Search

Background: Telerehabilitation to guide self-management has been shown to be a feasible care strategy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a blended web-based rehabilitation program enhanced with outdoor physical activity (BWR-OPA) and consultation versus an OPA (usual care) program in KOA patients. Methods: Forty-four KOA participants were prescribed to follow the programs five times/week for 6 weeks. The primary outcome was self-reported physical function, measured by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The secondary outcomes were pain, PA, function (timed up-and-go (TUG) test, 30 s chair rise test (30 s CRT)), psychological functioning and QoL. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups' KOOSs for pain and symptom subscales at the 6- and 12-week post-intervention assessments compared to baseline (p < 0.005) favoring the BWR-OPA group. There was a superior improvement in PA in the BWR-OPA training group (p < 0.05). Statistical and clinical improvements were found (p < 0.001) with effect sizes over 2.0 for objective measures of function. Similar improvements were recorded over time (p < 0.005) at 12 weeks for QoL, KOOS subscales for ADL, QoL and sports/recreation and psychological functioning for both groups. Conclusions: A blended web-based self-managed care program with outdoor PA was superior in many respects to usual care in KOA participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes our research on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in human chromaffin cells. Limited research has been conducted in this field on human tissue, primarily due to the difficulties associated with obtaining human cells. Receptor subtypes were characterized here using molecular biology and electrophysiological patch-clamp techniques. However, the most significant aspect of this study refers to the cross-talk between the two main subtypes identified in these cells, the α7- and α3β4* subtypes, aiming to avoid their desensitization. The article also reviews other aspects, including the regulation of their expression, function or physical interaction by choline, Ca2+, and tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphatases. Additionally, the influence of sex on their expression is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand-gripping training is important for improving the fundamental functions of human physical activity. Bernstein's idea of "repetition without repetition" suggests that motor control function should be trained under changing states. The randomness level of load should be visualized for self-administered screening when repeating various training tasks under changing states. This study aims to develop a sensing methodology of random loads applied to both the agonist and antagonist skeletal muscles when performing physical tasks. We assumed that the time-variability and periodicity of the applied load appear in the time-series feature of muscle deformation data. In the experiment, 14 participants conducted the gripping tasks with a gripper, ball, balloon, Palm clenching, and paper. Crumpling pieces of paper (paper exercise) involves randomness because the resistance force of the paper changes depending on the shape and layers of the paper. Optical myography during gripping tasks was measured, and time-series features were analyzed. As a result, our system could detect the random movement of muscles during training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a major cause of poor quality of life, disability, and mortality in old age. According to the geroscience paradigm, the mechanisms that drive the aging process are also involved in the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative diseases, including dementia. The dissection of such mechanisms is therefore instrumental in providing biological targets for interventions and new sources for biomarkers. Within the geroscience paradigm, several biomarkers have been discovered that can be measured in blood and that allow early identification of individuals at risk of cognitive impairment. Examples of such markers include inflammatory biomolecules, markers of neuroaxonal damage, extracellular vesicles, and DNA methylation. Furthermore, gait speed, measured at a usual and fast pace and as part of a dual task, has been shown to detect individuals at risk of future dementia. Here, we provide an overview of available biomarkers that may be used to gauge the risk of cognitive impairment in apparently healthy older adults. Further research should establish which combination of biomarkers possesses the highest predictive accuracy toward incident dementia. The implementation of currently available markers may allow the identification of a large share of at-risk individuals in whom preventive interventions should be implemented to maintain or increase cognitive reserves, thereby reducing the risk of progression to dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has beneficial effects on physical functions in Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these functional improvements are still unclear. This study aims at comparing acute responses in spinal excitability, as measured by soleus Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex), between MS patients and healthy individuals, under three experimental conditions involving the ankle planta flexor muscles: (1) passive NMES (pNMES); (2) NMES superimposed onto isometric voluntary contraction (NMES+); and (3) isometric voluntary contraction (ISO). (2) Methods: In total, 20 MS patients (MS) and 20 healthy individuals as the control group (CG) took part in a single experimental session. Under each condition, participants performed 15 repetitions of 6 s at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction, with 6 s of recovery between repetitions. Before and after each condition, H-reflex amplitudes were recorded. (3) Results: In MS, H-reflex amplitude did not change under any experimental condition (ISO: p = 0.506; pNMES: p = 0.068; NMES+: p = 0.126). In CG, H-reflex amplitude significantly increased under NMES+ (p = 0.01), decreased under pNMES (p < 0.000) and was unaltered under ISO (p = 0.829). (4) Conclusions: The different H-reflex responses between MS and CG might reflect a reduced ability of MS patients in modulating spinal excitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between locomotive syndrome (LS) status, physical performance and limb and trunk skeletal muscle mass before and after surgery in adult spinal surgery (ASD) patients. Methods: A retrospective observational investigation of 63 consecutive patients with ASD who underwent spinal surgery was conducted. The total skeletal muscle mass of the arms and legs was considered a measure of the total appendicular skeletal muscle mass measured with whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. All data pertaining to the physical performance tests and LS were collected preoperatively with follow-up one year postoperatively. Results: Gait speed, the one-leg standing test and the stand-up test were significantly improved one year after surgery compared to preoperative measurements. The lower extremity skeletal muscle mass predominantly influences physical function improvement including gait stride, one-leg standing and the stand-up test after ASD surgery. Conclusions: This study is the first to show that assessing lower extremity muscles prior to ASD surgery is useful in predicting postoperative recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and mechanical properties of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) are worse than those of natural coarse aggregate (NCA), and the overall performance of recycled concrete prepared from RCA is worse than that of natural aggregate concrete. Treatment of RCA by CO2-accelerated carbonation effectively improves the macroscopic properties of RCA. The degree of influence of raw material factors, i.e., the original concrete strength (OCS) and initial moisture content (IMC) of RCA, on the carbonation of RCAs is very complex. Herein, an accelerated carbonation experiment for RCA with different material factors as variables was carried out to explore the influence of the abovementioned factors on the physical properties of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate (CRCA). By analyzing the microstructure of the RCA with the best modification effect before and after carbonation, the carbonation modification mechanism of the RCA was revealed. The physical performance indexes, including the apparent density, water absorption and carbonation rate, of the dried RCA with an OCS of C40 and C50 were significantly improved. The research results can provide basic data and theoretical support for promoting the popularization and application of RCA and recycled concrete in practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the evolution of quality of life (QoL) in the first 5 years following Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer (PCa) and to determine possible associations with clinical/treatment data. Material and methods: Patients were enrolled in a prospective multicentre observational trial in 2010-2014 and treated with conventional (74–80 Gy, 1.8–2 Gy/fr) or moderately hypofractionated IMRT (65–75.2 Gy, 2.2–2.7 Gy/fr). QoL was evaluated by means of EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline, at radiation therapy (RT) end, and every 6 months up to 5 years after IMRT end. Fourteen QoL dimensions were investigated separately. The longitudinal evaluation of QoL was analysed by means of Analysis of variances (ANOVA) for multiple measures. Results: A total of 391 patients with complete sets of questionnaires across 5 years were available. The longitudinal analysis showed a trend toward the significant worsening of QoL at RT end for global health, physical and role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhoea, and pain. QoL worsening was recovered within 6 months from RT end, with the only exception being physical functioning. Based on ANOVA, the most impaired time point was RT end. QoL dimension analysis at this time indicated that acute Grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity significantly impacted global health, physical and role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhoea, and pain. Acute Grade ≥ 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicity resulted in lower role functioning and higher pain. Prophylactic lymph-nodal irradiation (WPRT) resulted in significantly lower QoL for global health, fatigue, appetite loss, and diarrhoea; lower pain with the use of neoadjuvant/concomitant hormonal therapy; and lower fatigue with the use of an anti-androgen. Conclusions: In this prospective, longitudinal, observational study, high radiation IMRT doses delivered for PCa led to a temporary worsening of QoL, which tended to be completely resolved at six months. Such transient worsening was mostly associated with acute GI/GU toxicity, WPRT, and higher prescription doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The predictive value of the risk stratification scales in elderly patients with IPAH might differ from that in younger patients. It is unknown whether young and older IPAH patients have the same survival dependence on PAH-specific therapy numbers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of risk stratification scales and PAH medication numbers in elderly IPAH patients in comparison with young IPAH patients. Materials and methods: A total of 119 patients from a prospective single-center PAH registry were divided into group I < 60 years old (n = 89) and group II ≥ 60 years old (n = 30). ESC/ERS, REVEAL, and REVEAL 2.0 risk stratification scores were assessed at baseline, as well as H2FpEF score and survival at follow-up. Results: During a mean follow-up period of 2.9 years (1.63; 6.0), 42 (35.3%) patients died; at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, survival was 95%, 88.6%, 78.5%, 61.7%, 48.5%, and 33.7%, respectively. No survival differences were observed between the two groups, despite the use of monotherapy in the elderly patients. The best predictive REVEAL value in elderly patients (IPAH patients ≥ 60 years) was AUC 0.73 (0.56–0.91), p = 0.03; and in patients with LHD comorbidities in the entire cohort, it was AUC 0.73 (0.59–0.87), p < 0.009. Factors independently associated with death in the entire cohort were CKD (p = 0.01, HR 0.2), the right-to-left ventricle dimension ratio (p = 0.0047, HR 5.97), and NT-proBNP > 1400 pg/mL (p = 0.008, HR 3.18). Conclusion: Risk stratification in the elderly IPAH patients requires a fundamentally different approach than that of younger patients, taking into account the initial limitations in physical performance and comorbidities that interfere with current assessment scores. The REVEAL score reliably stratifies patients at any age and LHD comorbidities. The initial monotherapy seems to be reasonable in patients over 60 years. Selection tools for initial combination PAH therapy in older IPAH patients with comorbidities need to be validated in prospective observational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of stroke survivors experience long-term impairments. Regular physical activity and other lifestyle modifications play an important role in rehabilitation. Outpatient rehabilitation using telemedicine might be suitable to improve functional ability and long-term secondary prevention. The Strokecoach Intervention Program (SIP, Strokecoach GmbH, Cologne, Germany) comprises training, coaching and monitoring with the aim of improving or at least maintaining functional independence and preventing further stroke through more targeted physical activity. The SIP is provided as blended care, which refers to the integrated and coordinated delivery of healthcare services that combines traditional in-person interactions with technology-mediated interventions, optimizing the use of both face-to-face and virtual modalities to enhance patient outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of the SIP by the participants and its practical application, as well as to obtain initial indications of effects of the SIP on the basis of patient-related outcome measures, blood pressure measurements and recording of physical activity in parallel with the intervention. Methods: Data from individuals with stroke participating in the SIP were analyzed retrospectively. Within the SIP, participants received an application-based training program, were instructed to measure their blood pressure daily and to wear an activity tracker (pedometer). During the intervention period of either 6 or 12 weeks, the participants were supported and motivated by a personal coach via a messenger application. The primary outcomes of the analysis were recruitment, acceptance of and satisfaction with the SIP. Secondary outcomes included functional measures, mobility and health-related quality of life. Results: A total of 122 individuals with stroke could be recruited for the SIP. A total of 96 out of 122 were able to start the program (54% female, mean age 54.8 (SD = 13.1), 6.1 (SD = 6.6) years after stroke onset) and 88 completed the SIP. Participants wore the activity tracker on 66% and tracked their blood pressure on 72% of their intervention days. A further analyzed subgroup of 38 participants showed small improvements in patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life (SF-36) with an increase of 12 points in the subdomain mental health, vitality (12.6) and physical functioning (9.1). However, no statistically significant improvements were found in other performance-based measures (Timed Up and Go test, gait speed). Conclusions: This study showed that a blended therapy approach for stroke survivors with mild to moderate impairments in the chronic phase is feasible and was highly accepted by participants, who benefitted from the additional coaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, polyurethane has drawn great attention because of its many advantages in physical and chemical performance. In this work, firstly, polyurethane was impregnated in a non-woven fabric (NWF). Then, polyurethane-impregnated NWF was coagulated utilizing a wet phase inversion. Finally, after alkali treatment, microfiber non-woven fabrics with a porous polyurethane matrix (PNWF) were fabricated and used as substrates. SnIn4S8 (SIS) prepared by a microwave-assisted method was used as a photocatalyst and a novel SIS/PNWF substrate with multiple uses and highly efficient catalytic degradation ability under visible light was successfully fabricated. The surface morphology, chemical and crystal structures, optical performance, and wettability of SIS/PNWF substrates were observed. Subsequently, the photocatalytic performance of SIS/PNWF substrates was investigated by the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. Compared with SIS/PNWF-2% (2%, the weight ratio of SIS and PNWF, same below), SIS/PNWF-5% as well as SIS/PNWF-15%, SIS/PNWF-10% substrates exhibited superior photocatalytic efficiency of 97% in 2 h. This may be due to the superior photocatalytic performance of SIS and the inherent hierarchical porous structure of PNWF substrates. Additionally, the hydrophobicity of SIS/PNWF substrates can enable them to float on the solution and further be applied on an open-water surface. Furthermore, tensile strength and recycle experiments demonstrated that SIS/PNWF substrates possessed superior mechanical strength and excellent recycle stability. This work provides a facile and efficient pathway to prepare SIS/PNWF substrates for the degradation of organic pollutants with enhanced catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Creative therapies like painting, dancing, and writing are often suggested to support the treatment of illnesses, severe illnesses, including cancer, but there are not many detailed studies on how well they work in hospitals. We asked women with cancer, their female family members, and female hospital workers about how creative therapies could make cancer treatment better. Out of 718 people who answered, most tried innovative therapies to feel better and be healthier. Many liked writing as a way to help themselves. The answers show that creative activities could help us understand how patients move, feel, and interact with others. Even though many patients do not usually talk to their doctors about their hobbies, many would like to include creative activities in their medical care. Also, people prefer to perform these creative activities in groups, meaning hospitals should think about organizing such group activities to help patients. Introduction: Although creative therapies like painting, dancing, and writing are often used and encouraged to treat various diseases, including cancer, there are few systematic scientific studies on innovative therapies in medical care. Methods: An anonymous survey was developed for female patients, their relatives, and female medical staff on the impact of creative therapies on optimizing clinical therapy management in exclusively female trials. Results: Of 718 respondents, 358 were female patients, 69 were medical personnel, and 291 were in the control group. Overall, 91.2% of respondents had sought access to creative therapies, indicating strong self-motivated engagement in activities to improve health and well-being. This study also uncovered a significant preference for creative writing among patients. Furthermore, the data suggest that integrating innovative therapies into biopsychosocial anamnesis could offer valuable insights into patients' mobility, mood, and social behaviors. Despite a general hesitation to discuss leisure activities with medical professionals, many patients wanted to incorporate creative activities into their treatment plans. Moreover, group settings for innovative therapy were preferred, highlighting the need for more structured support in medical environments to facilitate these therapeutic interactions. Conclusions: This study suggests creative therapies can be valuable in medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological maturity status significantly influences success in handball, impacting an athlete's performance and overall development. This study aimed to examine the anthropometric and physical performance variables concerning age and maturity status, establishing reference values for physical performance among Tunisian players. A total of 560 handball players (309 males and 251 females aged 13–19 years) were categorized based on maturity status: early (n = 98), average (n = 262), and late (n = 200), determined through Mirwald and colleagues' equations. Anthropometric, physical fitness, and physiological data were collected for reference value creation. Our findings revealed significantly higher anthropometric parameters (p = 0.003) in late-maturing athletes compared to their early-maturing counterparts. Post-pubertal athletes showed significantly superior (p = 0.002) jumping ability, change of direction, and aerobic performance compared to their pre-pubertal peers. Additionally, male athletes outperformed females in both fitness (p = 0.001) and aerobic (p = 0.001) performance. A notable age-by-maturity interaction emerged for most performance outcomes (η2 ranging from 0.011 to 0.084), highlighting increased sex-specific differences as athletes progressed in age. Percentile values are provided for males and females, offering valuable insights for coaches and sports scientists to design personalized training programs. Understanding a player's performance relative to these percentiles allows trainers to tailor workouts, addressing specific strengths and weaknesses for enhanced development and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring key physiological metrics, including heart rate and heart rate variability, has been shown to be of value in exercise science, disease management, and overall health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diurnal variation of physiological responses and physical performances using digital biomarkers as a precise measurement tool during a walking football match (WFM) in higher-weight men. Nineteen males (mean age: 42.53 ± 12.18 years; BMI: 33.31 ± 4.31 kg·m−2) were engaged in a WFM at two different times of the day. Comprehensive evaluations of physiological parameters (e.g., cardiac autonomic function, lactate, glycemia, and oxygen saturation), along with physical performance, were assessed before, during, and after the match. Overall, there was a significant interaction (time of day x WFM) for mean blood pressure (MBP) (p = 0.007) and glycemia (p = 0.039). Glycemia decreased exclusively in the evening after WFM (p = 0.001), while mean blood pressure did not significantly change. Rating of perceived exertion was significantly higher in the evening than in the morning (p = 0.04), while the heart rate recovery after 1 min (HRR60s) of the match was lower in the evening than in the morning (p = 0.048). Overall, walking football practice seems to be safe, whatever the time of day. Furthermore, HRR60, glycemia, and (MBP) values were lower in the evening compared to the morning, suggesting that evening exercise practice could be safer for individuals with higher weight. The utilization of digital biomarkers for monitoring health status during WFM has been shown to be efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low back pain (LBP) is a common issue that negatively affects a person's quality of life and imposes substantial healthcare expenses. In this study, we introduce the (Back-pain Movement) BackMov test, using inertial motion capture (MoCap) to assess lumbar movement changes in LBP patients. The test includes flexion–extension, rotation, and lateralization movements focused on the lumbar spine. To validate its reproducibility, we conducted a test-retest involving 37 healthy volunteers, yielding results to build a minimal detectable change (MDC) graph map that would allow us to see if changes in certain variables of LBP patients are significant in relation to their recovery. Subsequently, we evaluated its applicability by having 30 LBP patients perform the movement's test before and after treatment (15 received deep oscillation therapy; 15 underwent conventional therapy) and compared the outcomes with a specialist's evaluations. The test-retest results demonstrated high reproducibility, especially in variables such as range of motion, flexion and extension ranges, as well as velocities of lumbar movements, which stand as the more important variables that are correlated with LBP disability, thus changes in them may be important for patient recovery. Among the 30 patients, the specialist's evaluations were confirmed using a low-back-specific Short Form (SF)-36 Physical Functioning scale, and agreement was observed, in which all patients improved their well-being after both treatments. The results from the specialist analysis coincided with changes exceeding MDC values in the expected variables. In conclusion, the BackMov test offers sensitive variables for tracking mobility recovery from LBP, enabling objective assessments of improvement. This test has the potential to enhance decision-making and personalized patient monitoring in LBP management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of non-immersive virtual reality (niVR) active videogames in patients who underwent cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis, according to the PRISMA guidelines and previously registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023485240), was performed through a literature search in PubMed (Medline), SCOPUS, WOS, and PEDro since inception to 21 November 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effectiveness of an niVR intervention, in comparison with conventional CR and usual care, on aerobic capacity and cardiovascular endurance (physical function), anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL). The risk of bias in individual studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Effect size was estimated using Cohen's standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) in a random-effects model. Results: Nine RCT that met the inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed a moderate-to-large effect favoring niVR active videogames included in CR in increasing aerobic capacity and cardiovascular endurance (SMD = 0.74; 95% CI 0.11 to 1.37; p = 0.021) and reducing anxiety (SMD = −0.66; 95% CI −1.13 to −0.2; p = 0.006). Only 4.8% of patients reported adverse events while performing niVR active videogames. Conclusions: Inclusion of niVR active videogames in CR programs is more effective than conventional CR in improving aerobic capacity and cardiovascular endurance and in reducing anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, wearable inertial sensors have become popular means to quantify physical activity and mobility. However, research assessing measurement accuracy and precision is required, especially before using device-based measures as outcomes in trials. The GT9X Link is a recent activity monitor available from ActiGraph, recognized as a "gold standard" and previously used as a criterion measure to assess the validity of various consumer-based activity monitors. However, the validity of the ActiGraph GT9X Link is not fully elucidated. A systematic review was undertaken to synthesize the current evidence for the criterion validity of the ActiGraph GT9X Link in measuring steps and energy expenditure. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and eight studies were included with a combined sample size of 558 participants. We found that (1) the ActiGraph GT9X Link generally underestimates steps; (2) the validity and accuracy of the device in measuring steps seem to be influenced by gait speed, device placement, filtering process, and monitoring conditions; and (3) there is a lack of evidence regarding the accuracy of step counting in free-living conditions and regarding energy expenditure estimation. Given the limited number of included studies and their heterogeneity, the present review emphasizes the need for further validation studies of the ActiGraph GT9X Link in various populations and in both controlled and free-living settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach handball is a fully developed sporting discipline on all five continents which has attracted the attention of researchers in the last decade, resulting in a proliferation of different studies focusing on players but not on referees. The main objective of this cross-sectional research was to determine the physical demands on elite male beach handball referees in four different competitions: U18 male; U18 female; senior male; and senior female. Twelve elite federated male referees (age: 30.86 ± 8 years; body height: 175.72 ± 4.51 cm; body weight: 80.18 ± 17.99 kg; fat percentage: 20.1 ± 4.41%; national or international experience) belonging to the Technical Committee of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation were recruited for this the study. The physical demands required of referees in official matches were measured by installing a GPS device. The sampling frequency used to record their speed and distance was 15 Hz. A triaxial accelerometer (100 Hz) was used to determine their acceleration. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) between competitions with post hoc comparisons using the Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare among categories. A higher distance covered in zone 1 and speeds of 0 to 6 km-h−1 were recorded. Most accelerations and decelerations occurred in zones 0 and 1 (zone 0: 0 to 1 m·s−2; zone 1: 1 to 2 m·s−2). The lack of differences (p > 0.05) between most analysed variables suggest quite similar physical demands of the four analysed competitions. These results provide relevant information to design optimal training plans oriented to the real physical demands on referees in an official competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Whole-body electromyostimulation is under investigation as a potential aid for obesity-related health problems, supplementing a comprehensive, evidence-based obesity management strategy that includes lifestyle, diet, and exercise. The study investigated the impact of a whole-body electromyostimulation training program on physical performance and cardiometabolic markers in young obese females. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight obese females, aged over 18 years with BMI over 30 and body fat over 28% and no underlying health conditions or medication, were divided into a whole-body electromyostimulation group (15 participants) and a control group (13 participants). The whole-body electromyostimulation program lasted 12 weeks, with two 20 min sessions weekly, using bipolar, rectangular current. Assessments pre and post intervention included body composition, blood pressure, lipid profile, C-reactive protein levels, maximal oxygen consumption, and jumping and sprint performance. Two-way ANOVA and t-tests were used for analysis. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant (group × time) interactions for body composition, systolic blood pressure, maximal oxygen consumption, jumping and sprint performance, and plasma levels of lipids and C-reactive protein. Post hoc analyses for the whole-body electromyostimulation group indicated improvements in body composition indices (p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.003), maximal oxygen consumption (p = 0.010), and both jumping and 30 m sprint performance (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) after the intervention. Furthermore, plasma levels of lipids (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.002) showed significant improvements following the training program. In contrast, no significant changes were observed for these variables in the control group. Conclusions: A 12-week whole-body electromyostimulation program significantly improved body composition (skeletal muscle mass, body mass index, body fat, and waist circumference), physical performance (maximal oxygen consumption, jumping and sprint performance), and certain cardiometabolic (plasma level of lipids) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein) in obese young women. Further research is needed to explore the broader effects of whole-body electromyostimulation on physical and cardiometabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paradigm of comprehensive treatment approaches for children with cerebral palsy has gained traction, prompting clinicians to deliberate between independent and integrated treatment delivery. However, this decision-making process is often hindered by the dearth of empirical evidence available to inform optimal therapeutic strategies. This study, therefore, sought to compare the effects of Pilates-based core strengthening (PsCS), plyometric-based muscle loading (PlyoML), and their combination on postural control, balance, and mobility in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (ULCP). Eighty-one children with ULCP (age: 12–18 years) were randomized to PsCS (n = 27), PlyoML (n = 27), or a combined intervention (n = 27; equated for total sets/repetitions) group. The three interventions were applied twice/week over 12 successive weeks. Postural control (directional and overall limits of stability—LoS), balance, and mobility (Community Balance and Mobility Scale—CB&M; Functional Walking Test—FWT; Timed Up and Down Stair test—TUDS) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The combined group exhibited greater increases in directional LoS compared to PsCS and PlyoML including the backward (p = 0.006 and 0.033, respectively), forward (p = 0.015 and 0.036, respectively), paretic (p = 0.017 and 0.018, respectively), and non-paretic directions (p = 0.006 and 0.004, respectively)], and this was also the case for overall LoS (p < 0.001 versus PsCS and PlyoML). In addition, the combined group displayed greater improvements compared to the PsCS and PlyoML groups regarding CB&M (p = 0.037 and p = 0.002, respectively), FWT (p = 0.012 and p = 0.038, respectively), and TUDS (p = 0.046 and p = 0.021, respectively). In conclusion, the combined PsCS and PlyoML exercise program promotes considerably greater improvements in postural control, balance, and mobility compared to unimodal training in children with ULCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) is a virtual technology that integrates virtual information and objects into real environments, offering unprecedented possibilities in such fields such as architecture, education, and healthcare. Real-time communication and security protocols are critical to the successful deployment of AR applications to ensure user immersion, prevent motion sickness, and address security problems. This paper proposes a secure user-to-user (U2U) and user-to-infrastructure (U2I) authentication protocol suitable for edge computing-based AR environments. We also employ extended Chebyshev chaotic maps and physical unclonable functions to ensure security and efficiency during the authentication process. The proposed protocol initiates session keys after U2I authentication when an AR user enters the edge node area, facilitating secure U2U authentication for sharing data with nearby users. We conduct comprehensive studies of the security robustness of the proposed protocol using formal and informal analyses, including "Burrows–Abadi–Needham logic", "Real-Or-Random model", the "Scyther tool" and informal security analyses. Furthermore, we measure the performance of cryptographic primitives using the "Multiprecision Integer and Rational Arithmetic Cryptographic Library" Cryptographic SDK. We perform a comparative analysis of security features and functionality, and we conduct a computational and communication cost analysis. The results reveal that the proposed protocol can provide security and efficiency for edge computing-based AR environments, presenting the methods for seamless and secure real-time AR data exchanges for U2I and U2U communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two billion people worldwide suffer from anemia, with reproductive-age women being disproportionately affected. Iron plays a crucial role in cellular function and impacts cognition, physical function, and quality of life. Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are associated with adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal development. Oral iron supplementation has been the standard treatment for decades, often producing sub-optimal outcomes. Many babies are still being born with ID and suffer adverse sequelae due to inadequate iron levels in the mothers. Is it time to consider a broad scale-up of parenteral iron as a new standard of care? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the evolution of performance throughout a season in team sports is scarce and mainly focused on men's teams. Our aim in this study was to examine the seasonal variations in relevant indices of physical performance in female football players. Twenty-seven female football players were assessed at week 2 of the season (preseason, PS), week 7 (end of preseason, EP), week 24 (half-season, HS), and week 38 (end of season, ES). Similar to the most common used conditioning tests in football, testing sessions consisted of (1) vertical countermovement jump (CMJ); (2) 20 m running sprint (T20); (3) 25 m side-step cutting maneuver test (V-CUT); and (4) progressive loading test in the full-squat exercise (V1-LOAD). Participants followed their normal football training procedure, which consisted of three weekly training sessions and an official match, without any type of intervention. No significant time effects were observed for CMJ height (p = 0.29) and T20 (p = 0.11) throughout the season. However, significant time effects were found for V-CUT (p = 0.004) and V1-LOAD (p = 0.001). V-CUT performance significantly improved from HS to ES (p = 0.001). Significant increases were observed for V1-LOAD throughout the season: PS-HS (p = 0.009); PS-ES (p < 0.001); EP-ES (p < 0.001); and HS-ES (p = 0.009). These findings suggest that, over the course of the season, female football players experience an enhancement in muscle strength and change of direction ability. However, no discernible improvements were noted in sprinting and jumping capabilities during the same period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two velocity-based resistance training (RT) programs using moderate loads (45–60% 1RM) but different magnitudes of velocity loss (VL) limits (10% vs. 30%) on the changes in physical performance in young soccer players. Twenty young soccer players were randomly allocated into two groups: VL10% (n = 10) and VL30% (n = 10). All participants were assessed before and after the 8-week RT program (twice a week) involving the following tests: 20 m running sprint (T20), countermovement jump (CMJ), kicking a ball (KB), and progressive loading test in the full squat (SQ) exercise. The RT program was conducted using only the SQ exercise and movement velocity was monitored in all repetitions. Significant 'time × group' interaction (p < 0.05) was observed for sprint performance, KB and 1RM in the SQ exercise in favor of VL10%. No significant changes between groups at post-test were observed. The VL10% resulted in significant (p < 0.05–0.001) intra-group changes in all variables analyzed, except for KB, whereas VL30% only showed significant (p < 0.05) performance increments in a sprint test and 1RM in the SQ exercise. The percentage of change and the intra-group's effect size were of greater magnitude for VL10% in all variables analyzed compared to VL30%. In conclusion, our results suggest that, for non-trained young soccer players, squat training with low to moderate relative loads and 10%VL is sufficient to elicit significant increases in muscle strength and sport-specific actions compared to 30%VL in the set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For a subgroup of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and severe disability, insight into their limitations is crucial for adequate treatment. Aim: To describe the extent and nature of functional limitations in people with RA and severe disability and to explore the associations of the extent of the functional limitations with patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and outcome measures. Methods: Baseline data of 215 participants in an RCT on the (cost-)effectiveness of longstanding physiotherapy were used. Functional limitations were assessed with the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI). The total HAQ-DI including eight domain scores were calculated. Associations between high HAQ-DI scores (≥2, yes/no) and other variables were examined using the Student's t-test or Chi-squared test where appropriate. Results: The participants (90% women, age 58.8 ± 12.8 years) had a mean HAQ-DI score of 1.7 ± 0.5. The majority (56%) showed a moderate-to-severe disability in all domains. Higher HAQ-DI scores seemed to be associated with advanced age, longer disease duration, unemployment, joint replacements, and outcomes for daily functioning and physical quality of life, but not with measures of disease activity. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a comprehensive assessment of all areas of daily activities in this subgroup is necessary in order to provide appropriate (non-)pharmacological care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to provide Arabic-speaking individuals with tools to assess their cognitive abilities and physical function and to contribute to a better understanding of these capabilities in this population. Thus, the specific objective was to translate into Arabic and culturally adapt two Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item banks: the Adult Cognitive Function Abilities and the Physical Function for Samples with Mobility Aid Users item banks. This study employed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) multilingual translation methodology to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance. The translation process included forward and back translations, expert reviews, and finalisation by a language coordinator. Cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with 30 native healthy Arabic speakers to assess the clarity and comprehension of translated items. Most items were well understood, but two items related to cognitive ability and four related to physical functions required revision to address participant confusion. The translations were refined based on the participants' feedback and expert recommendations. This study followed a rigorous translation process and included cognitive debriefing interviews to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence. The availability of these tools in Arabic enhances cross-cultural research and practice in healthcare and contributes to a global understanding of cognitive and physical functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients sustaining a hip fracture experience reduced function and an increased risk of recurrent falls and institutionalization following surgical treatment. Rehabilitation programs that are feasible for home-based training could improve patient-reported outcomes and physical function while lowering the care need and social dependency of this patient group. In the present study, we designed and tested a home-based resistance training program on a group of patients with a femoral neck fracture (FNF) selected according to their poor post-operative functional recovery following an FNF. The results showed that the training program was feasible to perform for the patients, and after three months of training, the patients' walking, physical activity, and patient-reported outcome measures improved. The patients were encouraged to continue walking and performing the training program, but twelve months after the FNF, the results were comparable to the baseline. Background: Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is associated with reduced function, often leading to an increased care need and a greater risk of recurrent falls. Thus, rehabilitation should be a priority. The present study investigated the training potential among fragile FNF patients with poor functional performance treated with total hip arthroplasty. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 32 participants were included based on poor functional recovery following an FNF fracture. The participants completed a three-month, physiotherapy-guided, home-based resistance training program. At the baseline and three-month follow-up, physiotherapists performed functional tests and measured spatiotemporal parameters, muscle strength, and muscle mass. The Oxford hip score (OHS) questionnaire was administered and physical activity measurements were performed at baseline and at three-month and 12-month follow-ups. Results: Walking distance, step length, walking speed, and muscle strength increased at the three-month follow-up (p < 0.05). OHS scores increased from the baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Physical activity after three months showed more time spent standing (p = 0.02) and walks of 5–10 min (p = 0.002) compared to the baseline. At the 12-month follow-up, physical activity was similar to the baseline. Conclusions: Fragile patients with low functional performance following FNF displayed training potential with an improvement in function, strength, and physical activity. However, continued training is necessary in order to maintain the positive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical Unclonable Functions are security primitives that exploit the variation in integrated circuits' manufacturing process, and, as a result, each instance processes applied stimuli differently. This feature can be used to provide a unique fingerprint of the electronic device, or as an interesting alternative to classic key storage methods. Due to their nature, they are often considered an element of the Internet of Things nodes. However, their application heavily depends on resource consumption. Lightweight architectures are proposed in the literature but are technology-dependent or still introduce significant hardware overhead. This paper presents a lightweight, Strong PUF based on ring oscillator architecture, which offers small hardware overhead and sufficient security levels for resource-constrained Internet of Things devices. The PUF design utilizes a Linear Feedback Shift Register-based scramble module to generate many challenge–response pairs from a small number of ring oscillators and a control module to manage the response generation process. The proposed PUF can be used as a Weak PUF for key generation or a Strong PUF for device authentication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids are classified in section S9 of the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency, due to a potential risk to improving physical performance and causing harm to the health of athletes. Based on the similar physiological actions of glucocorticoids, both differentiating known glucocorticoids and identifying unknown glucocorticoids are important for doping control. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry plays an important role in structural characterization because of abundant structural diagnostic ions produced by electron ionization. It also provides a chance to study the fragmentation patterns. Thus, an enhanced derivatization procedure was optimized to produce trimethylsilylated glucocorticoids and structural diagnostic ions of nineteen trimethylsilylated glucocorticoids were obtained by gas chromatography-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. In our study, glucocorticoids were classified as: 3-keto-4-ene, 1,4-diene-3-keto, 3α-hydroxy with saturated A-ring, 21-hydroxy-20-keto and halo substituent glucocorticoids based on their structural difference. Structural diagnostic ions that contributed to structural characterization were specifically presented and the fragment patterns were demonstrated according to the above categories. This study not only gave new insights into the structural characterization of these glucocorticoids but also provided evidence for tracing unknown glucocorticoids or chemically modified molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional supplements have been extensively used as health interventions for the elderly. However, with the spread of COVID-19, no consensus exists on whether nutritional interventions could improve muscle mass and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effects of different nutritional interventions on muscle mass and physical performance in the elderly, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and Cochrane databases from their founding dates to December 2023. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered, and the overall mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. There were 33 studies comprising 3579 elderly persons meeting the inclusion criteria. Comprehensive analysis suggested that the intervention effect of fat-free mass (FFM), appendix skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score was higher in the nutritional supplement group than in the control group. The results of subgroup analysis demonstrated that protein supplementation (SMD = 0.82, p < 0.0001) had an optimal effect on ASMM (SMD = 0.89, p < 0.0001) and FFM (MD = 2.09, p < 0.0001) in the elderly. Vitamin D supplementation (SMD = 0.52, p < 0.0001) had a marginal effect on ASMM, and energy supplementation (SMD = 0.39, p = 0.0005) had the lowest effect. Moreover, nutritional interventions had the most significant impact on HGS (MD = 1.06, p < 0.0001) and TUG (MD = 0.14, p < 0.0001) in individuals aged 65–75 years old, with positive effects on FFM (MD = 1.62, p < 0.0001) and HGS (MD = 0.82, p < 0.0001) when compared to healthy elderly individuals, and had greater effect on ASMM (SMD = 0.69, p < 0.0001) than on the elderly with sarcopenia. Nutritional supplements can enhance muscle mass and physical performance in the elderly, while protein is recommended for muscle function. The golden period for implementing nutritional interventions to improve muscle function is before the age of 75 years. However, the impact of nutritional interventions varies with age and population. Given the limited evidence on nutritional interventions, more detailed and high-quality studies are highly warranted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A physical unclonable function (PUF) is a technology designed to safeguard sensitive information and ensure data security. PUFs generate unique responses for each challenge by leveraging random deviations in the physical microstructures of integrated circuits (ICs), making it incredibly difficult to replicate them. However, traditional silicon PUFs are now susceptible to various attacks, such as modeling attacks using conventional machine learning techniques and reverse engineering strategies. As a result, PUFs based on new materials or methods are being developed to enhance their security. However, in the realm of survey papers, it has come to our attention that there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive summaries and introductions concerning these emerging PUFs. To fill this gap, this article surveys PUFs based on novel technologies in the literature. In particular, we first provide an insightful overview of four types of PUFs that are rooted in advanced technologies: bionic optical PUF, biological PUF, PUF based on printed electronics (PE), and PUF based on memristors. Based on the overview, we further discuss the evaluation results of their performance based on specific metrics and conduct a comparative analysis of their performance. Despite significant progress in areas such as limited entry and regional expertise, it is worth noting that these PUFs still have room for improvement. Therefore, we have identified their potential shortcomings and areas that require further development. Moreover, we outline various applications of PUFs and propose our own future prospects for this technology. To sum up, this article contributes to the understanding of PUFs based on novel technologies by providing an in-depth analysis of their characteristics, performance evaluation, and potential improvements. It also sheds light on the wide range of applications for PUFs and presents enticing prospects for future advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trunk control may influence self-care, mobility, and participation, as well as how children living with cerebral palsy (CP) move around. Mobility and Gross Motor performance are described over environmental factors, while locomotion can be understood as the intrinsic ontogenetic automatic postural function of the central nervous system, and could be the underlying element explaining the relationship between these factors. Our goal is to study the correlation among Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) domains, as well as Locomotor Stages (LS). Methods: A feasibility observational analysis was designed including 25 children with CP who were assessed with these scales. Results: The strong correlation confirms higher levels of trunk control in children with better self-care, mobility and participation capacities. Strong correlations indicate also that higher LS show better levels of PEDI and TCMS domains. Conclusions: Our results suggest that more mature LS require higher levels of trunk control, benefitting self-care, mobility and social functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum key distribution protocols allow two honest distant parties to establish a common truly random secret key in the presence of powerful adversaries, provided that the two users share a short secret key beforehand. This pre-shared secret key is used mainly for authentication purposes in the post-processing of classical data that have been obtained during the quantum communication stage, and it prevents a man-in-the-middle attack. The necessity of a pre-shared key is usually considered to be the main drawback of quantum key distribution protocols, and it becomes even stronger for large networks involving more than two users. Here, we discuss the conditions under which physical unclonable functions can be integrated in currently available quantum key distribution systems in order to facilitate the generation and the distribution of the necessary pre-shared key with the smallest possible cost in the security of the systems. Moreover, the integration of physical unclonable functions in quantum key distribution networks allows for real-time authentication of the devices that are connected to the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have revealed the benefits of augmented reality (AR) to enhance productivity and fulfill a quality function in industry. Yet, the potential adverse effects of AR, such as physical stress, have not been extensively studied. This study investigates the effect of task difficulty (simple versus complex maintenance tasks) on the overall performance and physical stress of individuals while interacting with multimedia instructions (i.e., AR via HoloLens versus. paper-based guidance). Twenty-eight healthy male participants with a mean age of 32.12 years (standard deviation of 2.45 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: AR-based group and paper-based group. The metrics of total maintenance time, NASA-TLX scores, and heart rate variability (HRV) were used to evaluate overall performance, perceived workload, and physical stress, respectively. The findings suggest that AR-based instruction for a complex task significantly reduced both total maintenance time (by 14.94%) and physical stress in comparison with paper-based instruction. Paper-based instruction was found to destabilize heart rhythm, increase heart rate, and cause a shift in autonomic balance due to heightened sympathetic nerve activation. This study concludes that AR-based instruction is more efficient and less stressful than paper-based instruction, indicating that the AR system may offer independent benefits in reducing physical workloads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: This retrospective case-control study aimed to investigate the quality of life (QoL) of young gastric cancer survivors and determine what should be pursued to obtain the best QoL for them after surgery. Materials and Methods: Patients with stage I gastric cancer who underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy were included. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaires were used to assess QoL. The QoL outcomes of younger (age 30–49 years, n = 76) and older (age 50–69 years, n = 232) groups were compared preoperatively, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative QoL except for the physical functioning scale, which favored the younger group (p = 0.020). This difference remained significant throughout the postoperative periods (3 months, p = 0.002; 1 year, p = 0.004). Better QoL was found for the younger group according to the body image scale (p = 0.031). However, it was limited to the 3-month postoperative assessment. Persistent QoL disadvantages for the younger group were revealed by the diarrhea scale at the 3-month (p = 0.007) and 1-year (p = 0.005) postoperative assessments. Conclusions: While young gastric cancer survivors enjoyed better QoL in physical functioning and body image, worse QoL was related to diarrhea after surgery. Despite ever-rising concerns about QoL deterioration in elderly patients in our aged society, young gastric cancer survivors also need QoL support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to combine psychological and physical factors to explore the impact of the menstrual cycle on performance in elite academy women soccer players through weekly monitoring. Eighteen elite academy women soccer players were monitored. Players reported daily through an online anonymous survey if they were in menstruation. Players answered the Hooper Questionnaire daily, performed an Illinois Agility Test (IAT) twice a week, and rated their perceived exertion (RPE) after every training session. Tests were associated with a complete menstrual cycle reported through the online anonymous survey to determine the two weeks of the follicular phase and the two weeks of the luteal phase. Of the 18 players, 10 completed all requirements and were retained for analyses. IAT did not show significant differences throughout the menstrual cycle (p = 0.633). Fatigue (p = 0.444), Stress (p = 0.868), Sleep (p = 0.398), DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness; p = 0.725), and Hooper Index (p = 0.403) did not show significant differences either. RPE was also comparable across the cycle (p = 0.846). Our results failed to demonstrate that hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle influenced psychological and physical markers of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an experimental security assessment within two widely used open-source 5G projects, namely Open5GS and OAI (Open-Air Interface). The examination concentrates on two network functions (NFs) that are externally exposed within the core network architecture, i.e., the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and the Network Repository Function/Network Exposure Function (NRF/NEF) of the Service-Based Architecture (SBA). Focusing on the Service-Based Interface (SBI) of these exposed NFs, the analysis not only identifies potential security gaps but also underscores the crucial role of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in implementing robust security measures. Furthermore, given the shift towards Network Function Virtualization (NFV), this paper emphasizes the importance of secure development practices to enhance the integrity of 5G network functions. In essence, this paper underscores the significance of scrutinizing security vulnerabilities in open-source 5G projects, particularly within the core network's SBI and externally exposed NFs. The research outcomes provide valuable insights for MNOs, enabling them to establish effective security measures and promote secure development practices to safeguard the integrity of 5G network functions. Additionally, the empirical investigation aids in identifying potential vulnerabilities in open-source 5G projects, paving the way for future enhancements and standard releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 20% of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients continue to experience chronic postsurgical pain. Various factors have been identified as potential contributors, including so-called "yellow flags", encompassing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and catastrophizing, which were examined in this study to assess their predictive value concerning functional outcomes after TKA. Methods: Fifty TKA patients were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on clinical assessment, demographic data, medication, and patient-reported outcome measures (DN4, SF-36, WOMAC, NRS, Fibromyalgia Survey Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Postoperative outcomes within six months after TKA were then compared. Results: Both groups exhibited significant (p < 0.001) improvements in all WOMAC and NRS subscales, as well as in the physical function, role physical, pain, and energy/fatigue subdomains of the SF-36 after six months, while the high-risk group showed lower WOMAC scores regarding stiffness (19.0 ± 18.3 vs. 27.2 ± 20.7, p < 0.001) and pain (13.5 ± 13.3 vs. 15.1 ± 16.3, p = 0.029). The high-risk group showed significantly worse preoperative DN4 scores (1.8 ± 1.3 vs. 3.0 ± 1.1, p = 0.002) than the low-risk group, which persisted for one day (2.3 ± 1.2 vs. 3.5 ± 1.5, p = 0.005) and six weeks (2.2 ± 1.9 vs. 3.6 ± 2.3, p = 0.041) postoperatively. Conclusions: Our results indicate that pre-existing yellow flags contribute to a more challenging early postoperative phase, underscoring the importance of considering individual patient characteristics and psychological factors to optimize TKA outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are standardized questionnaires that gather information on health-related quality of life directly from patients. Since a significant statistical mean change may not correspond to a clinical improvement, there is a need to calculate a considerable change in scores. This is done by the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS). The objective of this article is to report the MCID and the PASS values of the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University) osteoarthritis index for patients undergoing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA). A total of 37 patients (25 females and 12 males; mean age 68 ± 8.1 years and mean BMI 28.7 ± 4) who underwent UKA were enrolled. All patients were assessed using the WOMAC and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) questionnaires before and six months following the procedure. To measure the cut-off values for MCID, distribution methods and anchor methods were applied, while the PASS was assessed only via anchor approaches. The MCID related to the WOMAC average global score was 90.7 ± 7.6, the average pain dimension score was 93.2 ± 6.6, the average stiffness dimension score was 92.6 ± 17, and the average physical function dimension score was 89.7 ± 7.6. In terms of PASS, the normalized WOMAC was 82.8, the pain dimension was 87.5, the stiffness dimension was 93.7, and the functional dimension was 83.1. A 34.5 amelioration in the WOMAC score, from initial evaluation to final follow-up, using change in OKS > 5 as anchor, indicates that the patients' health state improved to a clinically significant degree. A value at least of 82.8 in WOMAC score after treatment denotes that the symptom state is deemed acceptable by most of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular engagement in physical activity (PA) or physical exercise (PE) is effective at improving physical performance and body composition in older adults. Less is known about the benefits that may be obtained through combining PA with PE and whether the effects of activity habits differ between men and women. This study cross-sectionally investigated the association of PA and/or PE with physical performance and anthropometric measures in a large and relatively unselected sample of older adults enrolled in the Longevity Check-up (Lookup) 7+ project. Participants were individuals 65 years and older living in the community who were recruited in unconventional settings across Italy. Adherence to PA or PE was operationalized as involvement in light walking or various types of exercise, respectively, at least twice weekly for a minimum of 30 min per session throughout the last 12 months. Physical performance measures included handgrip strength and five-time sit-to-stand (5STS) tests. Lower-limb muscle power and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) were estimated through validated equations. We analyzed data of 4119 participants, of whom 2222 (53.4%) were women. The mean age was 72.8 ± 5.8 years in men and 72.1 ± 5.4 years in women. Regular engagement in PA + PE was reported by 139 (7.3%) men and 100 (4.5%) women. Results indicated that regular walking activity and/or PE were significantly associated with better physical performance and greater ASM with sex-specific patterns. Associations were also influenced by the type of activity, physical performance assessment tool, and anthropometric parameters. Men engaged in PA + PE performed better on the 5STS test and had greater handgrip strength, ASM, and relative and specific muscle power than those practicing either PA or PE. In women, the combination of PA and PE was associated with greater handgrip strength. The findings of this study indicate that older adults regularly practicing PA + PE had better physical performance than those who only engaged in either modality. In men, the combination of PA and PE was also associated with greater ASM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital's rehabilitation clinic, aimed to validate Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) results obtained through plantar pressure analysis using commercial smart insoles (SPPB-SI) and to compare these results to manually acquired results by an experienced examiner (SPPB-M). This study included 40 independent-walking inpatients and outpatients aged 50 or older. SPPB-SI and SPPB-M were administered concurrently, with the smart insoles providing plantar pressure data that were converted into time–pressure curves. Two interpreters assessed the curves, determining component completion times for the SPPB-SI scores. Among the 40 participants (mean age: 72.98, SD: 9.27), the mean total SPPB-SI score was 7.72 ± 2.50, and the mean total SPPB-M score was 7.95 ± 2.63. The time recordings and measured scores of each SPPB-SI component exhibited high reliability with inter- and intra-interpreter correlation coefficients of 0.9 and 0.8 or higher, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the total SPPB-SI and SPPB-M scores was 0.831 (p < 0.001), and that between the component scores of the two measurements ranged from 0.837 to 0.901 (p < 0.001). Consistent correlations with geriatric functional parameters were observed for both SPPB-SI and SPPB-M. This study underscores the potential of commercial smart insoles as reliable tools for conducting SPPB assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury has a major impact on both the individual and society. This damage can cause permanent loss of sensorimotor functions, leading to structural and functional changes in somatotopic regions of the spinal cord. The combined use of a brain–machine interface and virtual reality offers a therapeutic alternative to be considered in the treatment of this pathology. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined use of virtual reality and the brain–machine interface in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. A search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Scopus, and Medline, including articles published from the beginning of each database until January 2023. Articles were selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias and the PEDro scale and SCIRE systems were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. Eleven articles were selected from a total of eighty-two. Statistically significant changes were found in the upper limb, involving improvements in shoulder and upper arm mobility, and weaker muscles were strengthened. In conclusion, most of the articles analyzed used the electroencephalogram as a measurement instrument for the assessment of various parameters, and most studies have shown improvements. Nonetheless, further research is needed with a larger sample size and long-term follow-up to establish conclusive results regarding the effect size of these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial discussing the advances in wearable devices for sports. The use of wearables, such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) and global positioning systems/accelerometer-based tracking devices, allows for the acquisition of kinematic, kinetic, and physiological variables that are important for coaches and athletes. The editorial highlights several studies that explore the use of wearables in sports, including assessing and monitoring physical performance in volleyball players, evaluating the external training load of elite-level goalkeepers, investigating the effects of body segments on punch execution, and measuring propulsive force in swimming. The editorial concludes that wearable technology is becoming an affordable and accurate alternative for real-time data acquisition in sports, providing valuable information for performance enhancement and injury prevention. [Extracted from the article]

Significant advancements have been made in recent years in the acute treatment and secondary prevention of stroke. However, a large proportion of stroke survivors will go on to have enduring physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities from suboptimal post-stroke brain health. Impaired brain health following stroke thus warrants increased attention from clinicians and researchers alike. In this narrative review based on an open timeframe search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, we define post-stroke brain health and appraise the body of research focused on modifiable vascular, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors for optimizing post-stroke brain health. In addition, we make clinical recommendations for the monitoring and management of post-stroke brain health at major post-stroke transition points centered on four key intertwined domains: cognition, psychosocial health, physical functioning, and global vascular health. Finally, we discuss potential future work in the field of post-stroke brain health, including the use of remote monitoring and interventions, neuromodulation, multi-morbidity interventions, enriched environments, and the need to address inequities in post-stroke brain health. As post-stroke brain health is a relatively new, rapidly evolving, and broad clinical and research field, this narrative review aims to identify and summarize the evidence base to help clinicians and researchers tailor their own approach to integrating post-stroke brain health into their practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango and its by-products have traditional medicinal uses. They contain diverse bioactive compounds offering numerous health benefits, including cardioprotective and metabolic properties. This study aimed to explore the impact of mango fruit and its by-products on human health, emphasizing its metabolic syndrome components. PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR were searched following PRISMA guidelines, and the COCHRANE handbook was utilized to assess bias risks. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown several benefits of mango and its by-products. For this systematic review, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. The collective findings indicated that the utilization of mango in various forms—ranging from fresh mango slices and mango puree to mango by-products, mango leaf extract, fruit powder, and mangiferin—yielded many favorable effects. These encompassed enhancements in glycemic control and improvements in plasma lipid profiles. Additionally, mango reduces food intake, elevates mood scores, augments physical performance during exercise, improves endothelial function, and decreases the incidence of respiratory tract infections. Utilizing mango by-products supports the demand for healthier products. This approach also aids in environmental conservation. Furthermore, the development of mango-derived nanomedicines aligns with sustainable goals and offers innovative solutions for healthcare challenges whilst being environmentally conscious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have firmly established themselves as dynamic platforms for the implementation of physical unclonable functions (PUFs). Their intrinsic reconfigurability and profound implications for enhancing hardware security make them an invaluable asset in this realm. This groundbreaking study not only dives deep into the universe of FPGA-based PUF designs but also offers a comprehensive overview coupled with a discerning comparative analysis. PUFs are the bedrock of device authentication and key generation and the fortification of secure cryptographic protocols. Unleashing the potential of FPGA technology expands the horizons of PUF integration across diverse hardware systems. We set out to understand the fundamental ideas behind PUF and how crucially important it is to current security paradigms. Different FPGA-based PUF solutions, including static, dynamic, and hybrid systems, are closely examined. Each design paradigm is painstakingly examined to reveal its special qualities, functional nuances, and weaknesses. We closely assess a variety of performance metrics, including those related to distinctiveness, reliability, and resilience against hostile threats. We compare various FPGA-based PUF systems against one another to expose their unique advantages and disadvantages. This study provides system designers and security professionals with the crucial information they need to choose the best PUF design for their particular applications. Our paper provides a comprehensive view of the functionality, security capabilities, and prospective applications of FPGA-based PUF systems. The depth of knowledge gained from this research advances the field of hardware security, enabling security practitioners, researchers, and designers to make wise decisions when deciding on and implementing FPGA-based PUF solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intact barrier function of the skin is important in maintaining skin health. The regulation of the skin barrier depends on a multitude of molecular and immunological signaling pathways. By examining the regulation of a healthy skin barrier, including maintenance of the acid mantle and appropriate levels of ceramides, dermatologists can better formulate solutions to address issues that are related to a disrupted skin barrier. Conversely, by understanding specific skin barrier disruptions that are associated with specific conditions, such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, the development of new compounds could target signaling pathways to provide more effective relief for patients. We aim to review key factors mediating skin barrier regulation and inflammation, including skin acidity, interleukins, nuclear factor kappa B, and sirtuin 3. Furthermore, we will discuss current and emerging treatment options for skin barrier conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontal lobe functions (FLFs) play an important role in human behavioral regulation and can be a determinant of eating behavior. The aim of this study was to analyse FLFs in individuals with obesity, with and without binge eating disorder (BED), compared to individuals with normal weight (NW), and to analyse the effect of sex and binge disorder on quality of life, with age and BMI as covariates. A total of 114 participants, comprising three different groups (NW individuals, individuals with obesity but without BED, and individuals with obesity and BED), completed the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL-lite) questionnaires. The results showed that individuals with obesity, with and without BED, have poorer frontal lobe functioning than the NW group. Individuals with obesity and BED have lower performance in terms of FLFs than individuals with obesity but without BED. Male participants have a higher perception of quality of life in all dimensions, with women showing lower values in self-esteem and sex life. Individuals with obesity and BED show greater weaknesses in physical function. These results suggest that low FLFs and worse quality of life characterize individuals with obesity, and this is more evident in these individuals with BED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital devices have gained popularity in the last 10 years as a tool for exercise prescription, the monitoring of daily physical activity, and nutrition for the management of a health-related parameter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the use of digital devices to monitor exercise data in sedentary persons with HIV who exercise following an individualized activity pacing (AP) protocol on cardiorespiratory fitness body composition, blood lipid profile, and psychological parameters. Twenty-four PLWH were enrolled in an 18-week randomized, open-label, pilot AP exercise protocol. All participants were monitored by a Health Band connected to a mobile app that transmitted the data to a server. At week 3, they were randomized either in an experimental group (EG), in which an open device configuration enabled them to receive training data feedback (n = 12), or continued with no data feedback (control group, n = 12). The primary endpoint was improvement from the baseline of 15% of steady-state oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O2) during a 6-min walking test. Technical issues occurred when pairing the health band with the app, which prevented EG participants from regularly receiving data feedback, and with data transmission to the server, which enabled only 40% monitoring of the total training days. Consequently, the study outcomes could not be compared between the two groups, and participants also lost confidence in the study. However, 19 out of 24 participants completed the AP program. Overall, only 6 (32%) improved steady-state V ˙ O2, with no significant changes at W18 from the baseline. Significant reductions were observed of BMI (p = 0.040), hip circumference (p = 0.027), and total-(p = 0.049) and HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.045). The failure of digital device performance substantially affected study procedures, monitoring, and participants' engagement, and likely limited the potential benefits of the AP exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The aim of this study was to compare the anthropometric and physical characteristics of male team handball players and analyze the relationships between these parameters and playing positions. Because the test results reflect the unique qualities of individual handball playing positions, the results may be helpful for handball coaches and fitness trainers. In addition, they open the door to potential benefits in long-term athletic development as a route that might enhance conditioning routines and physical training programs in team handball players. This study sought to investigate the anthropometric traits and physical capabilities of team handball players, categorized based on their playing positions. A total of 50 male players (age: 27.4 ± 4.2 years; body mass: 92.8 ± 14.2 kg; height: 1.87 ± 0.08 m; body mass index (BMI): 26.3 ± 3.3 kg/m2) were categorized as Backs (12), Wings (14), Pivots (14), and Goalkeepers (10). The measurements included squat jumps (SJs), countermovement jumps (CMJs), sprint timings over 15 and 30 m, upper and lower limb muscle volume, change-of-direction T-Half test performance, and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test performance. Depending on the position, the largest differences were detected for 30 m sprint (ηp2 = 0.72), 15 m sprint (ηp2 = 0.71), T-Half test (ηp2 = 0.41), half squat (ηp2 = 0.35), and bicipital skinfold of a throwing arm (ηp2 = 0.34). Bicipital skinfold showed the highest number (three) of relevant (r > 0.5) relationships, especially in sprinting (sprint 15 m: r = 0.528; sprint 30 m: r = 0.503) and change-of-direction ability (T-Half test: r = 0.518). Differences in physical performance and body type according to playing positions emphasize the value of goalkeeper-specific training and scouting for handball players, with a particular emphasis on both. This information might be helpful for optimizing position-specific training regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]