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Background Workplace exercise interventions showed good results, but lack of time was often reported as a barrier to participation. To overcome this problem, several studies attempted to implement short high-intensity interval training (HIT) within the workplace. Objectives The aim of this systematic review is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of HIT interventions within the workplace setting. Data sources A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and SPORTDiscus to identify articles related to HIT within the workplace. Study eligibility criteria Only interventions that consisted of HIT programmes within the workplace and tested at least one physiological, psychological, or work-related outcome were included. Results Seven studies (317 participants) met the inclusion criteria. HIT interventions lasted 6–12 weeks, with a frequency of 2–4 sessions/week and a duration of 8–30 min per session. Feasibility was qualitatively investigated in four studies, with key positive aspects reported for HIT time-appeal, the sense of competence driven by individual intensity, and improved intention to exercise; five studies reported adherence rates > 80%. Small-to-large effect sizes were reported for improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. Small-to-medium effect sizes were reported for blood parameters and health-related quality of life. Conclusions HIT interventions in the workplace showed limited effectiveness in improving health-related outcomes, while promising results regarding feasibility were reported, mainly due to the time-efficiency and the positive post-exercise psychosocial responses. However, further high-quality studies involving more participants are still needed to make firm conclusions on HIT effectiveness and feasibility compared to other types of exercise in this context.

To detect the epigenetic drift of time passing, we determined the genome-wide distributions of mono- and tri-methylated lysine 4 and acetylated and tri-methylated lysine 27 of histone H3 in the livers of healthy 3, 6 and 12 months old C57BL/6 mice. The comparison of different age profiles of histone H3 marks revealed global redistribution of histone H3 modifications with time, in particular in intergenic regions and near transcription start sites, as well as altered correlation between the profiles of different histone modifications. Moreover, feeding mice with caloric restriction diet, a treatment known to retard aging, reduced the extent of changes occurring during the first year of life in these genomic regions.

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a ubiquitous transcriptional regulator. The study of this protein has been mainly focused on the central nervous system because alterations of its expression are associated with neurological disorders such as Rett syndrome. However, young patients with Rett syndrome also suffer from osteoporosis, suggesting a role of MeCP2 in the differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs), the precursors of osteoblasts and adipocytes. Here, we report an in vitro downregulation of MeCP2 in hBMSCs undergoing adipogenic differentiation (AD) and in adipocytes of human and rat bone marrow tissue samples. This modulation does not depend on MeCP2 DNA methylation nor on mRNA levels but on differentially expressed miRNAs during AD. MiRNA profiling revealed that miR-422a and miR-483-5p are upregulated in hBMSC-derived adipocytes compared to their precursors. MiR-483-5p, but not miR-422a, is also up-regulated in hBMSC-derived osteoblasts, suggesting a specific role of the latter in the adipogenic process. Experimental modulation of intracellular levels of miR-422a and miR-483-5p affected MeCP2 expression through direct interaction with its 3′ UTR elements, and the adipogenic process. Accordingly, the knockdown of MeCP2 in hBMSCs through MeCP2-targeting shRNA lentiviral vectors increased the levels of adipogenesis-related genes. Finally, since adipocytes released a higher amount of miR-422a in culture medium compared to hBMSCs we analyzed the levels of circulating miR-422a in patients with osteoporosis—a condition characterized by increased marrow adiposity—demonstrating that its levels are negatively correlated with T- and Z-scores. Overall, our findings suggest that miR-422a has a role in hBMSC adipogenesis by downregulating MeCP2 and its circulating levels are associated with bone mass loss in primary osteoporosis.

This study aimed to assess if, during incremental exercise, considering individual characteristics can make the relationship between the percentages of heart rate (HRR) and oxygen uptake (

Numerous athletes compete at a high level without consuming animal products; although a well-planned vegan diet might be appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, a few elements need to be addressed to build a balanced plant-based diet for an athlete, particularly in bodybuilding, in which muscle growth should be maximised, as athletes are judged on their aesthetics. In this observational study, nutritional intakes were compared in a cohort of natural omnivorous and vegan bodybuilders, during two different phases of preparation. To this end, 18 male and female bodybuilders (8 vegans and 10 omnivores) completed a food diary for 5 days during the bulking and cutting phases of their preparation. A mixed-model analysis was used to compare macro- and micronutrient intakes between the groups in the two phases. Both vegans and omnivores behaved similarly regarding energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes, but vegans decreased their protein intake during the cutting phase. Our results suggest that vegan bodybuilders may find difficulties in reaching protein needs while undergoing a caloric deficit, and they might benefit from nutritional professionals’ assistance to bridge the gap between the assumed proteins and those needed to maintain muscle mass through better nutrition and supplementation planning.

Background: In haemodialysis is key to successfully obtaining cannulation of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The literature agrees that cannulation, failing in the initial maturation period, can lead to delayed dialysis, haematoma, scarring, needle phobia and loss of confidence in the cannulator. The introduction of plastic cannulae for haemodialysis has changed cannulation practice positively, preventing frequent complications such as infiltration or trauma. Despite that, most countries have continued to use metal cannulation, in particular in Europe. This study investigates the common use of plastic cannulae versus metal needles for cannulation in dialysis units and explores the implications of focusing on the side effects of cannulation. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire was created by a team of experts from the European Dialysis Transplant Nurse Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA) to address the study's aims and sent online to nurse members. Results: Data collected suggested a strong resistance towards using plastic cannulae, with few respondents claiming to use these cannulas. Most of the respondents were female (74%), Europeans, working in nephrology for more than 10 years and most worked in the public sector. There was a strong correlation between the use of plastic cannulae and fewer adverse events in elbow located AVF and newly created or fragile AVF. Conclusions: The results are in line with the current literature. Possible resistance to the use of the plastic device includes the difference in cost between the two devices in favour of metal needles. However, it should be considered that the lower number of adverse events, in particular infiltration and haematoma caused by the metal needle, involves a considerable saving both in money and in terms of time and distress for the patient.

Cancer cells accumulate epigenomic aberrations that contribute to cancer initiation and progression by altering both the genomic stability and the expression of genes. The awareness of such alterations could improve our understanding of cancer dynamics and the identification of new therapeutic strategies and biomarkers to refine tumor classification and treatment. Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) is the gold standard to preserve both tissue integrity and organization, and, in the last decades, a huge number of biological samples have been archived all over the world following this procedure. Recently, new chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) techniques have been developed to allow the analysis of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) and transcription factor (TF) distribution in FFPE tissues. The application of ChIP to genome-wide chromatin studies using real archival samples represents an unprecedented opportunity to conduct retrospective clinical studies thanks to the possibility of accessing large cohorts of samples and their associated diagnostic records. However, although recent attempts to standardize have been made, fixation and storage conditions of clinical specimens are still extremely variable and can affect the success of chromatin studies. The procedures introduced in the last few years dealt with this problem proponing successful strategies to obtain high-resolution ChIP profiles from FFPE archival samples. In this review, we compare the different FFPE-ChIP techniques, highlighting their strengths, limitations, common features, and peculiarities, as well as pitfalls and caveats related to ChIP studies in FFPE samples, in order to facilitate their application.

Reverse integration in sports is a kind of integration in which athletes with disabilities outnumber their non-disabled counterparts. A new sport that reflects the concept of reverse integration is...

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD, OMIM #300100) is the most common peroxisomal disorder clinically characterized by two main phenotypes: adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) and the cerebral demyelinating form of X-ALD (cerebral ALD). The disease is caused by defects in the gene for the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette protein, subfamily D (ABCD1) that encodes the peroxisomal transporter of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). The defective function of ABCD1 protein prevents β-oxidation of VLCFAs, which thus accumulate in tissues and plasma, to represent the hallmark of the disease. As in many X-linked diseases, it has been routinely expected that female carriers are asymptomatic. Nonetheless, recent findings indicate that most ABCD1 female carriers become symptomatic, with a motor disability that typically appears between the fourth and fifth decade. In this paper, we report a large family in which affected males died during the first decade, while affected females develop, during the fourth decade, progressive lower limb weakness with spastic or ataxic-spastic gait, tetra-hyperreflexia with sensory alterations. Clinical and genetic evaluations were performed in nine subjects, eight females (five affected and three healthy) and one healthy male. All affected females were carriers of the c.1661G>A (p.Arg554His, rs201568579) mutation. This study strengthens the relevance of clinical symptoms in female carriers of ABCD1 mutations, which leads to a better understanding of the role of the genetic background and the genotype-phenotype correlation. This indicates the relevance to include ABCD1 genes in genetic panels for gait disturbance in women.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) affects ca. 10 million recreational runners in Europe, the practice of hyaluronic acid (HA) infiltration is being increasingly adopted. The aim of this pilot study was to monitor the effects of a three-local time-spaced injections regimen of HA in the treatment of AT in middle-aged runners combining for the first time viscoelastometric, biochemical, and functional methodologies with routine clinical examinations. Methods: Eight male runners (Age 49.3 ± 3.9), diagnosed for unilateral AT, were given three ultrasound (US) guided peritendinous HA injections at the baseline (T0) and every fifteenth day with a follow-up on the forty-fifth day (T1, T2, and T3). At all-time points patients were assessed for viscoelastic tone and stiffness, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and pain level (Likert scale 0–5). The peritendinous effusions of the injured tendon were collected at T0 and T2 to quantify the volume variations and the IL-1β and MMP-3 levels. Results: At T0 MVIC and pain score were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in injured tendons. The volume, IL-1β and MMP-3 levels decreased in the course of treatment and the clinical endpoints ameliorated over time. Tone, stiffness, and functional performance also varied significantly at T2 and T3, as compared to T0. Conclusions: The sequential peritendinous injections of HA were effective in the amelioration of the clinical symptoms, as well as of the functional and viscoelastic state associated with AT. The determination of the viscoelastometric state may help to precisely evaluate the healing process in AT patients.

Background:The palliative care phenomenon is increasingly invested in all medicine and nursing fields, as care for people with kidney disease who do not wish to embark on dialysis: it encompasses a palliative approach to shared decision-making. To deliver patient-centred optimal care, nephrology healthcare staff should be knowledgeable about palliative care and the appropriate conservative management approach.Objective:This paper aimed to explore, using a Delphi survey, the barriers and facilitators to palliative care in patients with kidney disease.Design: An e-Delphi technique with three questionnaire rounds was performed; statements were generated using Likert scales. Participants and Measurements: A list of 80 statements related to palliative care in patients with kidney disease was divided into facilitators and barriers. Questionnaires were administered to 13 nephrology nurse experts in some European countries. Results: Seven items were removed from the list of 80 statements after the first round of the Delphi study; eight items achieved a significant change of the mean between round two and three, whereas internal stability emerged in all the remaining items. Conclusions: Specific training and education in palliative care emerged as a facilitator, as well as the role of spiritual and beliefs and the role of family and caregiver. The main barriers were represented by the differences in cultures, beliefs, and practices and by the lack of experience in the role of the staff in palliative care. These statements provide a platform for future research to improve palliative care practice in patients with kidney disease.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD, OMIM #300100) is the most common peroxisomal disorder clinically characterized by two main phenotypes: adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) and the cerebral demyelinating form of X-ALD (cerebral ALD). The disease is caused by defects in the gene for the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette protein, subfamily D (ABCD1) that encodes the peroxisomal transporter of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). The defective function of ABCD1 protein prevents β-oxidation of VLCFAs, which thus accumulate in tissues and plasma, to represent the hallmark of the disease. As in many X-linked diseases, it has been routinely expected that female carriers are asymptomatic. Nonetheless, recent findings indicate that most ABCD1 female carriers become symptomatic, with a motor disability that typically appears between the fourth and fifth decade. In this paper, we report a large family in which affected males died during the first decade, while affected females develop, during the fourth decade, progressive lower limb weakness with spastic or ataxic-spastic gait, tetra-hyperreflexia with sensory alterations. Clinical and genetic evaluations were performed in nine subjects, eight females (five affected and three healthy) and one healthy male. All affected females were carriers of the c.1661G&gt, A (p.Arg554His, rs201568579) mutation. This study strengthens the relevance of clinical symptoms in female carriers of ABCD1 mutations, which leads to a better understanding of the role of the genetic background and the genotype-phenotype correlation. This indicates the relevance to include ABCD1 genes in genetic panels for gait disturbance in women.

This study aimed to compare four standard deviational ellipse models to assess directional behavior and player activity area in four small-sided games (SSG) of soccer played on pitches with the same width (40 m) and different lengths (30, 40, 50, and 60 m). Fourteen participants played four 7-a-side SSGs on each of the four pitch sizes. Based on GPS data, four ellipse models were calculated for each outfield player and pitch size: major ranges (MR) measuring standard deviation in fixed length and width directions, linear regression assuming length (LR LvsW) or width (LR WvsL) as the independent variable, and principal component analysis (PCA) assuming both length and width as independent variables. Slope, area, semi-major and semi-minor axes, and eccentricity were calculated for each ellipse model. The PCA and LR LvsW models showed similar and valid results for each variable, especially for larger pitch sizes. LR WvsL showed unreliable results. The length axis should be considered as the independent axis when assessing the main direction of players’ movements and playing area through a standard deviational ellipse in soccer. This methodology could also be applied to evaluate a team’s labor distribution and spatial distribution of its players.

Two new maltol-based ligands are presented, L1 (N,N′-bis((3-hydroxy-6-methyl-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl)-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine) and L2 (N,N′-bis((3-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl)-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine). They were strategically designed by inserting a methyl or hydroxymethyl function at C6, to study the previously hypothesized involvement of that ring position in the anticancer properties and the peculiar metal coordination ability in aqueous solution already shown by this family of ligands. Solid state and solution studies revealed differences neither in the molecular conformation or crystal packing nor in the acid–base behavior compared with the precursor Malten. The introduced substituent groups seem to affect instead both the degradation time (ca. 4–5 h for L1 and L2vs. 10 h for Malten) and the binding properties towards Cu(II), Zn(II) and Co(II), log K values being the highest for L1 within the series of the diamino-bis-maltol ligands. The introduction of –CH2OH at C6 is sufficient to impair the biological activity of the compound and is coherent with the hypothesized mechanism of action.

Background: Women represent the majority of Alzheimer’s disease patients and show typical symptoms. Genetic, hormonal, and behavioral mechanisms have been proposed to explain sex differences in dementia prevalence. However, whether sex differences exist in the epigenetic landscape of neuronal tissue during the progression of the disease is still unknown. Methods: To investigate the differences of histone H3 modifications involved in transcription, we determined the genome-wide profiles of H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 in brain cortexes of an Alzheimer mouse model (PSAPP). Gastrocnemius muscles were also tested since they are known to be different in the two sexes and are affected during the disease progression. Results: Correlation analysis distinguished the samples based on sex for H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 but not for H3K27ac. The analysis of transcription starting sites (TSS) signal distribution, and analysis of bounding sites revealed that gastrocnemius is more influenced than brain by sex for the three histone modifications considered, exception made for H3K27me3 distribution on the X chromosome which showed sex-related differences in promoters belonging to behavior and cellular or neuronal spheres in mice cortexes. Conclusions: H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 signals are slightly affected by sex in brain, with the exception of H3K27me3, while a higher number of differences can be found in gastrocnemius.

Background The oncogenic role of histone mutations is one of the most relevant discovery in cancer epigenetics. Recurrent mutations targeting histone genes have been described in pediatric brain tumors, chondroblastoma, giant cell tumor of bone and other tumor types. The demonstration that mutant histones can be oncogenic and drive the tumorigenesis in pediatric tumors, led to the coining of the term “oncohistones.” The first identified histone mutations were localized at or near residues normally targeted by post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the histone N-terminal tails and suggested a possible interference with histone PTMs regulation and reading. Main body In this review, we describe the peculiar organization of the multiple genes that encode histone proteins, and the latter advances in both the identification and the biological role of histone mutations in cancer. Recent works show that recurrent somatic mutations target both N-terminal tails and globular histone fold domain in diverse tumor types. Oncohistones are often dominant-negative and occur at higher frequencies in tumors affecting children and adolescents. Notably, in many cases the mutations target selectively only some of the genes coding the same histone protein and are frequently associated with specific tumor types or, as documented for histone variant H3.3 in pediatric glioma, with peculiar tumors arising from specific anatomic locations. Conclusion The overview of the most recent advances suggests that the oncogenic potential of histone mutations can be exerted, together with the alteration of histone PTMs, through the destabilization of nucleosome and DNA–nucleosome interactions, as well as through the disruption of higher-order chromatin structure. However, further studies are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanism of action of oncohistones, as well as to evaluate their possible application to cancer classification, prognosis and to the identification of new therapies.

Social isolation has adverse effects on mental health, physical exercise, and dietary habits. This longitudinal observational study aimed to investigate the effects of mood states and exercise on nutritional choices, on 176 college students (92 males, 84 females, 23 &plusmn, 4 years old) during the COVID-19 lockdown. During 21 days, nutrition and exercise were daily monitored, and the mood states assessed. A factor analysis was used to reduce the number of nutritional variables collected. The relationships between exercise, mood and nutrition were investigated using a multivariate general linear model and a mediation model. Seven factors were found, reflecting different nutritional choices. Exercise was positively associated with fruit, vegetables and fish consumption (p = 0.004). Depression and quality of life were, directly and inversely, associated with cereals, legumes (p = 0.005, p = 0.004) and low-fat meat intake (p = 0.040, p = 0.004). Exercise mediated the effect of mood states on fruit, vegetables and fish consumption, respectively, accounting for 4.2% and 1.8% of the total variance. Poorer mood states possibly led to unhealthy dietary habits, which can themselves be linked to negative mood levels. Exercise led to healthier nutritional choices, and mediating the effects of mood states, it might represent a key measure in uncommon situations, such as home-confinement.

Background: During the first Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix of 2020, following a serious accident involving the riders J. Zarco and F. Morbidelli, Morbidelli’s riderless bike cartwheeled across turn 3, narrowly missing V. Rossi and M. Viñales by just a few centimeters. As is the case with ordinary traffic accidents, analyzing the dynamics of motorcycle racing accidents can help improve safety; however, to date, the literature lacks studies that analyze the causes and severity of such accidents. Hence, the purpose of this study was to analyze the main causes that led to the accident at the 2020 Austrian MotoGp Grand Prix, to quantify the speeds and distances of the bikes and riders involved, and to hypothesize several alternative scenarios using a low-cost method. Method: Kinovea and Google Earth Pro software were used to identify markers along the racetrack and to measure the distances and calculate the time it took the motorcycles to cover those distances. The analyses were carried out on three 30-fps (frames per second) videos. Results: Zarco’s average speed as he was overtaking Morbidelli on the straightaway before turn 2 was 302 ± 1.8 km/h, higher than that of Rins and Rossi (299.7 ± 1.7 and 296 ± 1.7 km/h, respectively). The speed of Zarco and Rossi’s bikes 44.5 m before the crash was the same (267 ± 7.9 km/h). Immediately after overtaking Morbidelli, Zarco moved 2.92 m towards the center of the racetrack from point A to B, crossing Morbidelli’s trajectory and triggering the accident. Morbidelli’s riderless bike flew across turn 3 at a speed of about 76 km/h, missing V. Rossi by just 20 cm. The consequences could have been catastrophic if Rossi had not braked just 0.42 s before encountering Morbidelli’s bike in turn 3. Conclusion: Through a low-cost quali-quantitative analysis, the present study helps us to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the accident and its main causes. Furthermore, in light of our findings regarding the dynamics and severity of the accident and the particular layout of the Red Bull Ring circuit, racers should be aware that overtaking at the end of turn 2, following the same trajectory as the riders involved in the crash, could be very risky.

Male and female firefighters work side-by-side in the same in strenuous and risky conditions. Anthropometrics, physiological, and reaction time (mean of reaction time -MRT-, and errors made -E) parameters of 12 Female and 13 Male firefighters were compared. Effect of overload (step test with and without equipment) on the MRT and E were analyzed on 3 trials (T1 = 1-1s, T2 = 0.5-1s, T3 = 0.5–0.5s), compared with a pre-test condition (basal). T-test between males and females was applied to assess differences (p

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in China in December 2019. In just over five months, the virus affected over 4 million people and caused about 300,000 deaths. This study aimed to model new COVID-19 cases in Italian regions using a new curve. A new empirical curve is proposed to model the number of new cases of COVID-19. It resembles a known exponential growth curve, which has a straight line as an exponent, but in the growth curve proposed, the exponent is a logistic curve multiplied for a straight line. This curve shows an initial phase, the expected exponential growth, then rises to the maximum value and finally reaches zero. We characterized the epidemic growth patterns for the entire Italian nation and each of the 20 Italian regions. The estimated growth curve has been used to calculate the expected time of the beginning, the time related to peak, and the end of the epidemics. Our analysis explores the development of the outbreaks in Italy and the impact of the containment measures. Data obtained are useful to forecast future scenarios and the possible end of the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Biostatistics & Epidemiology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Beach volleyball is an intermittent team sport played under high temperature and humidity. Given that some nutritional supplements can enhance sports performance, this study aimed to evaluate the quantity and the heterogeneity of the nutritional supplementation practices of amateur (n = 69) and professional (n = 19) beach volley athletes competing in the Italian National Championship, an online form was used to collect data about the supplementation habits. The latent class analysis was used to find sub-groups characterised by different habits regarding supplements consumption. The most frequently used supplements (more than once a week) are vitamins B and C (39.2% of athletes), protein (46.8%), and caffeine (36.9%). The latent class analysis revealed three different sub-groups of athletes: the first class (56.7%) included athletes who were used to take very few supplements, the second class (17.0%) was characterised by higher consumption of supplements and the third class (26.2%) was in the middle between the others two. Groups were characterised not only by the quantity but also by the category of supplements used. Our results highlighted a high heterogeneity in supplementation habits. A pragmatic approach to supplements and sports foods is needed in the face of the evidence that some products can usefully contribute to enhancing performance.

A healthy lifestyle is based on a correct diet and regular exercise. Little is known about the effect of different types of exercise on dietary preferences. To address the question of whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) could modulate spontaneous food choices, an experimental study was carried out on 32 young, healthy normal-weight subjects. The spontaneous diet of each subject has been monitored over nine weeks of indoor-cycling training, divided into three mesocycles with an incremental pattern: total energy intake, macronutrients and micronutrients have been analysed. A two-way mixed model has been used to assess differences in dietary variables, a principal factor analysis has been performed to identify sample subgroups. An increased energy intake (+17.8% at T3, p &lt, 0.01) has been observed, although macronutrients&rsquo, proportions did not vary over time, without differences between sexes. An increase of free fat mass was found in the last mesocycle (+3.8%), without an augmentation of body weight, when, despite the increased training load, a stabilization of energy intake occurred. Three different subgroups characterized by different dietary modifications could be identified among participants that showed a common trend towards a healthier diet. Nine weeks of HIIT promoted a spontaneous modulation of food choices and regulation of dietary intake in young normal-weight subjects aged 21&ndash, 24. Importantly, this life-period is critical to lay the foundation of correct lifestyles to prevent metabolic diseases and secure a healthy future with advancing age.

The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of berberine taken alone or in other formulations (with silymarin or other mixtures) on dyslipidemia through a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis. A systematic investigation was conducted on 19 studies that were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both controlled trials (n = 12) and cross-sectional trials (n = 7) were included. The following formulations were examined: berberine used alone (n = 5), berberine combined with silymarin (n = 8), and other mixture containing berberine (n = 6). A meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effects model and meta-regression. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides were considered. Moreover, possible associations of each parameter with age and the dose and duration of the treatment were analyzed. The data obtained showed a significant reduction in TC and LDL cholesterol for each formulation. A reduction in triglycerides was also observed for both TC and LDL but with a smaller impact. As regards HDL, a slight increase was observed, but it was not statistically significant. The formulation of berberine in association with silymarin was found to have the greatest impact on TC, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. The greater efficacy of the formulation consisting of berberine associated with silymarin can probably be accounted for by the fact that the latter increases the bioavailability of berberine. However, it is necessary to carry out further clinical studies to better define the efficacy of the treatment and which patients show the best response.

The adult gut microbiota contains trillions of microorganisms of thousands of different species. Only one third of gut microbiota are common to most people; the rest are specific and contribute to enhancing genetic variation. Gut microorganisms significantly affect host nutrition, metabolic function, immune system, and redox levels, and may be modulated by several environmental conditions, including physical activity and exercise. Microbiota also act like an endocrine organ and is sensitive to the homeostatic and physiological changes associated with training; in turn, exercise has been demonstrated to increase microbiota diversity, consequently improving the metabolic profile and immunological responses. On the other side, adaptation to exercise might be influenced by the individual gut microbiota that regulates the energetic balance and participates to the control of inflammatory, redox, and hydration status. Intense endurance exercise causes physiological and biochemical demands, and requires adequate measures to counteract oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, electrolyte imbalance, glycogen depletion, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, systemic inflammation and immune responses. Microbiota could be an important tool to improve overall general health, performance, and energy availability while controlling inflammation and redox levels in endurance athletes. The relationship among gut microbiota, general health, training adaptation and performance, along with a focus on sport supplements which are known to exert some influence on the microbiota, will be discussed.

Background: Tennis is an intermittent sport, characterized by hundreds of repetitive explosive efforts, including accelerations, and jumps. A single match can last up to 5 hours and players are called to play several matches often separated by less than 48h of recovery. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effects of a standardized tennis match on perceived fatigue and jump and sprint performances on a group of recreational tennis players and to observe if such variables were affected by residual effects of fatigue 24 hours after the match. Methods: Twelve recreational tennis players performed a 120 min match. Before, immediately after and 24h after the match, players completed a set of three countermovement jumps, three 10m sprints, and reported their perception of general fatigue. Results: Significant differences between the three conditions have been found for the perceived fatigue: indeed fatigue was higher both in the immediate post (F(1,10)= 54.422, η2 = 0.845, p(1,10)= 10.947, η2 = 0.523, p=0.08), with respect to the pre-match condition. No significant differences were detected in the other variables. Conclusion: During a tournament, the performance of tennis players may be weakened and the recovery prejudiced. To identify fluctuations of and factors linked to fatigue may help tennis practitioners to apply adequate recovery strategies with athletes, limiting performance decrements within a tournament, and indirectly preventing injuries.

To evaluate whether the application of the Relationship-based care model as a new treatment, called "Take 5 min", affects the level of anxiety, depression, and perceived quality of nursing care of parents of paediatric patients and the work satisfaction of the nursing staff.Single-blind randomized controlled trial.The trial was performed from February-July 2016. The trial was conducted with one intervention (N = 101) and one control group (N = 90). Nurses applied the treatment named "Take 5 Minutes", which consisted of dedicating some short time (from 5 to 10 min) to the relationship with the parents using specifically designed communication strategies. The primary outcome was the evaluation of anxiety and depression of parents; the secondary was the parent perceived quality of nursing care.In the experimental group, participants had a lower level of anxiety and depression and highlighted that the effect of the "Take 5 Minutes" was proportional to the initial seriousness of parents' anxiety and depression. Higher scores for the perception of the quality of care were given from the parents of the experimental group.The "Take 5 Minutes" treatment offered to parents of paediatric patients demonstrated significant improvements in terms of their anxiety, depression, and perceived quality of nursing care.Caregivers of paediatric patients are subject to psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. The communication by the nursing community is of fundamental importance in the management of anxiety and depression in the caregivers of hospitalized patients. Caregivers who received the "Take 5 Minutes" treatment demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety and depression compared with the control group caregivers. The perceived level of quality of nursing care showed a significant increase in the group of caregivers who received the T5M treatment. The RBC model does not require extra costs for health organizations and can be applied during the usual practice of care. Practices such as T5M could become part of paediatric patient care guidelines and nurses should be trained to apply them.Padua Research: ID No. 10,034; ClinicalTrials.gov: ID No. NCT04199429.目的: 评估关系型护理模式(又称“五分钟模式”)作为新的治疗方法是否会对患儿家长的焦虑、抑郁、护理感知质量及护理人员工作满意度等造成影响。 设计: 单盲随机对照试验。 方法: 试验时间为2016年2月至7月。试验过程中,设有一个干预组(N=101)和一个对照组(N=90)。护士采用名为“五分钟模式”的治疗方法,选择专门设计的交流策略,旨在花费短时间,缓和患儿与家长的关系(从5分钟到10分钟不等)。主要结果涉及家长焦虑抑郁的评定,其次是家长对护理质量的感知。 结果: 实验组中,参与者的焦虑和抑郁水平较低,并且参与者强调“五分钟模式”治疗方法的效果与家长最初的焦虑和抑郁程度相关。实验组的家长对护理质量的认知得分更高。 结论: 如果向患儿家长提供“五分钟模式”的治疗方法,其焦虑、抑郁和感知护理质量都将显著改善。 影响: 患儿的照料者容易出现抑郁、焦虑等心理障碍。如果加强护理社区的沟通,护理人员的焦虑和抑郁情绪将得到控制。相较于对照组的护理者,接受“五分钟模式”治疗的护理者的焦虑和抑郁均显著降低。此外,接受“五分钟模式”治疗的护理者对护理质量的感知水平明显提高。如果选择RBC模式,则健康组织无需支付额外费用,并且通常情况下,这一模式可以在护理实践中应用。“五分钟模式”等实践可以用作患儿护理指南,并且,护士应该接受相关培训,以便确保可应用这些实践。 试验注册号: Padua Research:识别号10,034;ClinicalTrials.gov:识别号NCT04199429.