Search

Objective Physical training (PT, e.g., Tai Chi and strength training) has been demonstrated to improve balance control and prevent falls. Recently, exergame intervention (EI) has emerged to prevent falls by enhancing both physical and cognitive functions in older adults. Therefore, we aim to quantitatively assess and compare the effects of PT and EI on the performance of balance control and fall prevention in healthy older adults via meta-analysis. Methods A search strategy based on the PICOS principle was used to find the publication in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE. The quality and risk of bias in the studies were independently assessed by two researchers. Results Twenty studies consisting of 845 participants were included. Results suggested that as compared to PT, EI induced greater improvement in postural control (sway path length, SMD = − 0.66, 95% CI − 0.91 to − 0.41, P I2 = 0%; sway speed, SMD = − 0.49, 95% CI − 0.71 to − 0.27, P I2 = 42%) and dynamic balance (SMD = − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.35 to − 0.03, P = 0.02, I2 = 0%) in healthy older adults. The EI with 90–119 min/week for more than 8-week significantly reduced falls. Subgroup analyses revealed that exergames, which were designed by the two principles of repeatedly performing diversified tasks and gradually increase the difficulty of the task, induced significant effects in improving balance control and falls prevention respectively (P = 0.03, P = 0.009). In addition, intervention that combines EI and PT induced significant improvement in postural control (P = 0.003). Conclusion The exergame intervention, especially the combination of EI and PT, is a promising strategy to improve balance control and reduce falls in healthy older adults. Future studies with rigorous design, larger sample size, and follow-up assessments are needed to further assess the effectiveness of diverse exergame interventions in fall prevention and to quantify the “dose-effect” relationship, as well as the carry-over effect of such intervention, which will ultimately help optimize the rehabilitative strategies to improve balance control and prevent falls.

Qian Li,1,&ast; Zhenxiang Guo,1,&ast; Fuzheng Liu,2 Ye Liu,3 Dapeng Bao,4 Junhong Zhou5 1Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Medical Humanities, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3National Team Performance Training Center, National Sports Training Center, General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02131, USA&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dapeng BaoChina Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, No. 48 Xinxi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail baodp@bsu.edu.cnPurpose: The purpose exposure to hypoxia in high altitudes severely impairs the sleep quality and the related cardiovascular regulation, including the blood pressure (BP) regulation. BP regulation depends upon the continuous interaction of components over multiple temporal scales. As such, the dynamics of BP fluctuation are complex, and BP complexity has been linked to several pathological events. However, the effects of the exposure to hypoxia on BP complexity during sleep remain unknown.Methods: Twenty-five younger men naïve to high-altitude sleep (apnea severity as assessed by hypoxia apnea index (AHI): normal=8; moderate=9; severe=8) completed one nocturnal sleep under each of the three altitudes: 0 (ie, baseline), 2000, and 4000 m. The sleep characteristics and oxygen saturation (ie, SpO2) were assessed using polysomnography (PSG). The beat-to-beat BP fluctuation was recorded using a finger-blood-pressure sensor. Multiscale entropy (MSE) was used to characterize the complexity of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP fluctuations, and lower MSE reflected lower complexity.Results: Compared to 0-m condition, SBP (p=0.0003) and DBP (F=12.1, p=0.0002) complexity, SpO2 (p< 0.0001) and REM ratio (p< 0.0090) were decreased, AHI was increased (p=0.0004) in 2000-m and even more in 4000-m conditions. In addition, lower BP complexity was associated with greater AHI (r=− 0.66∼ 0.52, p=0.0010), lower SpO2 (r=0.48∼ 0.51, p=0.0100∼ 0.0200) and lower REM ratio (r=0.48∼ 0.52, p=0.0200). Participants with greater percent reduction in BP complexity between altitudes had greater percent reduction in REM ratio and SpO2 (r=0.38∼ 0.45, p=0.0090∼ 0.0200), after adjustment for age, BMI, baseline apnea and altitude.Conclusion: These results suggested that the characterization of BP complexity may provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms through which the exposure to hypoxia affects cardiovascular health during sleep, as well as sleep quality. This BP complexity may serve as a novel marker to help the management of cardiovascular health and sleep quality in high-altitude living.Keywords: high altitude, beat-to-beat blood pressure, multiscale entropy, sleep quality

Background: Recently, considerable research has been conducted to study the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on balance control in older adults. We completed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of tDCS on balance control in this population.Methods: A search strategy based on the PICOS principle was used to find the literatures in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Science. The quality and risk of bias in the studies were independently assessed by two researchers.Results: Ten studies were included in the systematic review. A meta-analysis was completed on six of these ten, with a total of 280 participants. As compared to sham (i.e., control), tDCS induced significant improvement with low heterogeneity in balance control in older adults. Specifically, tDCS induced large effects on the performance of the timed-up-and-go test, the Berg balance scale, and standing postural sway (e.g., sway area) and gait (e.g., walking speed) in dual task conditions (standardized mean differences (SMDs) = −0.99~3.41 95% confidence limits (CL): −1.52~4.50, p < 0.006, I2 < 52%). Moderate-to-large effects of tDCS were also observed in the standing posture on a static or movable platform (SMDs = 0.37~1.12 95%CL: −0.09~1.62, p < 0.03, I2 < 62%).Conclusion: Our analysis indicates that tDCS holds promise to promote balance in older adults. These results warrant future studies of larger sample size and rigorous study design and results report, as well as specific research to establish the relationship between the parameter of tDCS and the extent of tDCS-induced improvement in balance control in older adults.

Annual draft combine test of National Basketball Association (NBA) is a key player testing process where prospective players with extraordinary athletic abilities are evaluated and the assessment results would further inform the determination of prospective players for the league during draft day. Nonetheless, key attributes from the combine test that distinguished successful players in the draft from those unselected has yet to be investigated. The study was aimed to: (i) compare the difference between NBA drafted and undrafted players from five playing positions, considering anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness ability during draft combine test; and (ii) determine the key combine test factors that most effectively discriminate between draft groups. A total of 3,610 players participating in the 2000–2018 NBA draft combine test were included. Independent t-test was applied to compare difference between drafted and non-drafted players in variables related to anthropometrics, and strength and agility test. A descriptive discriminant analysis was subsequently used to identify which variables could best discriminate between two draft groups in each playing position. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. The drafted players from five positions outperformed the undrafted in height, wingspan, vertical jump height and reach, line agility and three-quarter sprint test (p < 0.01, ES = 0.26–0.87). The discriminant functions for each position (p < 0.001, Λ = 0.81–0.83) were emphasized by specific variables that discriminated both draft groups. The findings revealed that in addition to height and wingspan, leg power served as key determinants for being drafted as guards, as did agility and speed for power forwards and centers.

The fatigue in aerobic exercise affects the task performance. In addition to the fatigue in the muscular system, the diminished performance may arise from the altered cerebral blood supply and oxygen extraction. However, the effects of the fatiguing aerobic exercise on the ability of brain to regulate the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and to extract the oxygen are not fully understood. In this pilot study, we aim to quantify such effects via advanced functional MRI techniques. Twenty healthy younger elite athletes were recruited. In the screening visit, one circle ergometer test was used to screen the maximal relative oxygen consumption (VO2max). Eleven eligible participants then completed the next MRI visit after 7 days. These participants completed a 2-min pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) using the PICORE/QUIPSS II and 5-min asymmetric spin echo (ASE) scan at baseline and immediately after the aerobic circle ergometer test. The CBF was then measured using the ASL images and the oxygen consumption of the brain was quantified using oxygen extraction fractions (OEF) derived from the ASE images. The test time, VO2max, and anaerobic threshold were also recorded. As compared to baseline, participants had significant reduction of global CBF (p = 0.003). Specifically, the CBF in bilateral striatum, left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) decreased significantly (p < 0.005, K > 20). No significant changes of the OEFs were observed. Participants with greater OEF within the right striatum at baseline had longer test time, greater anaerobic threshold and relative VO2max (r2 > 0.51, p < 0.007). Those with longer test time had less reduction of CBF within the right IFG (r2 = 0.55, p = 0.006) and of OEF within the left striatum (r2 = 0.52, p = 0.008). Additionally, greater anaerobic threshold was associated with less reduction of OEF within the left MTG (r2 = 0.49, p = 0.009). This pilot study provided first-of-its-kind evidence suggesting that the fatiguing aerobic exercise alters the cerebral blood supply in the brain, but has no significant effects on the ability of brain to extract oxygenation. Future studies are warranted to further establish the CBF and OEF as novel markers for physical and physiological function to help the assessment in the sports science and clinics.

This study was aimed to: (1) investigate the effects of physiological functions of sprint interval training (SIT) on the aerobic capacity of elite badminton players, and (2) explore the potential mechanisms of oxygen uptake, transport and recovery within the process. Thirty-two elite badminton players volunteered to participate and were randomly divided into experimental (Male-SIT and Female-SIT group) and control groups (Male-CON and Female-CON) within each gender. During a total of eight weeks, SIT group performed three times of SIT training per week, including two power bike trainings and one multi-ball training, while the CON group undertook two Fartlek runs and one regular multi-ball training. The distance of YO-YO IR2 test (which evaluates player&rsquo, s ability to recover between high intensity intermittent exercises) for Male-SIT and Female-SIT groups increased from 1083.0 &plusmn, 205.8 m to 1217.5 &plusmn, 190.5 m, and from 725 &plusmn, 132.9 m to 840 &plusmn, 126.5 m (p &lt, 0.05), respectively, which were significantly higher than both CON groups (p &lt, 0.05). For the Male-SIT group, the ventilatory anaerobic threshold and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in percentage of VO2max significantly increased from 3088.4 &plusmn, 450.9 mL/min to 3665.3 &plusmn, 263.5 mL/min (p &lt, 0.05),and from 74 &plusmn, 10% to 85 &plusmn, 3% (p &lt, 0.05) after the intervention, and the increases were significantly higher than the Male-CON group (p &lt, 0.05), for the Female-SIT group, the ventilatory anaerobic threshold and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in percentage of VO2max were significantly elevated from 1940.1 &plusmn, 112.8 mL/min to 2176.9 &plusmn, 78.6 mL/min, and from 75 &plusmn, 4% to 82 &plusmn, 4% (p &lt, 0.05) after the intervention, which also were significantly higher than those of the Female-CON group (p &lt, 0.05). Finally, the lactate clearance rate was raised from 13 &plusmn, 3% to 21 &plusmn, 0.05) and from 21 &plusmn, 5% to 27 &plusmn, 4% for both Male-SIT and Female-SIT groups when compared to the pre-test, and this increase was significantly higher than the control groups (p &lt, 0.05). As a training method, SIT could substantially improve maximum aerobic capacity and aerobic recovery ability by improving the oxygen uptake and delivery, thus enhancing their rapid repeated sprinting ability.

The birth of nanoscience and technology will have a profound impact on human society, and it is possible to fundamentally solve many problems facing human beings, especially major issues such as energy, human health and environmental protection. With the development of nanotechnology, nanoelectronics, nanobiology, nanomaterials, nanomedicine and other branches have been established and developed. The combination of nanomaterials can accelerate the local blood circulation of patients with ligament injury, relieve pain, enhance muscle elasticity and muscle strength, improve balance function, promote the recovery of knee joint function, and improve walking function and joint activity. Especially with the integration and penetration of these disciplines, a variety of materials with special functions will be more and more used in the field of biomedicine, and the combination of materials science and biomedicine is more and more close. This paper studies the effect of nanoligament combined with sports rehabilitation training on the treatment of patients with ligament injury. The experimental results show that nanoligament has a good training effect on the rehabilitation of patients.

Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quel. is widely used for bioconverting lignocellulosic byproducts into biofuel and value added products. Sequencing and annotating the genome of a monokaryon strain P. eryngii 183 allows us to gain a better understanding of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and oxidoreductases for degradation of lignocellulose in white-rot fungi. The genomic data provides insights into genomic basis of degradation mechanisms of lignin and cellulose and may pave new avenues for lignocellulose bioconversion.

Volvariella volvacea is widely grown in Southeast Asia as a high-quality human food source, and is one of the most important cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Expansion of the V. volvacea cultivation industry has been restricted by many problems, one of which being the lack of an effective system for cross-breeding. Recent completion of the V. volvacea whole genome project has provided insight into the mating type system of the mushroom at the molecular level. We established a highly efficient molecular marker-assisted cross-breeding technique for generating improved V. volvacea cultivars, including a series of sequential steps involving the separation of single spore isolates, cloning the mating type gene, designing the PCR primers for amplifying the mating type genes, marker-assisted identification of homokaryons, cross-breeding between pairs of homokaryons, marker-assisted identification of hybrids, cultivation experiments, and marker-assisted identification of hybrid sporophores.

Objective To assess the clinical effect of electroacupuncture for treating prostatic hyperplasia.