Protective Effects of Probiotics on Runners' Mood: Immunometabolic Mechanisms Post-Exercise.

Background: The gut-brain axis may mediate mood changes due to strenuous exercise. Therefore, probiotic supplementation may mitigate mood worsening.

Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on mood and immunometabolic parameters after a marathon.

Thirty days of double-strain probiotic supplementation increases monocyte phagocytosis in marathon runners.

Marathon runners, subjected to intense training regimens and prolonged, exhaustive exercises, often experience a compromised immune response. Probiotic supplementation has emerged as a potential remedy to mitigate the impact of prolonged exercise on athletes. Consequently, this study sought to assess the influence of probiotic supplementation on monocyte functionality both before and after the official marathon race.

Melatonin and sleep responses to normobaric hypoxia and aerobic physical exercise: A randomized controlled trial.

This work evaluated the effects of moderate physical exercise performed under hypoxic conditions on melatonin and sleep. Forty healthy men were randomized into four groups: Normoxia (N) (n = 10); Hypoxia (H) (n = 10); Exercise under Normoxia (EN) (n = 10); and Exercise under Hypoxia (EH) (n = 10). The observation period for all groups was approximately 36 h, beginning with a first night devoid of any intervention.

Analysis of the body composition of Paralympic athletes: Comparison of two methods.

Body composition is a physiological variable associated with physical activity and, in some cases, is related to athletic performance. Our objectives were to describe the body composition of participants in three distinct Paralympic sports and to compare the values of body density and estimated body fat obtained from the Paralympic athletes on the National Team by air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) and by the anthropometric method (skinfolds (SFs)). The sample consisted of 70 volunteers of both genders.

Acute physical exercise under hypoxia improves sleep, mood and reaction time.

This study aimed to assess the effect of two sessions of acute physical exercise at 50% VO2peak performed under hypoxia (equivalent to an altitude of 4500 m for 28 h) on sleep, mood and reaction time. Forty healthy men were randomized into 4 groups: Normoxia (NG) (n = 10); Hypoxia (HG) (n = 10); Exercise under Normoxia (ENG) (n = 10); and Exercise under Hypoxia (EHG) (n = 10). All mood and reaction time assessments were performed 40 min after awakening.

The influence of physical exercise and leisure activity on neuropsychological functioning in older adults.

It has been suggested that leisure activity and physical exercise can be a protective factor for neuropsychological functions and are associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of physical exercise and leisure on the neuropsychological functions of healthy older adults. The sample was composed of 51 sedentary female volunteers who were 60-70 years old and were distributed into three groups: A-control, B-leisure, and C-training.

Motivational and evolutionary aspects of a physical exercise training program: a longitudinal study.

Several studies have indicated that motivational level and prior expectations influence one's commitment to physical activity. Moreover, these aspects are not properly described in terms of proximal (SDT, Self Determination Theory) and distal (evolutionary) explanations in the literature. This paper aims to verify if level of motivation (BREQ-2, Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2) and expectations regarding regular physical exercise (IMPRAF-54) before starting a 1-year exercise program could determine likelihood of completion.

Aerobic physical exercise improved the cognitive function of elderly males but did not modify their blood homocysteine levels.

Background: Physical exercise influences homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations, cognitive function and the metabolic profile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of regular physical exercise on Hcy levels, the metabolic profile and cognitive function in healthy elderly males before and after an endurance exercise program.

Methods: Forty-five healthy and sedentary volunteers were randomized into 2 groups: (1) a control group asked not to change their normal everyday activities and not to start any regular physical exercise program and (2) an experimental group trained at a heart rate intensity corresponding to ventilatory threshold 1 (VT-1) for 60 min/day 3 times weekly on alternate days for 6 months using a cycle ergometer.

Isokinetic Assessment and Musculoskeletal Complaints in Paralympic Athletes: A Longitudinal Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess and monitor the peak torque of the knee extensor and flexor muscles in flexion and extension and the reports of musculoskeletal complaints in members of the main Brazilian Paralympic athletics team through 1 yr.

Design: Fourteen healthy athletes from both sexes were assessed three times in 1 yr. The volunteers were assessed for the presence of musculoskeletal complaints and muscle strength at three time points: (1) at the onset of the preparatory phase on December 2009, (2) at a follow-up assessment on June 2010, and (3) before actual competition on December 2010.

Perception of family support in dependents of alcohol and others drugs: relationship with mental disorders.

The present article aimed to analyze the relationships between perception of family support, levels of depression, anxiety and hopelessness in alcohol or drug dependent patients (AOD). Participated of this study 97 patients under treatment, aged between 18 and 58 years, of both genders from six private institutions for treatment of drug dependency, located in Santos-SP/Brazil. Participants responded to the Inventory of Perceived Family Support-IPSF, the Beck Depression Inventory-BDI, Beck Anxiety Inventory-BAI, Hopelessness Scale-BHS and Criteria for substance abuse or dependence at DSM-IV TR.

Can high altitude influence cytokines and sleep?

The number of persons who relocate to regions of high altitude for work, pleasure, sport, or residence increases every year. It is known that the reduced supply of oxygen (O2) induced by acute or chronic increases in altitude stimulates the body to adapt to new metabolic challenges imposed by hypoxia. Sleep can suffer partial fragmentation because of the exposure to high altitudes, and these changes have been described as one of the responsible factors for the many consequences at high altitudes.

Low-grade inflammation and spinal cord injury: exercise as therapy?

An increase in the prevalence of obesity in people with spinal cord injury can contribute to low-grade chronic inflammation and increase the risk of infection in this population. A decrease in sympathetic activity contributes to immunosuppression due to the lower activation of immune cells in the blood. The effects of physical exercise on inflammatory parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury have not been well described.

Relationship between physical activity and depression and anxiety symptoms: a population study.

Background: There are few studies evaluating the association between practice of physical activity and mood in a population sample. This study evaluated the frequency of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the population of the city of Sao Paulo and their association with the report of practice of regular physical activity.

Methods: This survey was conducted with the adult population of Sao Paulo between July and December of 2007.

High altitude exposure impairs sleep patterns, mood, and cognitive functions.

This work evaluated the importance of sleep on mood and cognition after 24 h of exposure to hypoxia. Ten males, aged 23-30 years, were placed in a normobaric chamber simulating an altitude of 4,500 m. Sleep assessments were conducted from 22:00-6:00; all mood and cognitive assessments were performed 20 min after awakening.

Low family support perception: a 'social marker' of substance dependence?

Objective: Simultaneously assess the relationship between the family support perception and the intensity of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety symptoms in alcohol or drug dependent (AOD) patients and in non-AOD dependent control group (CON).

Method: 60 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for AOD dependence and 65 individuals with similar profile, but not dependent on AOD completed the Family Support Perception Inventory (FSPI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).

Results: Logistic regression analysis indicated that high scores in family autonomy (OR = 0.

[Effects of exposure to altitude on neuropsychology aspects: a literature review].

Objective: Discuss the effects of altitude exposure on neuropsychological functions.

Method: We have conducted a literature review using as source indexed articles at Pubmed in the period from 1921 to 2008, using the following key words: 'cognition and hypoxia', 'hypoxia and neuropsychology', 'acute hypoxia', 'chronic hypoxia', and 'acclimatization and hypoxia', as well as specific books on the subject.

Discussion: Acute and chronic effects of Hypoxia can alter many of the neuropsychological functions in different altitudes due to physiological changes resulted by the oxygen (O2) partial decrease that can lead to neuropsychological alterations in individuals exposed to high altitudes.