is the main finding and its importance? N-Acetylcysteine attenuated the effects of high-fat, high-sucrose diet on markers of cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, but neither high-fat, high-sucrose diet nor N-acetylcysteine affected the diaphragm. These results support the use of N-acetylcysteine to attenuate cardiovascular dysfunction induced by a 'Western' diet.

Effects of sleep deprivation on endothelial function in adult humans: a systematic review.

Sleep deprivation is highly prevalent and is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Age-related alterations in sleep and chronobiology may exaggerate CVD susceptibility in older individuals. The mechanisms responsible for the association between sleep deprivation and CVD are not fully understood, but endothelial dysfunction may play a central role.

Effects of mirthful laughter on pain tolerance: A randomized controlled investigation.

Introduction: Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects many people. Currently, there is no single treatment known to cure or assure relief from chronic pain. Accordingly, the management of patients' discomfort is an integral part of treating chronic pain.

Effects of full-fat dairy products on subclinical vascular function in adults with elevated blood pressure: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: High consumption of low- and non-fat dairy products improves vascular dysfunction associated with elevated arterial blood pressure (BP). Currently, it is unknown if conventional full-fat dairy products improve vascular functions.

Objectives: To determine if adding whole milk and full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet improves vascular function in adults with elevated BP.

Role of Cross-training in Orthopaedic Injuries and Healthcare Burden in Masters Swimmers.

We determined whether the incidence of injuries would increase with advancing age and whether the participation in cross-training would be related to a decreased rate of injuries and healthcare costs in Masters swimmers. A total of 499 swimmers (55±14 years of age) belonging to US Masters Swimming completed a comprehensive questionnaire that included questions regarding their medical history as well as their training history. In average, swimmers had been training for 13±12 years, and 35, 40, and 47% participated in running, cycling, and dryland resistance training, respectively.

Age-related Changes in Training Stimuli and Performance in Masters Swimmers.

Age-related decreases in performance are thought to be driven by decreases in exercise training stimuli. We determined the influence of changes in training stimuli with advancing age on swimming performance using cross-sectional and longitudinal data analyses. Totals of 692 and 98 competitive swimmers belonging to the US Masters Swimming Association were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.