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Abstract Background Epidemiological studies showed that physical exercise, specifically moderate lifelong training, is protective against cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Most experimental work has focused into the effects and molecular mechanisms underlying intense, rather than mild exercise, by exploring the acute effect of training. Our study aims at investigating the cardioprotective effect of mild chronic exercise training and the gene expression profile changes at 48 hrs after the exercise cessation. Rats were trained at mild intensity on a treadmill: 25 m/min, 10%incline, 1 h/day, 3 days/week, 10 weeks; about 60% of the maximum aerobic power. By Affymetrix technology, we investigated the gene expression profile induced by exercise training in the left ventricle (LV) of trained (n = 10) and control (n = 10) rats. Cardioprotection was investigated by ischemia/reperfusion experiments (n = 10 trained vs. n = 10 control rats). Results Mild exercise did not induce cardiac hypertrophy and was cardioprotective as demonstrated by the decreased infarct size (p = 0.02) after ischemia/reperfusion experiments in trained with respect to control rats. Ten genes and 2 gene sets (two pathways) resulted altered in LV of exercised animals with respect to controls. We validated by real-time PCR the increased expression of four genes: similar to C11orf17 protein (RGD1306959), caveolin 3, enolase 3, and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha. Moreover, caveolin 3 protein levels were higher in exercised than control rats by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis. Interestingly, the predicted gene similar to C11orf17 protein (RGD1306959) was significantly increased by exercise. This gene has a high homology with the human C11orf17 (alias: protein kinase-A interacting protein 1 or breast cancer associated gene 3). This is the first evidence that this gene is involved in the response to the exercise training. Conclusion Our data indicated that few, but significant, genes characterize the gene expression profile of the rat LV, when examined 48 hrs since the last training section and that mild exercise training determines cardioprotection without the induction of hypertrophy.

Purpose: To describe the injury mechanism and situational patterns of severe (absence >28 days) hamstring muscle injuries in professional male and female football (soccer) players. Methods: The data for males were sourced from Serie A clubs participating in both national and international competitions from 2018 to 2021. For the female cohort, hamstring injuries were identified during matches of the top national/international competitions from 2017 to 2023. Video footage was obtained, and three raters categorised injury mechanisms and situational patterns. Injuries were also examined according to the month, minute and location. Results: A total of 129 severe hamstring injuries were identified, with 64 occurring in females and 65 in males. Video analysis was possible for 29 (45%) female cases and 61 (94%) male cases. Female injuries had longer lay‐off times (97.8 ± 77.1 days) than males (39.6 ± 20.9 days). Females had a higher proportion of indirect contact injuries (34%) than males (13%) and a lower proportion of non‐contact injuries (66% vs. 87%). Four situational patterns were identified: running was the most common for both sexes, representing 59% of female injuries and 41% of male injuries. Over‐stretching injuries were split across open and CKC scenarios but collectively explained nearly half (48%) of male injuries but only one in five (21%) female injuries. Kicking injuries had a higher proportion in females (17%) than males (10%). Injuries were more common in the second half for females and the first half for males. Conclusion: Females had a higher proportion of indirect contact, running and kicking injuries and a lower proportion of non‐contact and stretch‐type injuries than males. Understanding injury patterns can inform tailored prevention programs, considering sex‐specific differences. Level of Evidence: Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study aims to evaluate the effect of an acute meal and long-term intake of Mediterranean Diet (MD) on different parameters such as strength, physical performance, body composition and blood markers in a group of non-professional athletes who practice a strength activity. Thirteen volunteers completed two 8-week dietary interventions in a randomised, cross-over design. Also an acute study was performed. Subjects received a MD High in carbohydrates, characterised by at least five portions of pasta/week and an average 55–60% of daily energy derived from carbohydrates, versus an MD reduced in carbohydrates, with less than two portions of pasta/week and an average of 40–45% of daily energy provided by carbohydrates. Mainly, data did not show significant differences for the parameters analysed, except for Elbow Flexor maximum voluntary contraction (p =.039). Results enlighten that increasing total carbohydrates intake, as typically in the MD, does not negatively affect physical performance, body composition and strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study investigated the role of quadriceps and gastrocnemii size and "vastus lateralis" and "gastrocnemius medialis" muscle architecture in peak-power and time-to-peak-power exerted in an all-out Wingate test. Twenty-one amateur cyclists were recruited. Methods: Quadriceps and gastrocnemii anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), and "vastus lateralis" and "gastrocnemius medialis" pennation angle and fascicle length were measured using ultrasound. Relative peak-power (normalized per body mass) and time-to-peak-power were measured during a 30s all-out test. Results: Relative peak-power was correlated with quadriceps ACSA (r = 0.896, p < 0.001), gastrocnemii ACSA (r = 0.811, p < 0.001), "vastus lateralis" (r = 0.787, p < 0.001) and "gastrocnemius medialis" pennation angle (r = 0.638, p < 0.003). Multiple regression revealed that quadriceps and gastrocnemii ACSA accounted for 85% (R[superscript 2]= 0.85) of peak-power variance. Time-to-peak-power showed "very large" (r = -0.868, p < 0.001) and "large" correlation (r = -0.680, p = 0.001) with VL and GM fascicle length, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that VL fascicle length explained 75% (R[superscript 2]= 0.75) of the time-to-peak-power variance. Conclusions: Quadriceps and gastrocnemii ACSA largely explained relative peak-power in an all-out Wingate test. "Vastus lateralis" fascicle length was the main predictor of the time-to-peak-power. Muscle architecture characteristics seem to be involved in the power generating capacity.

Social jetlag (SJL), resulting from misalignment between biological rhythms and social schedules, has emerged as a prevalent phenomenon in modern society, particularly among young athletes. However, the effect of SJL on performance is poorly studied. Jump and dynamic balance are two key skills in volleyball, as the first allows the player to perform better both during the offense and defense phase, and the second is fundamental in landing and in injury prevention. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effect of SJL on jump skill performance and balance in female volleyball players. Thirty female volleyball players (mean age: 17.3 ± 0.88 years) participated in the study. SJL was assessed using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), integrated with Jankowsky's sleep-corrected formula. Jump skill performance was evaluated using a standardized jump test, the Vertec Jump Test, while balance was assessed with the Y Balance Test. The tests were performed at 09:00 a.m. and at 06:00 p.m. The results revealed that players with greater SJL exhibited decreased jump performance, characterized by lower vertical jump height (p = 0.02). Furthermore, players with lower SJL showed the typical difference between morning and afternoon performance (p = 0.001), demonstrating their synchronization between biological rhythms and social commitments, while no statistically significant difference between the two sessions was shown in players with higher SJL. Regarding balance, no significant association with SJL was found, but the morning session yielded lower results than the afternoon one (p = 0.01). These findings highlight the detrimental impact of SJL on jump skill performance, underscoring the importance of optimizing sleep-wake schedules and circadian alignment to enhance athletic performance. Future research should explore targeted interventions, such as sleep hygiene education, to minimize social jetlag and promote optimal performance in adolescent athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) has emerged as a severe pediatric complication during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with potential long-term cardiovascular repercussions. We hypothesized that heart rate and blood pressure control at rest and during postural maneuvers in MIS-C patients, months after the remission of the inflammatory syndrome, may reveal long-term autonomic dysfunctions. Methods: We assessed 17 MIS-C patients (13 males; 11.9 ± 2.6 years, m ± SD) 9 months after acute infection and 18 age- (12.5 ± 2.1 years) and sex- (13 males) matched controls. Heart rate and blood pressure variability, baroreflex function, and hemodynamic parameters were analyzed in supine and standing postures. Results: MIS-C patients exhibited reduced heart rate variability, particularly in parasympathetic parameters during standing (pNN50+: 6.1 ± 6.4% in controls, 2.5 ± 3.9% in MIS-C; RMSSD: 34 ± 19 ms in controls, 21 ± 14 ms in MIS-C, p < 0.05), with no interaction between case and posture. Blood pressure variability and baroreflex sensitivity did not differ between groups except for the high-frequency power in systolic blood pressure (3.3 ± 1.2 mmHg2 in controls, 1.8 ± 1.2 mmHg2 in MIS-C, p < 0.05). The MIS-C group also showed lower diastolic pressure–time indices (DPTI) and systolic pressure–time indices (SPTI), particularly in standing (DPTI: 36.2 ± 9.4 mmHg·s in controls, 29.4 ± 6.2 mmHg·s in MIS-C; SPTI: 26.5 ± 4.3 mmHg·s in controls, 23.9 ± 2.4 mmHg·s in MIS-C, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Altered cardiovascular autonomic control may persist in MIS-C patients with, however, compensatory mechanisms that may help maintain cardiovascular homeostasis during light autonomic challenges, such as postural maneuvers. These results highlight the importance of assessing long-term cardiovascular autonomic control in children with MIS-C to possibly identify residual cardiovascular risks and inform targeted interventions and rehabilitation protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The understanding of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury causation in soccer has improved over the past decades. Bidimensional video analyses have significantly augmented our awareness, representing to date the only practical method to describe injury biomechanics. However, the extent of the problem continues to raise serious concerns. Purpose: To advance our understanding of the causal pathways leading to ACL injury with a large-scale reconstruction of 3-dimensional (3D) whole-body joint kinematics of injuries that occurred to male elite soccer players, as well as to compare the joint angle time course among situational patterns. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 33 consecutive noncontact and indirect contact ACL injuries that occurred in 6 national and 2 international professional leagues (seasons 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 until December 2022) were analyzed: (1) multiview noncoaxial television images were inspected; (2) multiple camera views were taken from 400 ms before the initial ground contact to 200 ms after the injury frame; (3) a size-matched pitch was modeled and used to calibrate cameras; (4) a 3D skeletal model was adjusted to fit the player's pose in each frame/view; and (5) poses were interpolated, and Euler joint angles were extracted. Results: The authors reconstructed the 3D lower limb joint kinematic curves preceding and during ACL injuries in 33 cases; notably, a sudden external (up to 5°) and then internal knee rotation was observed after the initial contact and before the injury frame. The overall kinematics at injury were knee moderately flexed (45.9°± 21.7°), abducted (4.3°± 5.1°), and externally rotated (3.0°± 6.4°); trunk shallowly flexed (17.4°± 12.5°) and rotated and tilted toward the injured side; and hip flexed (32.0°± 18.7°), abducted (31.1°± 12.0°), and slightly internally rotated (6.6°± 12.2°). Variable behaviors were observed at the ankle level. Conclusion: Via reconstruction of the sequence of whole-body joint motion leading to injury, we confirmed the accepted gross biomechanics (dynamic valgus trend). This study significantly enriches the current knowledge on multiplanar kinematic features (transverse and coronal plane rotations). Furthermore, it was shown that ACL injuries in male professional soccer players manifest through distinct biomechanical footprints related to the concurrent game situation. Clinical Relevance: Interventions aimed at reducing ACL injuries in soccer should consider that environmental features (ie, situational patterns) affect injury mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the accuracy of heart rate (HR) as an indicator of the aerobic engagement has been evaluated in several intermittent on-court activities, its validity as an oxygen uptake (${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 ) indicator during shuttle running over short paths remains uncertain. Moreover, it is unclear whether speed may affect such validity. This study evaluated the HR ability in estimating the ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 during 5-m shuttle running at different speeds. Methods: ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 and HR of 12 physically active young men were recorded during an incremental forward running (FW) protocol and a 5-m shuttle test at 50%, 60%, and 75% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS). Slope and intercept of the relationship between HR and ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 (HR/ ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 ) were individually determined, in both protocols. The HR measured during the shuttle test was used in the FW HR/ ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 to estimate ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 at each shuttle speed. A paired Student's t-test compared slopes and intercepts of the two HR/ ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 . A two-way RM-ANOVA and an equality test examined, respectively, the differences and the equality between measured and estimated ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 . Lastly, a Bland–Altman plot described the accuracy and precision of the estimated ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 at each shuttle intensity. Results: Slopes and intercepts of the HR/ ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 appeared not different between FW and shuttle running. At 50%MAS, HR underestimated the ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 (~7%), whereas returned accurate values at the two higher velocities, although with high variability (±18%). Conclusions: When using HR as ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 indicator during shuttle running over short paths, a separated analysis of the HR validity as ${\dot V_{{O_2}}}$ V ˙ O 2 indicator is recommended especially when administering different exercise intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate whether or not eccentric-only training induced different sex-related adaptations in vastus lateralis muscle architecture and knee extensors strength. Methods: Thirteen healthy women and 13 healthy men were recruited. Vastus lateralis pennation angle, fascicle length, and muscle thickness, as well as knee extensors eccentric, isometric, and concentric peak torque and one-repetition maximum (1RM) were measured. Both women and men underwent a unilateral iso-load knee-extension eccentric-only training with 120% of the concentric 1RM, consisting of 4 sets × 10 repetitions twice a week for a total of 8 weeks. Results: Pennation angle increased in women (+ 14%, 95% CI [10, 17], effect size [ES] = 1.54) but not in men (+ 5%, 95% CI [-1, 11], ES = 0.28), while fascicle length increased in both women (+ 7%, 95% CI [4, 10], ES = 1.02) and men (+ 12%, 95% CI [8, 16], ES = 1.82) and muscle thickness increased in women (+ 13%, 95% CI [8, 18], ES = 1.11) and men (+ 11%, 95% CI [7, 15], ES = 0.89). In both women and men, eccentric (18%, 95% CI [11, 25], ES = 0.96, and 16%, 95% CI [9, 22], ES = 0.82, respectively), isometric (17%, 95% CI [11, 23], ES = 0.53, and 17%, 95% CI [10, 24], ES = 0.62), concentric (12%, 95% CI [7, 16], ES = 0.49, and 9%, 95% CI [5, 13], ES = 0.42) peak torque and 1RM (10%, 95% CI [6, 14], ES = 0.53, and 10%, 95% CI [5, 15], ES = 0.50) similarly increased after the intervention. Conclusions: This study showed that the adaptations in strength are not sex-dependent, but the increases in pennation angle only in women suggest that the changes in muscle architecture may depend on sex.