Moderate anxiety may improve functional balance in older women with low muscle strength: a preliminary observation.

Background: Anxiety commonly affects older individuals with negative consequences on various physical and motor performances such as balance. When coupled with age-related muscular strength loss, the effects on the ability to perform daily tasks could be particularly detrimental, particularly in older women who are more susceptible to anxiety, muscular strength losses and falls. The study aimed to verify the effects of anxiety on balance performance in relation to muscular strength level in healthy older women.

Female athletes: a state-of-the-art review of multiorgan influence of exercise training.

Endurance sports have witnessed an increase in female participation, demanding a constant and evolving reassessment of the specific physiological and health implications of female athletes. In the present review, we analyze cardiovascular, hematological adaptations and anthropometry and hormonal fluctuations highlighting sex-specific differences in response to exercise, with estrogen playing a fundamental role in modulating body composition and metabolic processes. Nutritional aspects, in particular energy availability, macronutrient distribution and hydration, are fundamental in supporting training demands and menstrual function.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a revised Italian Anterior Knee Pain Scale version.

Background: The study aimed to validate a revised Italian version of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) by addressing shortcomings in previous adaptations and following the COSMIN guidelines to ensure robust psychometric evaluation.

Methods: One hundred thirty patients with anterior knee pain symptoms were recruited, with 65 undergoing a retest after 7 days to assess the scale's reliability. Structural validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the scale's dimensionality.

Discipline-specific adaptation patterns in respiratory and lower limb musculotendinous structures: cyclists vs. basketball players.

Background: This study aimed at assessing how chronic exposure to specific exercise training (high-intensity intervals vs. endurance), comparing experienced basketball-players (BP, N.=16), cyclists (CY, N.

Caffeine supplementation during official basketball games: a randomized crossover study on the effects on game-related statistics and perceptual responses of adult male players.

Background: This study examined the effects of caffeine (CAF) supplementation on game-related statistics and perceptual responses of male basketball players during official games.

Methods: Eight players (23.5±5.

The Effect of Physical Activity/Exercise on miRNA Expression and Function in Non-Communicable Diseases-A Systematic Review.

Exercise may differently affect the expression of key molecular markers, including skeletal muscle and circulating miRNAs, involved in cellular and metabolic pathways' regulation in healthy individuals and in patients suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Epigenetic factors are emerging as potential therapeutic biomarkers in the prognosis and treatment of NCDs and important epigenetic factors, miRNAs, play a crucial role in cellular pathways. This systematic review aims to underline the potential link between changes in miRNA expression after different types of physical activity/exercise in some populations affected by NCDs.

Monitoring training load and perceived recovery indicators during the preseason and in-season phases in professional female basketball players.

Background: During the basketball season, it is essential to carefully plan training and recovery activities to optimize players' performance. This study monitored training load and perceived recovery indicators in professional female basketball players across the preseason and in-season phases.

Methods: Seventeen professional female basketball players (age: 19.

The influence of physical fitness qualities, individual characteristics and contextual factors on youth basketball players' perceived exertion and recovery responses to official games.

Background: This study examined the influence of physical fitness qualities, individual characteristics, and contextual factors on perceived exertion and recovery responses to official games in youth basketball players.

Methods: Twenty-six males (age: 15.8±1.

The Effects of Online Home-Based Pilates Combined with Diet on Body Composition in Women Affected by Obesity: A Preliminary Study.

Diet and exercise intervention are the first strategies to counteract obesity. An online home-based exercise program may be a feasible approach in an obese population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of twelve weeks of online Pilates plus diet on body composition in individuals affected by obesity.

Investigating the effects of athlete-reported pre-training well-being and recovery on subsequent training loads in basketball players.

Background: Basketball players' external and internal training loads have been extensively monitored. However, no study has evaluated if pre-training athlete-reported conditions influence them. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of athlete-reported pre-training well-being and recovery on subsequent external load intensity, perceived exertion scores and their ratio (efficiency index) in youth basketball training.

Positive effects of dietary supplementation with nutraceuticals on male subclinical hypogonadism: a pilot study.

Background: Lifestyle modifications (i.e., physical activity [PA] and lower dietary intake) often are not sufficient to improve testosterone (TE) levels and promote weight loss in men with metabolic hypogonadism.

IABP versus Impella Support in Cardiogenic Shock: "In Silico" Study.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is part of a clinical syndrome consisting of acute left ventricular failure causing severe hypotension leading to inadequate organ and tissue perfusion. The most commonly used devices to support patients affected by CS are Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), Impella 2.5 pump and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Effect of anticipatory multisensory integration on sensory-motor performance.

Multisensory integration (MSI) is a phenomenon that occurs in sensory areas after the presentation of multimodal stimuli. Nowadays, little is known about the anticipatory top-down processes taking place in the preparation stage of processing before the stimulus onset. Considering that the top-down modulation of modality-specific inputs might affect the MSI process, this study attempts to understand whether the direct modulation of the MSI process, beyond the well-known sensory effects, may lead to additional changes in multisensory processing also in non-sensory areas (i.

Evaluation of Different Cannulation Strategies for Aortic Arch Surgery Using a Cardiovascular Numerical Simulator.

Aortic disease has a significant impact on quality of life. The involvement of the aortic arch requires the preservation of blood supply to the brain during surgery. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is an established technique for this purpose, although neurological injury remains high.

The Impact of Functional Bars and Adapted Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a public health problem because it is characterized by several comorbidities, including uremic sarcopenia (US), and a poor quality of life. Currently, there are no standardized treatments available to counteract the onset of US but only some possible therapeutic approaches to slow its progression. The aim of this pilot study is to collect descriptive data in order to design a clinical trial based on the power analysis and simple size.

High-Pressure Game Conditions Affect Quiet Eye Depending on the Player's Expertise: Evidence from the Basketball Three-Point Shot.

Research on attention in sport using eye-tracking methodology has highlighted that the highest levels of expertise and performance are characterized by a specific gaze behavior consisting of a perception-action variable named quiet eye. The present study aimed to understand the role of quiet eye during the three-point shot, especially in game conditions in which even a single point may determine victory or defeat. Twenty-one basketball players (twelve competitive elites and nine semi-elites) with a high-shooting style performed three-point shots in four game scenarios different from each other for the time available (time pressure) and the relevance of the score (performance pressure).

Effects of exercise on balance in patients with non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions related to medical expenses and disability. Evidence suggests that changes in motion patterns could induce trunk instability and impaired postural control. Therefore, this systematic review investigated the effects of exercise on balance in patients with NS-LBP.

Impact of Physical Activity and Natural Bioactive Compounds on Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a world-wide public health problem. Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction (ED) and vascular calcifications are clinical features of CKD patients that increase cardiovascular (CV) mortality. CKD-related CV disease pathogenic mechanisms are not only associated with traditional factors such as arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia, but also with ED, oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation.

Physiological swimming test for water polo players in the last twenty years: a systematic review.

Introduction: Swimming represents a crucial capacity for water polo players. Several studies have proposed different protocols to understand the incidence of this capacity on water polo performance and to improve the players' swimming assessment. This work aimed to provide a systematic review regarding the current status of physiological swimming tests for water polo players with the purpose to furnish a complete framework to coaches and fully exploit recent advances of scientific research to enhance performance assessment and monitoring of the athletes.

Anti-doping and other sport integrity challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedent impact on the world of sport and society at large. Many of the challenges with respect to integrity previously facing competitive sport have been accentuated further during the pandemic. Threats to the integrity of sporting competition include traditional doping, issues of technological fairness, and integration of transgender and intersex athletes in elite sport.

Physiological and exertional responses of partner dance in elderly.

Background: In order to verify if partner dance is an appropriate physical activity (PA) for elderly, to promote and maintain healthy fitness level, physiological and exertional responses during ballroom and smooth dance in elderly were examined.

Methods: Twenty healthy amateur dancers (10 men and 10 women, age 72.0±5.

Psychosocial and cultural determinants of dietary intake in community-dwelling older adults: A Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity systematic literature review.

Objectives: Knowledge of factors determining dietary intake is important to develop targeted strategies to prevent malnutrition and age-related diseases. The aim of the present systematic review was to analyze the state of the art regarding the role of social status, cultural aspects, and psychological distress on dietary intake in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A systematic search was performed per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses procedure.

Strength training and gross-motor skill exercise as interventions to improve postural control, dynamic functional balance and strength in older individuals.

Background: Loss of balance control is commonly experienced by older individuals. Despite the large amount of research on the effects of exercise on balance the optimal exercise regime is yet to be identified. Most studies have concentrated on strength training due to associations between muscle weakness, balance disfunction and fall risk.