Search

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the critical swimming velocity (CSV), defined as the theoretical maximal swimming velocity that could be maintained for a long period of time without exhaustion, corresponds to the exercise intensity at onset blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), and if it could be utilized as a practical index for assessing endurance performance in elite physically disabled swimmers. Eight elite physically disabled swimmers swam four different distances (50, 100, 200 and 400 m) at maximal effort. The swimming time was taken during each trial. The CSV was expressed as the slope of a regression line between the covered swimming distance and the corresponding times of all possible combinations of 2 or 4 time trials. Results indicate that all the CSVs calculated were similar independently of the distances utilized for their calculation. Afterwards, a CSV confirmation test consisting of 3 x 10-min trials at 95, 100, 105% of the CSV was carried out. The lactate concentration at the end of each trial was 3.32, 4.03 and 5.73 mmol x l(-1), respectively. Lactate concentration at 100% CSV approached the value of 4 mmol x l(-1), which is considered the exercise intensity at OBLA. We conclude that the CSV corresponds with the OBLA intensity and could be a valuable index to plan a training schedule for physically disabled swimmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of aerobic and anaerobic physical conditioning on fibrinolysis were studied before and immediately after physical exercise. Moderately active controls (group A) were compared with aerobically- (group B) or anaerobically-conditioned (group C) subjects. Comparison of the resting parameters revealed that FgDP were significantly higher in group B as a compared to groups A and C. FbDP did not significantly differ between groups B and C and were significantly lower in group A. t-PA antigen and PAI antigen did not significantly differ between the three groups, but t-PA activity was elevated and PAI activity and t-PA/PAI complexes were reduced in group B. Following a maximal exercise test on the treadmill both FbDP and FgDP were significantly increased in all groups, although values for FbDP in group B and values for FgDP in group C reached a higher level than in group A. t-PA antigen and t-PA activity were also increased in the three groups. PAI activity was significantly reduced in groups A and C. t-PA/PAI complexes were significantly enhanced in all cases, but increased to a lower degree in group B. These results indicate that both aerobic and anaerobic physical conditioning induce activation of the fibrinolytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac output (Q̇ C ) and leg blood flow (Q̇ LEG ) can be measured simultaneously with high accuracy using transpulmonary and femoral vein thermodilution with a single-bolus injection. The invasive measure has offered important insight into leg hemodynamics and blood flow distribution during exercise. Despite being the natural modality of exercise in humans, there has been no direct measure of Q̇ LEG while running in humans. We sought to determine the feasibility of the thermodilution technique for measuring Q̇ LEG and conductance during high-intensity running, in an exploratory case study. A trained runner (30 years male) completed two maximal incremental tests on a cycle ergometer and motorized treadmill. Q̇ LEG and Q̇ C were determined using the single-bolus thermodilution technique. Arterial and venous blood were sampled throughout exercise, with continuous monitoring of metabolism, intra-arterial and venous pressure, and temperature. The participant reached a greater peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ) during running relative to cycling (74 vs. 68 mL/kg/min) with comparable Q̇ LEG (19.0 vs. 19.5 L/min) and Q̇ C (27.4 vs. 26.2 L/min). Leg vascular conductance was greater during high-intensity running relative to cycling (82 vs. 70 mL/min/mmHg @ ~80% V̇O 2peak ). The "beat phenomenon" was apparent in femoral flow while running, producing large gradients in conductance (62-90 mL/min/mmHg @ 70% V̇O 2peak ). In summary, we present the first direct measure of Q̇ LEG and conductance in a running human. Our findings corroborate several assumptions about Q̇ LEG during running compared with cycling. Importantly, we demonstrate that using thermodilution in running exercise can be completed effectively and safely., (© 2024 The Author(s). Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method used to estimate body composition, and it relies mainly on the body's water content. Insufficient body water can introduce bias to body composition scores., Purpose: To determine the effect of body weight loss elicited by passive dehydration on body composition scores, including phase angle (PhA)., Methods: Twenty-five euhydrated apparently healthy and physically active men's (age = 22.6 ± 3.3 yr.; body mass = 76.7 ± 15.9 kg; height = 172.0 ± 6.3 cm) body composition variables and PhA were measured before and after sitting quietly for 5 h in a controlled environment (26.6 ± 1.7 °C, 72 ± 4.9%RH)., Results: It was found that five hours of passive dehydration caused a loss in body weight (Δ = 0.76 ± 0.34 kg, p < 0.05) and a decrease in body fat estimation (Δ = 0.90 ± 0.87 kg, p < 0.001). Additionally, an increase in ECW (Δ = 0.12 ± 0.30 L, p < 0.021) and PhA (Δ = 0.10 ± 0.15°, p < 0.005) was observed., Conclusion: Body weight loss due to passive dehydration decreased BIA-derived fat mass, and increased extracellular water and PhA in physically active and apparently healthy men. Nonetheless, these changes had a negligible effect on the accuracy of the equipment, rendering them clinically insignificant.

In this work, the cell line SW620-GFP has been used in a complete magnetic hyperthermia assay, from the preparation of the ferrofluid with folate-coated iron oxide nanoparticles to in vivo experiments. The physical and chemical characterization of the nanoparticles evidenced their superparamagnetic behaviour, an average diameter of 12 ± 4 nm, a 2 nm coat thickness, and a high-power loss density. The main innovation of the work is the exclusive capability of viable SW620-GFP cells to emit fluorescence, enabling fast analysis of both, cell viability in vitro with an epifluorescence microscope and tumour size and shape in vivo in a non-invasive manner using the iBox technology. Moreover, with this imaging technique, it was possible to demonstrate the successful tumour size reduction in mice applying magnetic hyperthermia three times a week over 3 weeks., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

The 2-minutes walking test (2-MWT) is a valid and reliable test that has a high correlation with the distance walked in the 6-minutes walking test (6-MWT). However, to date, no study has determined the relationship between 2-MWT performance and the aerobic fitness indices obtained during a maximal incremental test to confirm if this test is a valid surrogate of aerobic fitness in apparently healthy older adults. The main objective of this work was to identify the factors associated to the performance in the 2-MWT, including aerobic fitness, functional and spatial-temporal gait parameters. Seventeen elderly adults performed a maximal incremental cycling test to determine maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) and ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), two static standing balance tests with open and close eyes, a 5-times sit-to-stand test (5-TSTS), a handgrip test, and a 2-MWT on three different days over 2 weeks. No correlations were found between aerobic fitness indices and the distance covered in 2-MWT, but significant moderate correlations were found between the distance covered in 2-MWT and the time to perform the 5-TSTS (rho = -0.49) and with stride length (rho = 0.52) during the test. In conclusion, the 2-MWT does not seem a good test to assess aerobic capacity while it showed to be associated to the 5-TSTS performance of the elderly.

Computational models of evolution are valuable for understanding the dynamics of sequence variation, to infer phylogenetic relationships or potential evolutionary pathways and for biomedical and industrial applications. Despite these benefits, few have validated their propensities to generate outputs with in vivo functionality, which would enhance their value as accurate and interpretable evolutionary algorithms. We demonstrate the power of epistasis inferred from natural protein families to evolve sequence variants in an algorithm we developed called sequence evolution with epistatic contributions (SEEC). Utilizing the Hamiltonian of the joint probability of sequences in the family as fitness metric, we sampled and experimentally tested for in vivo [Formula: see text]-lactamase activity in Escherichia coli TEM-1 variants. These evolved proteins can have dozens of mutations dispersed across the structure while preserving sites essential for both catalysis and interactions. Remarkably, these variants retain family-like functionality while being more active than their wild-type predecessor. We found that depending on the inference method used to generate the epistatic constraints, different parameters simulate diverse selection strengths. Under weaker selection, local Hamiltonian fluctuations reliably predict relative changes to variant fitness, recapitulating neutral evolution. SEEC has the potential to explore the dynamics of neofunctionalization, characterize viral fitness landscapes, and facilitate vaccine development., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Introduction: Eccentric exercise has often been reported to result in muscle damage, limiting the muscle potential to produce force. However, understanding whether these adverse consequences extend to a broader, functional level is of apparently less concern. In this study, we address this issue by investigating the acute and delayed effects of supramaximal isotonic eccentric exercise on neuromuscular function and motor performance of knee extensors during tasks involving a range of strength profiles, proprioception, and balance., Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers (23.2 ± 2.9 years old) performed a unilateral isotonic eccentric exercise of the knee extensors of their dominant lower limb (4 × 10 reps at 120% of one Repetition Maximum (1RM)). The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), rate of force development (RFD), force steadiness of the knee extensors, as well as knee joint position sense and mediolateral (MLI) and anteroposterior stability (API) of the dominant lower limb, were measured pre-, immediately, and 24 h after the eccentric exercise. The EMG amplitude of the vastus medialis (VM) and biceps femoris (BF) were concomitantly evaluated., Results: MVC decreased by 17.9% immediately after exercise ( P  < 0.001) and remained reduced by 13.6% 24 h following exercise ( P  < 0.001). Maximum RFD decreased by 20.4% immediately after exercise ( P  < 0.001) and remained reduced by 15.5% at 24 h ( P  < 0.001). During the MVC, EMG amplitude of the VM increased immediately after exercise while decreasing during the RFD task. Both values returned to baseline 24 h after exercise. Compared to baseline, force steadiness during submaximal isometric tasks reduced immediately after exercise, and it was accompanied by an increase in the EMG amplitude of the VM. MLI and knee joint position sense were impaired immediately after isotonic eccentric exercise ( P  < 0.05). While MLI returned to baseline values 24 h later, the absolute error in the knee repositioning task did not., Discussion: Impairments in force production tasks, particularly during fast contractions and in the knee joint position sense, persisted 24 h after maximal isotonic eccentric training, revealing that neuromuscular functional outputs were affected by muscle fatigue and muscle damage. Conversely, force fluctuation and stability during the balance tasks were only affected by muscle fatigue since fully recovered was observed 24 h following isotonic eccentric exercise., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (© 2023 Vila-Chã, Bovolini, Francisco, Costa-Brito, Vaz, Rua-Alonso, de Paz, Vieira and Mendonça.)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease. Auditory evoked potential studies have demonstrated conduction and neural processing deficits in adults with MS, but little is known about the electrophysiological responses in children and adolescents., Objective: to evaluate the central auditory pathway with brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP) in children and adolescents with MS., Methods: The study comprised 17 individuals with MS, of both sexes, aged 9 to 18 years, and 17 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex. All individuals had normal hearing and no middle ear impairments. They were assessed with click-BAEP and LLAEP through oddball paradigm and tone-burst stimuli., Results: Abnormal responses were observed in 60% of electrophysiologic assessments of individuals with MS. In BAEP, 58.82% of MS patients had abnormal responses, with longer wave V latency and therefore longer III-V and I-V interpeak latencies than healthy volunteers. In LLAEP, 52.94% of MS patients had abnormal responses. Although statistical differences were found only in P2-N2 amplitude, MS patients had longer latencies and smaller amplitudes than healthy volunteers in all components., Conclusion: Children and adolescents with MS had abnormal BAEP responses, with delayed neural conduction between the cochlear nucleus and the lateral lemniscus. Also, abnormal LLAEP results suggest a decrease in neural processing speed and auditory sensory discrimination response., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest to declare., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Introduction: Eccentric-overload (EO) resistance training emerges as an alternative to more optimally prescribe intensity relative to the force generation capabilities of the eccentric muscle contraction. Given the difficulties to individually prescribe absolute eccentric loads relative to each person's eccentric ability, setting the load relative to the concentric one-repetition maximum (1-RM) is the most used EO training approach. Therefore, we investigated the effects of submaximal and supramaximal (i.e., eccentric loads above 100% of 1-RM) accentuated eccentric training on changes in lean mass, anabolic hormonal responses and muscle function. Methods: Physically active university students ( n = 27) were randomly assigned to two training groups. Participants in the training groups performed dominant leg isotonic training twice a week for 10 weeks (four sets of eight repetitions). Isotonic resistance was generated by an electric-motor device at two different percentages of 1-RM for the eccentric phase; 90% submaximal load, SUB group) and 120% (supramaximal load, SUPRA group). Concentric load was the same for both groups (30% of 1-RM). Changes in total thigh lean mass (TTLM), anabolic hormonal responses (growth hormone, IGF-1, IL-6, and total testosterone), unilateral leg-press 1-RM, maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), local muscle endurance (XRM), muscle power at 40 (PP40), 60 (PP60) and 80% (PP80) of the 1-RM, and unilateral vertical jump height before and after training were compared between groups. Results: After training, both SUB and SUPRA groups showed similar increases ( p < 0.05) in MVIC (19.2% and 19.6%), XRM (53.8% and 23.8%), PP40 (16.2% and 15.7%), TTLM (2.5% and 4.2%), IGF-1 (10.0% and 14.1%) and IL-6 (58.6% and 28.6%). However, increases in 1-RM strength (16.3%) and unilateral vertical jump height (10.0%-13.4%) were observed for SUPRA only. Indeed, SUPRA was shown to be more favorable than SUB training for increasing 1-RM [ES = 0.77 (1.49-0.05)]. Unilateral muscle power at medium and high intensity (10.2% and 10.5%) also increased in SUB but without significant differences between groups. Discussion: Similar functional and structural effects were demonstrated after 10 weeks EO training with submaximal and supramaximal eccentric loads. Although supramaximal loading might be superior for increasing 1-RM, the use of this approach does not appear to be necessary in healthy, active individuals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Maroto-Izquierdo, Martín-Rivera, Nosaka, Beato, González-Gallego and de Paz.)

Introduction: Physical capacity (PC) is a strong determinant of health, quality of life, and functional independence in older adults. Having reference values for PC specific to a particular region allows for a contextual interpretation of an individual's level., Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the evolution of key aspects of PC during the aging process and provide reference values for the major components of health-related PC for the older adult population in Northwest Mexico., Methods: A total of 550 independent older adults (60-84 years, 70% women) from the city of Hermosillo (Sonora, Mexico) were included between January and June 2019. PC was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test Battery (SFTB) and grip-strength test. Reference values were established for 5-year age groups, providing percentile values at 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90. The percentage decrease in functional capacity with aging was determined via a linear regression analysis of age against the percentage value of each subject relative to the average value of 60-year-old individuals of the same sex., Results: Statistically significant differences in the results between men and women within the same age group were few and inconsistent, except for handgrip strength, which was lower in women across all age groups. The functional level, with respect to reference values for each age and sex group, was similar between men and women. The most pronounced functional decline during the aging period occurs between 70 and 80 years of age. The various tests generally show an annual percentage loss of approximately 1% from 60 years of age., Conclusions: This is the first study in Mexico that provides reference values for physical capacity using the Senior Fitness Test Battery. In general, older adults-both men and women-show similar functional levels with respect to their respective reference values. In general, an annual decline of 1% from the age of 60 years occurs.

Body image (BI) and self-esteem (SE) are two fundamental aspects in the evolution of breast cancer (BC), mainly due to surgery, treatment, and the patient's conception of BI. A dissatisfaction with BI and low SE decreases the subject's quality of life and increases the risk of recurrence and mortality by BC. The aim of this study is to find out if there is any degree of association between the sociodemographic data of the sample and their BI and SE. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 198 women diagnosed with BC, aged 30-80 years, in Mexico. Women's BI and SE were assessed using two questionnaires, Hopwood Body Image Scale (S-BIS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The results show significant differences in several items when the variable sense of humor is taken into account, indicating that women with a sense of humor report higher satisfaction with their BI and higher SE. The age also indicates a significantly better BI in women over 50 years of age, as well as the education level variable, where those women who had studied up to secondary reported higher satisfaction with their BI; the family history shows that those women without a family history report better SE. All these data are supported by stepwise regression, which shows that educational level and sense of humor are predictors of BI, and family history along with breast reconstruction and sense of humor are predictors as of SE. In conclusion, it is important to take into account the characteristics of women with BC, particularly age and sense of humor, in order to reduce the impact of the disease on their BI and SE with the help of a multidisciplinary team.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer diagnosis with the highest mortality rate worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify factors related to depression and anxiety in mastectomized women BC survivors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 198 women diagnosed with BC aged 30-80 years in Mexico. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The results showed that 94.44% and 69.18% of the women scored more than eight points on HADS in the anxiety and depression subscales, respectively; 70.20% and 10.60% were identified as pathological. The following variables were analyzed: age, time elapsed since the start of treatment, received treatment at the time of the evaluation, type of surgery, family history, marital status and employment status. Time elapsed since surgery, having a partner, and employment showed significant results as factors associated to levels of depression and anxiety in these patients. In conclusion, it has been shown that BCSs under 50 years of age receiving some kind of treatment, without family history, without a partner, with a job, with more than secondary education and with more than 5 years since diagnosis could have higher rates of clinical depression. On the other hand, BCSs older than 50 years receiving some kind of treatment, without family history, without a partner, with a job, with more than secondary education and with more than 5 years since diagnosis, could have higher rates of clinical anxiety. In conclusion, the variables studied provide valuable information for the implementation of psychotherapy plans in healthcare systems to reduce the risk of depression and/or anxiety in women with BC who have undergone mastectomy.

(1) Background: Quality of life assessment is a critical aspect of breast cancer patient outcomes, as diagnosis, prognosis and treatment can have a major impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the sample and to verify the relationship between quality of life (QOL) in women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) and their age, type or surgery and time since treatment; (2) Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 183 women diagnosed with BC, aged 30−80 years in Mexico. Women’s QOL was assessed using two questionnaires, The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and The Breast Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-BR23). (3) Results: the results show significant differences in several items when the variable age is taken into account, indicating that younger women have poorer social and sexual function, as well as poorer sexual enjoyment and lower expectations of the future. The type of surgery also indicates a significantly better QOL in those women who receive conservative treatment versus a mastectomy; the time elapsed since surgery does not show any significant results, except for sexual functioning and breast-related symptoms where >5 years implies better scores on the items. (4) Conclusions: in conclusion, it is important to take into account the characteristics of women with BC, particularly at the time of treatment, in order to mitigate the impact of the disease on their QOL with the help of a multidisciplinary team.

Background and Purpose: Around 5% of all Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) cases start before 18 years of age. Clinical and radiological manifestations of AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD were revised in 2015, and the importance of neuroimaging in the diagnosis is well recognized. Neuroimaging findings in pediatric-onset NMOSD were scarcely described, and longitudinal evaluation of NMOSD lesions was only accessed in a few adult-onset cohorts., Methods: This study evaluated brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve MRI of sixteen pediatric-onset AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD through a qualitative evaluation of lesion evolution. Lesions were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic in acute or chronic phase (> 30 days from last attack) MRI., Results: Seventy MRI scans and 54 subsequent exams were evaluated. Most NMOSD lesions (74.5%) reduced, remained stable, or developed atrophy/cavitation. New brain lesions or enlargement of existing brain lesions were found in two patients (12.5%) without any clinical symptom and in five patients (31.2%) in the course of an attack from other topography (optic neuritis or acute myelitis). One patient (6.3%) presented an asymptomatic spinal cord lesion irrespective of clinical manifestation. No asymptomatic lesion was described in optic nerve MRI. In acute phase exams, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (13/19 vs 8/24; p = 0.033), cervical myelitis (15/19 vs 10/24, p = 0.028), lumbar myelitis (5/19 vs 0/24; p = 0.012), and a higher number of segments [median 8 (range 4-17) vs 3.5 (range 1-14); p = 0.003] were affected., Conclusions: Asymptomatic brain and spinal cord lesions can occur in pediatric-onset NMOSD, especially in the course of acute optic neuritis or myelitis. More longitudinal studies are necessary to guide recommendations on neuroimaging frequency in pediatric patients with AQP4-IgG NMOSD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aging is related to changes in the redox status, low-grade inflammation, and decreased endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response (UPR). Exercise has been shown to regulate the inflammatory response, balance redox homeostasis, and ameliorate the UPR. This work aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training on changes in the UPR, oxidative status, and inflammatory responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly subjects. Thirty elderly subjects volunteered to participate in an 8-week resistance training program, and 11 youth subjects were included for basal assessments. Klotho, heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), oxidative marker expression (catalase, glutathione, lipid peroxidation, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, protein carbonyls, reactive oxygen species, and superoxide dismutase 1 and 2), the IRE1 arm of UPR, and TLR4/TRAF6/pIRAK1 pathway activation were evaluated before and following training. No changes in the HSP60 and Klotho protein content, oxidative status markers, and TLR4/TRAF6/pIRAK1 pathway activation were found with exercise. However, an attenuation of the reduced pIRE1/IRE1 ratio was observed following training. Systems biology analysis showed that a low number of proteins (RPS27A, SYVN1, HSPA5, and XBP1) are associated with IRE1, where XBP1 and RPS27A are essential nodes according to the centrality analysis. Additionally, a gene ontology analysis confirms that endoplasmic reticulum stress is a key mechanism modulated by IRE1. These findings might partially support the modulatory effect of resistance training on the endoplasmic reticulum in the elderly.

Background & Aims: The quality of dietary carbohydrates rather than total carbohydrate intake may determine the accumulation of visceral fat; however, to date, few studies have examined the impact of diet on adiposity using specific imaging techniques. Thus, the aim of this prospective study was to investigate the association between concurrent changes in carbohydrate quality index (CQI) and objectively-quantified adiposity distribution over a year., Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 1476 participants aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) from the PREDIMED-Plus randomized controlled trial. Dietary intake information was obtained at baseline, 6- and 12-months from a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, and CQI (range: 4 to 20) was calculated based on four dietary criteria: total dietary fibre, glycemic index, wholegrain/total grain carbohydrate ratio, and solid/total carbohydrate ratio. Overall and regional adiposity (total body fat, visceral fat and android-to-gynoid fat ratio) was quantified using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at all three time points. Multiple adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to assess associations between concurrent changes in repeatedly measured CQI and adiposity over time., Results: After controlling for potential confounding factors, a 3-point increment in CQI over 12-month follow-up was associated with a decrease in visceral fat (β -0.067 z-score, 95% CI -0.088; -0.046, p < 0.001), android-to-gynoid fat ratio (-0.038, -0.059; -0.017, p < 0.001), and total fat (-0.064, -0.080; -0.047, p < 0.001). Fibre intake and the ratio of wholegrain/total grain showed the strongest inverse associations with all adiposity indicators., Conclusions: In this prospective cohort of older adults with overweight/obesity and MetS, we found that improvements in dietary carbohydrate quality over a year were associated with concurrent favorable changes in visceral and overall fat deposition. These associations were mostly driven by dietary fibre and the wholegrain/total grain ratio., Trial Registration: The trial was registered at the International Standard Randomized. CONTROLLED TRIAL: (ISRCTN: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870) with number 89898870 and registration date of 24 July 2014, retrospectively registered., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Ramón Estruch reports receiving personal fees for educational conferences from Fundacion Cerveza y Salud, Spain, Instituto Cervantes, Alburquerque, USA; Instituto Cervantes, Milan, Italy, Instituto Cervantes, Tokyo, Japan, Fundacion Bosch i Gimpera, Spain; nonfinancial support for educational conferences from Wine and Culinary International Forum; Fees of Educational Conferences from Pernaud Richart, Mexico, Fundacion Dieta Mediterranea, Barcelona, Spain; non-financial support for travels from ERAB, Belgium, personal fees for organizing an European Conference from Brewers of Europe, Belgium; non-financial support for Organizing a Congress from Sociedad Española de Nutrición (SEN). Also feeding trials with product from Grand Fountain and Uriach Laboratories, Spain., and serving on the advisory board of Cerveza y Salud, Spain. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neck pain, one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases, affects 222 million people worldwide. The cervical range of motion (CROM) is a tool used to assess the neck's state across three movement axes: flexo-extension, rotation, and lateral flexion. People with neck pain often have a reduced CROM, and they feel pain at the end-range and/or accompany neck movements with compensatory trunk movements. Virtual reality (VR) setups can track the movement of the head and other body parts in order to create the sensation of immersion in the virtual environment. Using this tracking position information, a CROM assessment can be performed using a VR setup that may be carried out autonomously from the user's home. The objectives of this study were to develop a VR experience that could be used to perform a CROM assessment, and to evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the CROM measures guided by this VR experience. To the best of our knowledge, a study of this type has not been carried out before., Materials & Methods: A total of 30 asymptomatic adults were assessed using a VR device (HTC Vive Pro Eye™). Two raters provided support with the VR setup, and the participants were guided by the VR experience as they performed the movements. Each rater tested each subject twice, in random order. In addition to a head-mounted display (HMD), a tracker located on the subject's back was used to measure trunk compensatory movements. The CROM was estimated using only the HMD position and this measurement was corrected using the tracker data. The mean and standard deviation were calculated to characterize the CROM. To evaluate the reliability, the interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for intra-rater and inter-rater analysis. The standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change were also calculated. The usability of the VR system was measured using the Spanish version of the System Usability Scale., Results: The mean CROM values in each axis of movement were compatible with those described in the literature. ICC values ranged between 0.86 and 0.96 in the intra-rater analysis and between 0.83 and 0.97 in the inter-rater analysis; these values were between good and excellent. When applying the correction of the trunk movements, both the intra-rater and inter-rater ICC values slightly worsened except in the case of the lateral flexion movement, where they slightly improved. The usability score of the CROM assessment/VR system was 86 points, which is an excellent usability score., Conclusion: The reliability of the measurements and the usability of the system indicate that a VR setup can be used to assess CROM. The reliability of the VR setup can be affected by slippage of the HMD or tracker. Both slippage errors are additive, i.e. , only when the sum of these two errors is less than the compensatory movement do the measurements improve when considering the tracker data., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2022 Santos-Paz et al.)

Background and Objectives : Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that manifests with varied neurological symptoms, including muscle weakness, especially in the lower extremities. Strength exercises play an important role in the rehabilitation and functional maintenance of these patients. The individualized prescription of strength exercises is recommended to be based on the maximum force determined by the one-repetition maximum (1RM), although to save time and because it requires less equipment, it is often determined by the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The purpose of this work was to study, in patients with MS (pwMS), the reliability of MVIC and the correlation between the MVIC and 1RM of the knee extensors and to predict the MVIC-based 1RM. Materials and Methods : A total of 328 pwMS participated. The study of the reliability of MVIC included all pwMS, for which MVIC was determined twice in one session. Their 1RM was also evaluated. The sample was randomized by MS type, sex, and neurological disability score into a training group and a testing group for the analysis of the correlation and prediction of MVIC-based 1RM. Results : MVIC repeatability (ICC, 2.1 = 0.973) was determined, along with a minimum detectable change of 13.2 kg. The correlation between MVIC and 1RM was R 2 = 0.804, with a standard error estimate of 12.2 kg. The absolute percentage error of 1RM prediction based on MVIC in the test group was 12.7%, independent of MS type and with no correlation with neurological disability score. Conclusions: In patients with MS, MVIC presents very good intrasubject repeatability, and the difference between two measurements of the same subject must differ by 17% to be considered a true change in MVIC. There is a high correlation between MVIC and 1RM, which allows estimation of 1RM once MVIC is known, with an estimation error of about 12%, regardless of sex or type of MS, and regardless of the degree of neurological disability.

This study assessed the technical performance of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and compared LFIA results with chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) results and an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA). To this end, a total of 216 whole blood or serum samples from three groups were analyzed: the first group was composed of 68 true negative cases corresponding to blood bank donors, healthy young volunteers, and eight pediatric patients diagnosed with other coronavirus infections. The serum samples from these participants were obtained and stored in a pre-COVID-19 period, thus they were not expected to have COVID-19. In the second group of true positive cases, we chose to replace natural cases of COVID-19 by 96 participants who were expected to have produced anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies 30-60 days after the vaccine booster dose. The serum samples were collected on the same day that LFIA were tested either by EIA or CLIA. The third study group was composed of 52 participants (12 adults and 40 children) who did or did not have anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies due to specific clinical scenarios. The 12 adults had been vaccinated more than seven months before LFIA testing, and the 40 children had non-severe COVID-19 diagnosed using RT-PCR during the acute phase of infection. They were referred for outpatient follow-up and during this period the serum samples were collected and tested by CLIA and LFIA. All tests were performed by the same healthcare operator and there was no variation of LFIA results when tests were performed on finger prick whole blood or serum samples, so that results were grouped for analysis. LFIA's sensitivity in detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was 90%, specificity 97.6%, efficiency 93%, PPV 98.3%, NPV 86.6%, and likelihood ratio for a positive or a negative result were 37.5 and 0.01 respectively. There was a good agreement (Kappa index of 0.677) between LFIA results and serological (EIA or CLIA) results. In conclusion, LFIA analyzed in this study showed a good technical performance and agreement with reference serological assays (EIA or CLIA), therefore it can be recommended for use in the outpatient follow-up of non-severe cases of COVID-19 and to assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody production induced by vaccination and the antibodies decrease over time. However, LFIAs should be confirmed by using reference serological assays whenever possible.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of three different unilateral isoinertial resistance training protocols with eccentric overload on changes in lean mass and muscle function of trained (TL) and contralateral non-trained (NTL) legs., Methods: Physically active university students were randomly assigned to one of three training groups or a control group (n = 10/group). Participants in the training groups performed dominant leg isoinertial squat training twice a week for 6 weeks (4 sets of 7 repetitions) using either an electric-motor device with an eccentric phase velocity of 100% (EM100) or 150% (EM150) of concentric phase velocity or a conventional flywheel device (FW) with the same relative inertial load. Changes in thigh lean mass, unilateral leg-press one-repetition maximum (1-RM), muscle power at 40-80% 1-RM, and unilateral vertical jump height before and after training were compared between the groups and between TL and NTL., Results: No changes in any variable were found for the control group. In TL, all training groups showed similar increases (p < 0.05) in 1-RM strength (22.4-30.2%), lean tissue mass (2.5-5.8%), muscle power (8.8-21.7%), and vertical jump height (9.1-32.9%). In NTL, 1-RM strength increased 22.0-27.8% without significant differences between groups; however, increases in lean mass (p < 0.001) were observed for EM150 (3.5%) and FW (3.8%) only. Unilateral vertical jump height (6.0-32.9%) and muscle power (6.8-17.5%) also increased in NTL without significant differences between training groups., Conclusion: The three eccentric-overload resistance training modalities produced similar neuromuscular changes in both the trained and non-trained legs, suggesting that strong cross-education effects were induced by the eccentric-overload training., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose : The mechanical properties of resistance-training machines are a variable that may help to optimize sports performance and injury prevention protocols. The purpose of this study was to examine two non-gravity-dependent training modalities on muscle structure and function. Methods : Eighteen professional handball players were randomly divided into two experimental groups: 1) iso-inertial flywheel training (FW) and 2) pneumatic resistance training (PN). Participants in both groups completed twelve training sessions in six weeks consisting of three movements (lateral raise, internal and external rotation). Four sets of seven repetitions for each movement were performed during each session. Before and after training subscapularis and deltoid (anterior, middle, posterior) muscle thickness was measured. Isokinetic torque and power during internal and external rotation at 60, 180, and 240 deg·s -1 was measured as well. Throwing speed was assessed before and after training while both sitting and standing situations. Results : Both groups showed similar significant increases in throwing speed and internal and external rotation peak torque, average and peak power at all angular velocities. Anterior and middle deltoid muscle thickness changes were greater after training in FW (20 and 22%) in comparison to PN (14 and 7%, respectively). Conclusions : In summary, both flywheel and pneumatic training resulted in similar increases in shoulder strength and power and throwing speed. However, flywheel training appeared to possibly result in a slightly greater level of muscle hypertrophy of the anterior and middle deltoid. Non-gravity dependent training appears to induce changes that would be beneficial to sports performance and perhaps injury prevention.

Background and Objectives : Multiple sclerosis (MS) tends to affect muscle performance, mainly in the lower extremities. The degree of disability is associated with the loss of strength and muscle mass, to varying extents. Muscle quality (MQ) expresses the amount of force produced relative to the activated muscle mass. The purpose of this study was to compare the MQ of the knee extensors in the main manifestations of strength (isometric, dynamic strength, and power) among patients with differing degrees of neurological disability and evolutionary forms of the disease. We also establish reference values for MQ in MS patients (pwMS). Materials and Methods : In total, 250 pwMS were evaluated according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The maximum dynamic and isometric forces and muscle power manifested a load of 60% of the maximum dynamics of the knee extensors. The lean mass of the thigh and hip was determined by densitometry, and the MQ was calculated for the three types of force evaluated. Results: The pwMS with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) presented isometric MQ values that were 15.8% better than those of pwMS with primary progressive MS (PPMS) and 13.8% better than those of pwMS with secondary progressive MS (SPMS). For pwMS with SPMS, the dynamic MQ was 16.7% worse than that of patients with RRMS, while the power MQ was 29.5% worse. By degree of disability (<4 >7.5 EDSS score), patients with better MQ had mild EDSS scores, and patients with severe EDSS scores had 24.8%, 25.9%, and 40.3% worse isometric, dynamic, and power MQ scores, respectively, than those with RRMS. Based on these results, reference values for MQ in pwMS were established. Conclusions: The pwMS with different types of MS do not show differences in lean mass or strength but do show differences in MQ. In pwMS with different EDSS grades, there are no differences in lean mass, but there are differences in strength based on MQ, especially power MQ.

Background: In children, an acute demyelinating disease may evolve as a multiphasic disease with multiple relapses, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) and Long-Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials (LLAEP) contribute to the identification of either retrocochlear changes or other central auditory nervous system (CANS) changes., Objectives: To characterize BAEP and LLAEP in children and adolescents with MS and NMOSD and verify the diagnostic values of these potentials in each of the demyelinating diseases., Methods: The 40 participants were divided into two study groups (SG1 - MS, SG2 - NMOSD) and two comparison groups (CG1 and CG2), matched for age (9 years-17 years and 11 months) and sex. Electrophysiological hearing assessment was performed with BAEP and LLAEP., Results: When SG1 and SG2 were compared with CG1 and CG2 regarding BAEP and LLAEP, both SG1 and SG2 presented a higher occurrence of changes. Also, individuals with MS had higher occurrences of BAEP changes, whereas individuals with NMOSD had a higher occurrence of LLAEP changes., Conclusions: BAEP and LLAEP in children and adolescents with MS or NMOSD showed higher latencies and lower amplitudes of some components when these individuals were compared with their peers. These procedures were highly accurate to identify demyelinating diseases. BAEP results were more abnormal in individuals with MS, while LLAEP was so with NMOSD. These findings indicate that the auditory evoked potentials are important instruments for the differential diagnosis of MS and NMOSD, and valuable to monitor disease evolution., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An exhaustive characterization of the physicochemical properties of gum arabic (GA)-coated Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles was conducted in this work. These nanoparticles were obtained via the in-situ coprecipitation method (a fast single-step method) in two GA:Fe ratios, 10:1 and 20:1, respectively. Several experimental techniques were applied in the characterization process, all of them described below. Using Transmission Electron Microcopy images, they were shown to have spherical-like morphology with 11 nm diameter. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectra confirmed the attachment of the GA on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), providing good colloidal stability from pH 7 to 8. The thickness of the coatings (1.7 nm and 1.1 nm) was determined using thermogravimetric measurements. A high specific absorption rate and superparamagnetic properties were determined using alternant and static magnetic fields, respectively. The GA-coated MNPs were non-cytotoxic, according to tests on HT-29 human intestine cells. Additionally, HT-29 cells were exposed to magnetic fluid hyperthermia at 530 kHz, and the induction of cell death by the magnetic field, due to the heating of GA-coated MNP, was observed.

A ferrofluid with 1,2-Benzenediol-coated iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesized and physicochemically analyzed. This colloidal system was prepared following the typical co-precipitation method, and superparamagnetic nanoparticles of 13.5 nm average diameter, 34 emu/g of magnetic saturation, and 285 K of blocking temperature were obtained. Additionally, the zeta potential showed a suitable colloidal stability for cancer therapy assays and the magneto-calorimetric trails determined a high power absorption density. In addition, the oxidative capability of the ferrofluid was corroborated by performing the Fenton reaction with methylene blue (MB) dissolved in water, where the ferrofluid was suitable for producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), and surprisingly a strong degradation of MB was also observed when it was combined with H 2 O 2 . The intracellular ROS production was qualitatively corroborated using the HT-29 human cell line, by detecting the fluorescent rise induced in 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. In other experiments, cell metabolic activity was measured, and no toxicity was observed, even with concentrations of up to 4 mg/mL of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). When the cells were treated with magnetic hyperthermia, 80% of cells were dead at 43 °C using 3 mg/mL of MNPs and applying a magnetic field of 530 kHz with 20 kA/m amplitude.

Background: The study aimed to determine the proportion of the body segments in relation to the total body mass in healthy people, as well as analyze the composition of each segment and compare these results between sexes., Methods: A total of 60 young adults (30 men and 30 women) were subjected to a full-body scan by dual energy X-rays absorptiometry (DXA) under standardized conditions. The regions of interest (ROI) were determined by a single trained evaluator. The body was divided into 16 segments to obtain values of total mass, lean mass (LM), fat mass, bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass percentage (%LM) and fat mass percentage (%FM) of each body segment represented by the 16 ROI., Results: Men presented higher absolute mass in the upper limbs (Δ=32.87%; P<0.05). The proportion of the lower limbs (Δ=6.83%; P<0.05) and trunk (Δ=5.07%; P<0.05) of men is higher than women. In addition, males have more LM in the upper limbs (Δ=42.19%; P<0.05) and trunk (Δ=26.46%; P<0.001), and more BMC in the trunk (Δ=18.78%; P<0.05) and forearms (Δ=32.21%; P<0.05). They also present higher %LM (Δ=6.48%; P<0.001) and lower %FM (Δ=54.43%; P<0.001) than women in the forearms., Conclusions: The different body segments represent a different percentage of the total body mass in men than in women, as well as men present more LM and BMC in the trunk and upper limbs.

Objectives: To compare demographic/clinical/laboratory/treatments and outcomes among children and adolescents with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included patients diagnosed with pediatric COVID-19 (aged <18 years) between April 11, 2020 and April 22, 2021. During this period, 102/5,951 (1.7%) of all admissions occurred in neonates, children, and adolescents. Furthermore, 3,962 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection samples were processed in patients aged <18 years, and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 occurred in 155 (4%) inpatients and outpatients. Six/155 pediatric patients were excluded from the study. Therefore, the final group included 149 children and adolescents (n=97 inpatients and 52 outpatients) with positive SARS-CoV-2 results., Results: The frequencies of sore throat, anosmia, dysgeusia, headache, myalgia, nausea, lymphopenia, pre-existing chronic conditions, immunosuppressive conditions, and autoimmune diseases were significantly reduced in children and adolescents (p<0.05). Likewise, the frequencies of enoxaparin use (p=0.037), current immunosuppressant use (p=0.008), vasoactive agents (p=0.045), arterial hypotension (p<0.001), and shock (p=0.024) were significantly lower in children than in adolescents. Logistic regression analysis showed that adolescents with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 had increased odds ratios (ORs) for sore throat (OR 13.054; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.750-61.977; p=0.001), nausea (OR 8.875; 95% CI 1.660-47.446; p=0.011), and lymphopenia (OR 3.575; 95% CI 1.355-9.430; p=0.010), but also had less hospitalizations (OR 0.355; 95% CI 0.138-0.916; p=0.032). The additional logistic regression analysis on patients with preexisting chronic conditions (n=108) showed that death as an outcome was significantly associated with pediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (OR 22.300; 95% CI 2.341-212.421; p=0.007) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) (OR 11.261; 95% CI 1.189-106. 581; p=0.035)., Conclusions: Half of the laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases occurred in adolescents. Individuals belonging to this age group had an acute systemic involvement of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pediatric SARS and MIS-C were the most important factors associated with the mortality rate in pediatric chronic conditions with COVID-19.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate demographic, anthropometric and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Methods: This was a longitudinal observational study of surviving pediatric post-COVID-19 patients (n=53) and pediatric subjects without laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 included as controls (n=52) was performed., Results: The median duration between COVID-19 diagnosis (n=53) and follow-up was 4.4 months (0.8-10.7). Twenty-three of 53 (43%) patients reported at least one persistent symptom at the longitudinal follow-up visit and 12/53 (23%) had long COVID-19, with at least one symptom lasting for >12 weeks. The most frequently reported symptoms at the longitudinal follow-up visit were headache (19%), severe recurrent headache (9%), tiredness (9%), dyspnea (8%), and concentration difficulty (4%). At the longitudinal follow-up visit, the frequencies of anemia (11% versus 0%, p=0.030), lymphopenia (42% versus 18%, p=0.020), C-reactive protein level of >30 mg/L (35% versus 0%, p=0.0001), and D-dimer level of >1000 ng/mL (43% versus 6%, p=0.0004) significantly reduced compared with baseline values. Chest X-ray abnormalities (11% versus 2%, p=0.178) and cardiac alterations on echocardiogram (33% versus 22%, p=0.462) were similar at both visits. Comparison of characteristic data between patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit and controls showed similar age (p=0.962), proportion of male sex (p=0.907), ethnicity (p=0.566), family minimum monthly wage (p=0.664), body mass index (p=0.601), and pediatric pre-existing chronic conditions (p=1.000). The Pediatric Quality of Live Inventory 4.0 scores, median physical score (69 [0-100] versus 81 [34-100], p=0.012), and school score (60 [15-100] versus 70 [15-95], p=0.028) were significantly lower in pediatric patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit than in controls., Conclusions: Pediatric patients with COVID-19 showed a longitudinal impact on HRQoL parameters, particularly in physical/school domains, reinforcing the need for a prospective multidisciplinary approach for these patients. These data highlight the importance of closer monitoring of children and adolescents by the clinical team after COVID-19.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a severe condition associated with high disability and low quality of life (QoL) in adults. Since this evaluation had been rarely perfomed in children, this study aimed to describe QoL in pediatric-onset NMOSD with positive aquaporin4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) patients., Methods: This was a cross-section evaluation of patients and parents' proxy QoL from individuals enrolled in a longitudinal cohort of AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD with onset ≤ 18 years of age., Results: Eighteen patients were included, sixteen girls. The mean (SD) age at disease onset was 11.5 (3.6) years. Eleven of patients experienced disability during a mean (SD) of 8.3 (5.3) years of follow-up. NMOSD had impact in QoL in 10 patients, being associated with higher EDSS and poor academic performance at last follow-up. Results from the PedsQL inventory for 13 patients and 10 parents disclosed low QoL specially in emotional functioning., Conclusion: This study indicates impaired quality of life, high disability and high impact of the disease in daily life of adolescents and young adults with pediatric onset NMOSD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe the main symptoms associated with COVID-19, and their diagnostic characteristics, to aid in the clinical diagnosis., Methods: An analysis of all patients diagnosed by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 between April and May 2020 in Argentina was conducted. The data includes clinical and demographic information from all subjects at the time of presentation (n=67318, where 12% were positive for SARS-CoV-2). The study population was divided into four age groups: pediatric (0-17 years), young adults (18-44 years), adults (45-64 years), and elderly (65-103 years). Multivariate logistic regression was used to measure the association of all symptoms and to create a diagnostic model based on symptoms., Results: Symptoms associated with COVID-19 were anosmia, dysgeusia, headache, low-grade fever, odynophagia, and malaise. However, the presentation of these symptoms was different between the different age groups. In turn, at the time of presentation, the symptoms associated with respiratory problems (chest pain, abdominal pain, and dyspnea) had a negative association with COVID-19 or did not present statistical relevance. On the other hand, the model based on 16 symptoms, age and sex, presented a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 46%., Conclusions: There were significant differences between the different age groups. Additionally, there were interactions between different symptoms that were highly associated with COVID-19. Finally, our findings showed that a regression model based on multiple factors (age, sex, interaction between symptoms) can be used as an accessory diagnostic method or a rapid screening of suspected COVID-19 cases., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: All authors – none to declare., (GERMS.)

Background and Objectives: To investigate the effects of unilateral accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) on changes in lean mass and function of leg trained (TL) and ipsilateral non-trained arm (NTA) in young men and women. Materials and Methods: In a prospective trial, 69 Physically active university students (20.2 ± 2.2 years) were randomly placed into a training group ( n = 46; 27 men, 19 women) or a control group without training ( n = 23; 13 men, 10 women). Participants in the training group performed unilateral AEL in the leg press exercise of the dominant leg twice a week for 10 weeks. An electric motor device-generated isotonic resistance at different intensities for both concentric (30% of 1-RM) and eccentric contractions (105% of 1-RM). Changes in thigh and arm lean tissue mass, unilateral leg press and unilateral elbow flexion maximal concentric (1-RM) and isometric strength (MVIC), and unilateral muscle power at 40, 60, and 80% 1-RM for both leg press and elbow flexion exercises before and after intervention were compared between groups, between sexes and between TL and NTA. Results: Both men and women in the training group showed increases ( p < 0.05) in lean tissue mass, 1-RM, MVIC, and muscle power for TL. In NTA, 1-RM, MVIC, and muscle power increased without significant differences between sexes, but neither in men nor women changes in lean tissue mass were observed. In addition, men showed greater changes in TL, but changes in NTA were similar between sexes. No gains in any variable were found for the control group. Conclusions: AEL protocol produced similar neuromuscular changes in TL and ipsilateral NTA, which suggests that strong ipsilateral lower-to-upper limb cross-transfer effects were induced by the eccentric-overload training. However, early ipsilateral increases in muscle force and power were not associated with lean mass gains. Both men and women experienced similar changes in NTA; however, men showed greater changes in TL.

Ecophysiology and conservation studies often require the prior establishment of baseline physiologic metrics. For instance, expected reference intervals for health metrics are valuable tools for veterinarians and conservationists who monitor the health status of endangered populations and species. This study establishes reference intervals for hematologic metrics in free-ranging Olrog's gull ( Larus atlanticus ) during the nonbreeding season. Fifty-six gulls (immature and adults) were captured and studied in Mar del Plata and neighboring coastal areas (Buenos Aires, Argentina) during the winter of 2018 ( n = 22) and 2019 ( n = 34). Hematocrit, red blood cells (erythrocytes), hemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration, white blood cells (WBC; leukocytes), heterophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils were analyzed. Additionally, the variability of hematologic metrics according to body weight, sex, age, and calendar year was examined. Hematologic metrics were in line with those reported in other seabird species. Males had greater body weight and MCH than females. The heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte levels were higher in adults than in immatures. Hematocrit, WBC, heterophils, and basophils also varied significantly between calendar years. The results highlight the importance of appropriate metrics and reference intervals for monitoring the health status of this threatened species, and it is recommended to implement such comparative assessments among populations.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to be a priority health problem; According to the World Health Organization data from October 13, 2020, 37,704,153 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported, including 1,079,029 deaths, since the outbreak. The identification of potential symptoms has been reported to be a useful tool for clinical decision-making in emergency departments to avoid overload and improve the quality of care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of symptoms as a diagnostic tool for SARS -CoV-2 infection., Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, prospective and analytical study was carried out, during the period of time from April 14 to July 21, 2020. Data (demographic variables, medical history, respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms) were collected by emergency physicians. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was made using SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. The diagnostic accuracy of these characteristics for COVID-19 was evaluated by calculating the positive and negative likelihood ratios. A Mantel-Haenszel and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of symptoms with COVID-19., Results: A prevalence of 53.72% of SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed. The symptom with the highest sensitivity was cough 71%, and a specificity of 52.68%. The symptomatological scale, constructed from 6 symptoms, obtained a sensitivity of 83.45% and a specificity of 32.86%, taking ≥2 symptoms as a cut-off point. The symptoms with the greatest association with SARS-CoV-2 were: anosmia odds ratio (OR) 3.2 (95% CI; 2.52-4.17), fever OR 2.98 (95% CI; 2.47-3.58), dyspnea OR 2.9 (95% CI; 2.39-3.51]) and cough OR 2.73 (95% CI: 2.27-3.28)., Conclusion: The combination of ≥2 symptoms / signs (fever, cough, anosmia, dyspnea and oxygen saturation < 93%, and headache) results in a highly sensitivity model for a quick and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19, and should be used in the absence of ancillary diagnostic studies. Symptomatology, alone and in combination, may be an appropriate strategy to use in the emergency department to guide the behaviors to respond to the disease., Trial Registration: Institutional registration R-2020-3601-145, Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks 17 CI-09-015-034, National Bioethics Commission: 09 CEI-023-2017082 .

Aging-associated inflammation is characterized by senescent cell-mediated secretion of high levels of inflammatory mediators, such as microRNA (miR)-146a. Moreover, a rise of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is also related to systemic inflammation and frailty in the elderly. Exosome-mediated cell-to-cell communication is fundamental in cellular senescence and aging. The plasma changes in exercise-promoted miR-146a-5p, cfDNA, and exosome release could be the key to facilitate intercellular communication and systemic adaptations to exercise in aging. Thirty-eight elderly subjects (28 trained and 10 controls) volunteered in an 8-week resistance training protocol. The levels of plasma miR-146a-5p, cfDNA, and exosome markers (CD9, CD14, CD63, CD81, Flotillin [Flot]-1, and VDAC1) were measured prior to and following training. Results showed no changes in plasma miR-146a-5p and cfDNA levels with training. The levels of exosome markers (Flot-1, CD9, and CD81) as well as exosome-carried proteins (CD14 and VDAC1) remained unchanged, whereas an attenuated CD63 response was found in the trained group compared to the controls. These findings might partially support the anti-inflammatory effect of resistance training in the elderly as evidenced by the diminishment of exosome CD63 protein expression, without modification of plasma miR-146a-5p and cfDNA.

Introduction: Large randomized trials testing the effect of a multifactorial weight-loss lifestyle intervention including Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on renal function are lacking. Here, we evaluated the 1-year efficacy of an intensive weight-loss intervention with an energy-reduced MedDiet (erMedDiet) plus increased physical activity (PA) on renal function., Methods: Randomized controlled "PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea-Plus" (PREDIMED-Plus) trial is conducted in 23 Spanish centers comprising 208 primary care clinics. Overweight/obese (n = 6,719) adults aged 55-75 years with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intensive weight-loss lifestyle intervention with an erMedDiet, PA promotion, and behavioral support (intervention) or usual-care advice to adhere to an energy-unrestricted MedDiet (control) between September 2013 and December 2016. The primary outcome was 1-year change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Secondary outcomes were changes in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), incidence of moderately/severely impaired eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and micro- to macroalbuminuria (UACR ≥30 mg/g), and reversion of moderately (45 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) to mildly impaired GFR (60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m2) or micro- to macroalbuminuria., Results: After 1 year, eGFR declined by 0.66 and 1.25 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the intervention and control groups, respectively (mean difference, 0.58 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: 0.15-1.02). There were no between-group differences in mean UACR or micro- to macroalbuminuria changes. Moderately/severely impaired eGFR incidence and reversion of moderately to mildly impaired GFR were 40% lower (HR 0.60; 0.44-0.82) and 92% higher (HR 1.92; 1.35-2.73), respectively, in the intervention group., Conclusions: The PREDIMED-Plus lifestyle intervention approach may preserve renal function and delay CKD progression in overweight/obese adults., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)