The interplay of NAD and hypoxic stress and its relevance for ageing.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential regulator of cellular metabolism and redox processes. NAD levels and the dynamics of NAD metabolism change with increasing age but can be modulated via the diet or medication. Because NAD metabolism is complex and its regulation still insufficiently understood, achieving specific outcomes without perturbing delicate balances through targeted pharmacological interventions remains challenging.

Multimodal Rehabilitation Including Strengthening Exercise Is Effective in Improving Fear-Avoidance Beliefs in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Clinical Scenario: Individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) present with a variety of neuromuscular and psychological deficits, with the "gold-standard" for treatment being rehabilitation programs with strengthening-based exercises. While such interventions primarily target pain and function measures, it is unknown whether psychological measures such as fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) are also affected.

Clinical Question: Is rehabilitation including strengthening exercises effective in improving FABs in individuals with PFP?

Summary Of Key Findings: Three studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the appraisal.

The Role of Speed, Change of Direction, and Momentum by Position and Starting Status in Division 1 Collegiate Football Players.

Mann, JB, Cowley, N, and Weakley, J. The role of speed, change of direction, and momentum by position and starting status in Division 1 collegiate football players. J Strength Cond Res 39(1): 41-47, 2025-This study (a) investigated differences between big, mid, and skill positions in sprint and change of direction times and momentum; (b) compared starting and nonstarting athletes; and (c) investigated whether thresholds can be developed to distinguish between starting and nonstarting Division 1 collegiate football athletes.

Effects of a Specific Trunk and Shoulder Strength Training Program on Throwing Velocity and Accuracy: A Study Among Hungarian First-League Female Handball Players.

The aim of the study was to record shoulder and trunk stability of elite female handball players and to investigate their effect on throwing velocity and accuracy. 151 female handball players (9 teams in total) from the Hungarian first league participated in a mid-season conditional survey. The study included tests of trunk and shoulder stability, and measurements of factors affecting shoulder stability, as well as throwing speed and throwing accuracy.

Impact of astaxanthin supplementation on markers of cardiometabolic health and tactical performance among firefighters.

Rationale: Firefighters are at risk for cardiovascular disease due to occupational-related inflammation, oxidative stress, and lifestyle practices. Astaxanthin (AX) possesses anti-inflammatory/antioxidant and purported ergogenic properties. This study examined the impact of supplementing the diet with 12 mg/d AX for four weeks on markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiometabolic health, exercise capacity, and occupation-related performance in career firefighters.

Physical Activity Variability in Patellofemoral Pain: Relationships With Clinical and Psychological Outcomes.

Objectives: To (1) compare physical activity variability between individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) and pain-free individuals and (2) evaluate the relationships of physical activity variability with pain severity, symptom duration, disability, and pain catastrophizing in PFP cohorts.

Design: Cross-sectional case-control study.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Low-dose carbon monoxide inhalation to increase total hemoglobin mass and endurance performance: scientific evidence and implications.

Recently, chronic intermittent inhalation of low-dose carbon monoxide (CO) has been postulated as a practice to increase total hemoglobin mass with potential beneficial effects on endurance performance. In this perspective article, we discuss the potential performance enhancing capabilities as well as the safety concerns, which include individual variability in CO response, and acute and chronic health effects. It is also important to note that according to the World-Anti-Doping-Agency (WADA), CO inhalation could fall under "" and therefore could be considered a prohibited method if used as a non-diagnostic tool.

The epithelial barrier theory and its associated diseases.

The prevalence of many chronic noncommunicable diseases has been steadily rising over the past six decades. During this time, over 350,000 new chemical substances have been introduced to the lives of humans. In recent years, the epithelial barrier theory came to light explaining the growing prevalence and exacerbations of these diseases worldwide.

Sport climbing performance determinants and functional testing methods: A systematic review.

Background: Sport climbing is becoming incredibly popular both in the general population and among athletes. No consensus exists regarding evidence-based sport-specific performance evaluation; therefore, this systematic review is aimed at analyzing determinants of sport climbing performance and evaluation methods by comparing climbers of different levels.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to December 20, 2022.

Influence of unilateral versus bilateral patellofemoral pain on physical activity, pain self-efficacy, and disability.

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects physical and psychosocial health; however, it is unclear if unilateral and bilateral PFP induce similar levels of impairments.

Objectives: We aimed to compare physical activity (PA), pain self-efficacy, and disability between individuals with unilateral and bilateral PFP, and to compare these groups against pain-free controls.

Design: Cross-sectional case-control.

Sport PRactice and its Effects on aortic size and valve function in bicuspid Aortic valve Disease: a cross-sectional report from the SPREAD study.

Objective: Concerns exist about the possible detrimental effects of exercise training on aortic size and valve function in individuals with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). This multicentre international study aimed to determine the characteristics of aortic size and valve function in athletes versus non-athletes with BAV and athletes with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

Methods: We enrolled competitive athletes with BAV and age- and sex-matched athletes with TAV and non-athletes with BAV.

Physical Activity Levels in Persons With Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: Pain and symptoms of patellofemoral pain (PFP) are often exacerbated during daily activities, which may result in reduced overall physical activity levels.

Objective: To summarize the evidence for physical activity levels among persons with PFP compared with pain-free controls.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus were searched from January 1, 2000 to February 22, 2024.

Flying to high-altitude destinations.

Every year millions of people fly to high-altitude destinations. They thereby expose themselves to specific high-altitude conditions. The hypoxic environment (low ambient oxygen availability) constitutes a major factor affecting health and well-being at high altitude.

Hyperoxic recovery interferes with the metabolic imprint of hypoxic exercise.

Supplemental oxygen (hyperoxia) improves physical performance during hypoxic exercise. Based on the analysis of metabolome and iron homeostasis from human athlete blood samples, we show that hyperoxia during recovery periods interferes with metabolic alterations following hypoxic exercise. This may impair beneficial adaptations to exercise and/or hypoxia and highlights risks of oxygen supplementation in hypoxia.

The Influence of Psychological Factors on Physical Activity in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain.

Context: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a prevalent chronic condition characterized by retropatellar or peripatellar pain exacerbated by various knee flexion-based activities. Previous research has highlighted the impact of psychological constructs on pain and function in chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, yet their influence on physical activity in PFP cohorts remains unexplored. We aimed to evaluate whether pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing predict variations in steps per day and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among individuals with PFP.

Epithelial barrier theory in the context of nutrition and environmental exposure in athletes.

Exposure to toxic substances, introduced into our daily lives during industrialization and modernization, can disrupt the epithelial barriers in the skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems, leading to microbial dysbiosis and inflammation. Athletes and physically active individuals are at increased risk of exposure to agents that damage the epithelial barriers and microbiome, and their extreme physical exercise exerts stress on many organs, resulting in tissue damage and inflammation. Epithelial barrier-damaging substances include surfactants and enzymes in cleaning products, laundry and dishwasher detergents, chlorine in swimming pools, microplastics, air pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and diesel exhaust.

Decreased skeletal muscle intramyocellular lipid droplet-mitochondrial contact contributes to myosteatosis in cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia, the unintentional loss of lean mass, contributes to functional dependency, poor treatment outcomes, and decreased survival. Although its pathogenicity is multifactorial, metabolic dysfunction remains a hallmark of cachexia. However, significant knowledge gaps exist in understanding the role of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism and dynamics in this condition.

Altitude illnesses.

Millions of people visit high-altitude regions annually and more than 80 million live permanently above 2,500 m. Acute high-altitude exposure can trigger high-altitude illnesses (HAIs), including acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE). Chronic mountain sickness (CMS) can affect high-altitude resident populations worldwide.

Analysis of fibrin networks using topological data analysis - a feasibility study.

Blood clot formation, a crucial process in hemostasis and thrombosis, has garnered substantial attention for its implications in various medical conditions. Microscopic examination of blood clots provides vital insights into their composition and structure, aiding in the understanding of clot pathophysiology and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. This study explores the use of topological data analysis (TDA) to assess plasma clot characteristics microscopically, focusing on the identification of the elements components, holes and Wasserstein distances.

Hip rate of torque development, but not strength, is associated with single-leg squat kinematics in individuals with patellofemoral pain.

Introduction: Isometric hip strength seems to have limited association with frontal plane kinematics in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP), but little is known about the association with hip rate of torque development (RTD).

Objective: To explore the association of hip strength and RTD with trunk, pelvis, hip, and knee kinematics during a single-leg squat (SLS) in individuals with PFP.

Methods: Twenty individuals with PFP participated in this study.

Ultrasound-guided electrocoagulation of neovascularisation for persistent patellar tendinopathy in athletes: a cohort study of 25 patients with a mean follow-up of 5 years from the SANTI Study Group.

Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common condition characterised by persistent patellar tendon pain and dysfunction, particularly in athletes. Neovascularisation is frequently observed in the PT and is associated with increased pain. Ultrasound-guided electrocoagulation of neovascularisation has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative treatment for recalcitrant PT.