Different resistance training protocols influence basal metabolic rate and respiratory ratio in nondieting individuals

The influence of stomatognatic apparatus in atletic performance: the effects of the palatal exteroceptors stimulation in football players

Physical characteristics of moderately active men after 8 weeks of ‘‘calisthenics’’ training

Aim: Calisthenics was originally a term used to define body weight exercises [1–3]. This term is now used to define a world wide spread sport based on body weight exercises. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the effects of calisthenics (sport) on sedentary individuals. Methods: 28 male participants (24.2 ± 4.2 years; 67.0 ± 8.3 kg; 173.3 ± 5.2 cm) were divided into two groups, a Calisthenics based intervention group (CIG) and a control group (CG). The CGI exercised for 8 weeks. Each participant underwent a postural assessment, a handgrip test (HG), a push-up and a pull-up test. Each participant was tested at baseline and post intervention. Results: The CGI improved their po…

Evalutaion of HSP60, Procaspase-3 and P53 expression after oxydative stress in NCI-H292 cells.

Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status

Many studies reported a positive relationship between motor skills, cognitive functions, and school performance in school-age children; however, little is known in preschool children. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of a physical education program (PEP) on locomotor, object control skills, and pre-literacy cognitive functions in a wide population of preschoolers and verify whether weight status could influence these abilities. In the context of the Training-to-Health Project, a sample of 1,029 preschoolers was recruited in kindergartens from the urban area of Palermo (Italy). Their gross motor and pre-literacy skills were tested before (PRE) and after (POST…

Race profiles of rowers during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games

Aim: Strategy plays a relevant role. The purpose of this study was to analyze the race profiles of youth athletes competing at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games over a distance of 1000-m. Methods: According to the competition outcome of sculling and sweep events, 48 male and 48 female youth (17–18 years) rowers were divided in medallist (W), not medallist (NW), qualified (Q) and not qualified (NQ) athletes. Time at 0–500 m (T1) and 500–1000 m (T2) was considered. The average speed for T1 and T2 were normalized in relation to the average speed of the whole race. ANOVA for repeated measures was applied to performance 1xJ and 2-J during qualifying: 2 (sex: females vs. males) 9 2 (outcome: qualified…

The effect of resistance training programs on lean body mass in postmenopausal and elderly women: a meta-analysis of observational studies

AbstractAging and menopause are associated with morphological and functional changes which may lead to loss of muscle mass and therefore quality of life. Resistance training (RT) is an effective training mode to increase muscle mass. We reviewed the existing literature to identify studies implementing RT protocols and evaluating muscle hypertrophy exclusively in healthy, postmenopausal and elderly women. Participants’ age range was comprised between 50 and 80 years. The primary outcome observed was muscle hypertrophy. Fat mass was also evaluated, if available. PubMed and Web of Science were the screened database, and original articles written in English and published from 2000 up to 2020 we…

Effects of an adapted physical activity program on psychophysical health in elderly women.

Giuseppe Battaglia,1,2 Marianna Bellafiore,1,2 Marianna Alesi,1,2 Antonio Paoli,3 Antonino Bianco,1,2 Antonio Palma1,2 1Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, 2Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy Background: Several studies have shown the positive effects of adapted physical activity (APA) on physical and mental health (MH) during the lifetime. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a specific APA intervention program in the improvement of the health-related quality of life (QOL) and functional condition of spine in elderly women. Method…

UNA PANORAMICA SULL’ANEMIA SIDEROPENICA NEGLI ATLETI/AN OVERVIEW ON IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN ATHLETES

Diversi studi in letteratura riportano come la capacità prestativa degli atleti di endurance sia fortemente compromessa in seguito all’insorgenza di anemia sideropenica. Questa, infatti, è una delle più importanti cause di overtraining negli atleti che pratica attività sportive di lunga durata come: la maratona, la marcia, il ciclismo. Tra le diverse cause di anemia ferropriva ricordiamo: una dieta inadeguata a soddisfare le richieste di ferro dell’organismo, una riduzione dell’assorbimento di ferro a livello intestinale e/o un’eccessiva perdita di questo elemento da parte dell’atleta. Il controllo periodico tramite analisi ematochimiche, metaboliche e funzionali potrebbe essere un valido s…

FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE SUPPLEMENTATION IN ATHLETES AND FITNESS PEOPLE. A REVIEW

Il presente lavoro pone l’accento sull'importanza di una corretta idratazione sia per gli atleti sia per i sedentari. E’ infatti noto che l'acqua e i componenti in essa disciolti sono di fondamentale importanza per mantenere inalterate le principali funzioni del nostro organismo. Sono stati analizzati in particolare i sali minerali contenuti nell’acqua e nelle bevande utilizzate per la loro integrazione. E’ infatti invalso l'uso e l'abuso di integratori salini per gli atleti sulla cui utilità sono presenti in letteratura diversi contributi. Gli AA hanno anche approfondito il tema della sudorazione e le situazioni in cui aumentano le perdite di fluidi corporei cercando di capire come atleti …

A web-based survey about protein supplementation amongst net-surfers. An innovative approach using Protein Project Google App©

Web surveys present methodological challenges including lower response rates as compared to other survey methods like face to face interview, self reports using questionnaire and phone interview. The efficacy and appropriateness of design elements of invitations to participate in a web survey is not yet well understood for many reasons. To understand the feasibility of this innovative approach, an experiment (Protein Project) with key questions regarding protein supplementation was set up according to previous findings (Goston et al. 2004; Bianco et al. 2011). A Google App© was used to generate a questionnaire with seven-items and subsequently the created form was redirected to various soci…

Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Endurance Training on Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow of Trained Mice

Fat supplements, especially conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), are increasingly popular ergogenic aids among endurance athletes. To evaluate the importance of fat supplementation in the practice of endurance sports, we investigated the effects of CLA supplementation on body weight, muscle hypertrophy, peripheral blood composition, and bone marrow composition in healthy, young, endurance-trained mice. Young, healthy mice were subdivided into control, trained, and treated groups, according to their running attitudes. Training was performed over a period of 6 weeks on a treadmill, at a gradually increasing duration and speed. CLA-treated groups were gavaged with 0.425 mg x d(-1) CLA supplement fo…

Parental recognition of overweight as a health problem in school-age children living in a inner-city-neighborhood of Palermo, Italy: a cross-sectional study

Oxidant/antioxidant response of rhythmic gymnastics trainers following high intensity interval exercise training

Indagine conoscitiva sulla pratica sportiva nella Città di Palermo, II parte.

ASSESSMENT OF CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FITNESS (CRF) WITHOUT EXERCISE TESTING AND ASSOCIATION OF CRF WITH WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE (WC) IN YOUNG ADULTS

Adaptations in heart rate and arterial pressure induced by a specific program of exercise training for elite soccer referee: a case report.

Effetti del canottaggio sul dorso di soggetti sani e soggetti paramorfici con ipercifosi in età giovanile ed adolescenziale

Feasibility of the Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUA © ) in pediatric age

A burden of respiratory and allergic symptoms up to almost 60% has been observed in young and adult athletes, influencing physical performances1 . The Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUA©) is a validated screening tool for the prediction of the atopic status in adult athletes2 ; it was recently tested in Belgian young elite athletes (12-14 years old)3 , but its actual feasibility and suitability for children and adolescent was not evaluated. Indeed, there is evidence that children are prone to employ "satisficing" response strategies, answering every question positively/negatively, or simply not answering4 . Therefore, the present cross-sectional survey was carried out to assess feasib…

Race Profiles of Rowers During the 2014 Youth Olympic Games

Cerasola, D, Cataldo, A, Bellafiore, M, Traina, M, Palma, A, Bianco, A, and Capranica, L. Race profiles of rowers during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 2055-2060, 2018-Among the different factors affecting the outcome of elite rowing competitions, pacing strategy plays a relevant role. The purpose of this study was to analyze the race profiles of youth athletes competing at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games over a distance of 1,000 m. According to the competition outcome of sculling and sweep events, 96 youth (17-18 years) rowers (48 male and 48 female) were divided into winner (W), not winner (NW), qualified (Q), and not-qualified (NQ) athletes. The time during the 1,0…

The Development of Motor and Pre-literacy Skills by a Physical Education Program in Preschool Children: A Non-randomized Pilot Trial

It is known in the literature that fundamental motor skill acquisition is strongly associated with the development of neuromotor, cognitive, social, and emotional aspects in childhood. Unfortunately, in Italy, the physical education teacher is not included in the school’s core personnel, and it is very hard to find a specific physical education program (PEP) that could improve preschool children’s motor and cognitive status. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the quotient of gross motor development (QGMD) and pre-literacy skills concerning visual analysis and spatial orientation abilities changed after 16 weeks of PEP (2 h/week) in preschool children. We conducted a school-bas…

Molecular factors involved in the angiogenesis process of exercised mouse hearts

Motor Learning in Response to Different Experimental Pain Models Among Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review

Learning new movement patterns is a normal part of daily life, but of critical importance in both sport and rehabilitation. A major question is how different sensory signals are integrated together to give rise to motor adaptation and learning. More specifically, there is growing evidence that pain can give rise to alterations in the learning process. Despite a number of studies investigating the role of pain on the learning process, there is still no systematic review to summarize and critically assess investigations regarding this topic in the literature. Here in this systematic review, we summarize and critically evaluate studies that examined the influence of experimental pain on motor …

Pain Perception and Stabilometric Parameters in People With Chronic Low Back Pain After a Pilates Exercise Program

Various exercise interventions, such as Pilates exercises and traditional physical therapy methods, are employed to decrease low back pain (LBP). Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) is distinct from LBP, however, as the distribution of pain is restricted to the region between the costal margin and the inferior gluteal. The aim of our randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a program of Pilates exercises on pain perception and stabilometric parameters in patients with NSLBP. Thirty-eight participants were randomly allocated, using a 1:1 scheme, to either the experimental group (EG) or control group (CG). The EG completed a 14-week program of Pilates exercises, performed thri…

Evaluation of hsp60, procaspase-3 and p53 expression after oxydative stress in H292 cells

Expression Pattern of Angiogenic Factors in Healthy Heart in Response to Physical Exercise Intensity

Recently, many studies showing the regeneration potential of both cardiac and hematopoietic stem cells in adult heart following injury were definitively retracted by the literature. Therefore, stimulating myocardial angiogenesis becomes to be important for preventing cardiovascular diseases. Regular endurance exercise has been reported to induce capillary growth in healthy and diseased myocardium resulting in cardioprotective phenotype. Previously, we demonstrated a significantly increased capillary proliferation in mouse hearts following 30 and 45 days of endurance training. In the present study, we examined the localization and expression pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor rece…

Effects of a specific training protocol on body composition and balance in healthy elderly women

Presence of atrial natriuretic factor in normal and hyperplastic human prostate and its relationship with oxytocin localisation

In this work, we showed the presence of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in human prostate and compared its localisation in normal and hyperplastic conditions. ANF was localised in epithelial and stromal cells, being increased in hyperplasia, mainly in the stromal component. Moreover, we compared ANF and oxytocin positivity in the same glands, focusing on the possible relationship between the paracrine effects of these two hormones.

Analysis of myoD and connexin-43 expression in gluteus maximum muscle of young mice after endurance training

Methodological Considerations for Movement Education Interventions in Natural Environments for Primary School Children: A Scoping Review.

Background: Education is the ideal setting for carrying out projects to improve primary students’ capacities. In recent years, interventions in natural environments have been more frequently proposed, but there is still a lack of standardization, making deeper study of the topic necessary. This review aims to report on what previous scientific research has been carried out, and eventually, to propose standard operating procedures for future interventions. Methods: This is a scoping review that adopted the PRISMA guidelines. Primary school children have been included, and the interventions had to be proposed adopting nature as the primary element of the learning process. Results: A total of …

Validity and Internal Consistency of the Preschool-FLAT, a New Tool for the Assessment of Food Literacy in Young Children from the Training-To-Health Project

Background: The importance of assessing “food literacy” since youth has been highlighted and, to this purpose, valid and consistent instruments are needed. This study aimed to assess the validity and internal consistency of the preschool-FLAT (Food Literacy Assessment Tool). Methods. 505 children from 21 kindergartens, recruited within the Training-to-Health Project in Palermo (Italy), underwent oral sessions and activities on food-related aspects. Their knowledge/skills were recorded in the preschool-FLAT. The following scale measures were assessed: Content validity; internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha coefficients); construct validity (Structural Equation Modeling&md…

Gross motor coordination: We have a problem! A study with the Körperkoordinations Test für Kinder in youth (6-13 Years)

The main goal of our cross-sectional research was to determine the current values of gross motor coordination (GMC) of Italian boys and girls between 6 and 13 years of age. Secondary goals were to study gender differences, and the four subtests trend with ages. Results were compared with the references proposed by KTK authors and with similar searches. Anthropometric measurements and KTK data from 2,206 schoolchildren (girls: n = 1,050; boys: n = 1,156) were collected. The KTK raw score (RS) increased with the age of the subjects (r = 0.678; p < 0.001). In 11–13-year-old subjects, the increase in results is less than in younger subjects. RS showed differences by gender (F = 5.899; p …

Relationship between anthropometric parameters, strength and speed in school children

Oxidative stress apoptosis in carcinogenesis: molecular players and interactions.

Physical activity programs for balance and fall prevention in elderly: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes the world's population is progressively ageing. The physiological decay of the elderly adult may lead to a reduction in the ability to balance and an increased risk of falls becoming an important issue among the elderly. In order to counteract the decay in the ability to balance, physical activity has been proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify physical activity programs able to increase balance in the elderly. METHODS: This review is based on the data from Medline-NLM, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss and includes randomized control trials that have analyzed balan…

Performance profile analysis of unipedal paralympic sprinter: a case report

The principal goal of elite athlete is to compete in international sporting events like Olympic or Paralympic Games. For this reason, athletes submit to multi-year training program (Vaeyens R et al., 2009; Ratel S, 2011). However, there are individuals who qualify to compete in the Paralympics even without a sporting past. The aim of this work was to examine the performance profile of a female paralympic sprinter [age: 37 years; mass: 58.2 Kg; height: 1.61m; BMI: 22.45; athletic category: T44 (100 m; 200 m)] with a 1/3 right lower limb unilateral transtibial amputation since the age of 2 years and 6 moths and lacking a sporting history. In particular, we analyzed used macrocycle, workload p…

Protein supplements consumption: a comparative study between the city centre and the suburbs of Palermo, Italy

Background: Protein supplements are extensively used among commercial gym users and athletes. Although demographic information amongst such consumption has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study is to compare protein supplement consumption in commercial gym users, both from the city centre and the suburbs of Palermo, Italy. Methods: A face-to-face questionnaire has been administered to 561 subjects. 207 from the city centre (CC) and 354 from the suburbs (SB) of Palermo, Italy. Protein supplement consumption, frequency of use and association with other dietary supplements has been investigated. Subsequently frequency distribution has been used for demographic assessment. Results: 30…

Group fitness activities for the elderly: an innovative approach to reduce falls and injuries

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the opportunity to adopt, for the elderly, already validated function ability tests to better understand how to prevent falls and injuries and to better plan group fitness activities like ballroom dance classes (e.g., Valzer, Polka, Mazurka). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Barthel Index (BI) were administered and the occurrence of falls during the previous 2 years was evaluated by anamnesis. One hundred and twenty-two elderly subjects living in Palermo city participated to the study. According to the anamnesis, subjects were divided into two groups: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). T…

Increased Cx43 and Angiogenesis in Exercised Mouse Hearts

Several studies focused on the macroscopic architecture of increased cardiac wall induced by exercise training. Our goal was to evaluate myocardiocyte, interstitial and vascular component, and connexin-43 expression in endurance-trained mouse hearts. Sixty-three 10-week-old male Swiss mice were divided into four sedentary groups (C0, C15, C30 and C45) and three groups exercised respectively for 15 (T15-D; running intensity [RI]: 3.18 m/min; running duration [RD]: 75 min/first week and 150 min/second week), 30 (T30-D; RI: 3.96 m/min; RD: 150 min/third week and 225 min/fourth week) and 45 days (T45-D; RI: 3.96 m/min and 4.8 m/min, respectively for the fifth and sixth week; RD: 300 min) on a t…

Predicting the 2000‐m Rowing Ergometer Performance from Anthropometric, Maximal Oxygen Uptake and 60‐s Mean Power Variables in National Level Young Rowers

Abstract Many studies reported various relationships between 2000-m rowing performance and anthropometric as well as metabolic variables, however, little is known about 60-s mean power in elite youth athletes. The aim of this study was to develop different regression models to predict 2000-m rowing indoor performance time (t2000) using anthropometric variables, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and mean power established during a 60-s all-out test (W60) in national elite youth rowers. Fifteen youth male Italian rowers (age: 15.7 ± 2.0 years; body height: 176.0 ± 8.0 cm; body mass: 71.2 ± 10.0 kg) performed an incremental maximal test, a 60-s all-out test and a 2000-m race simulation using a Co…

RUOLO DELL’ESERCIZIO FISICO NELLA QUALITÀ DI VITA DI SOGGETTI CON SCLEROSI MULTIPLA. ROLE OF EXERCISE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SUBJECTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

La sclerosi multipla è una patologia neurodegenerativa cronica che ha un impatto considerevole sullo stato fisico, psicologico e sociale dei pazienti, influenzando negativamente la loro qualità di vita. Tra i fattori contribuenti ad una ridotta qualità di vita sono inclusi la presenza di dolore, spasmi, sindromi depressive, l’aumento della fatica e la riduzione della forza muscolare, mobilità ed autonomia nella deambulazione. Accanto alla medicina convenzionale, varie forme di medicina complementare ed alternativa, tra cui l’esercizio fisico, sono utilizzate dai soggetti con sclerosi multipla. Tuttavia, poche sono le prove scientifiche a sostegno della loro efficacia nel ridurre i sintomi d…

Evaluation od hsp60, pro-caspase-3 and p53 expression after oxidative stress in NCI-H292 cells

Improved postural control after dynamic balance training in older overweight women

Background and Aims: Many studies have reported a greater frequency of falls among older women than men under conditions which stress balance. Previously, we have found an improvement in static balance in older women with an increased support surface area and an equal load redistribution on both feet in response to a dynamic balance training protocol. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the same training program and body composition would have effects on the postural control of older overweight women. Methods: Ten healthy women (68.67 ± 5.50 years; 28.17 ± 3.35 BMI) participated in a five-week physical activity program. This included dynamic balance exercises such as heel-to…

The effects of postural exercise protocol in young female volleyball players with knee valgus

Upon oxidative stress, the antiapoptotic Hsp60/procaspase-3 complex persists in mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells.

Hsp60, a mitochondrial chaperonin highly conserved during evolution, has been found elevated in the cytosol of cancer cells, both in vivo and in vitro, but its role in determining apoptosis during oxidative stress (OS) has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of OS on Hsp60 levels and its interactions with procaspase- 3 (p-C3) and p53 in tumor cells. NCI-H292 (mucoepidermoid carcinoma) cells were exposed to various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24 hours. Cell viability was determined by Trypan blue and MTT assays. DNA damage was assessed by the Comet assay, and apoptosis was measured by the AnnexinV cytofluorimetric test. Expos…

LOCALIZATION OF SEVERAL ANGIOGENIC FACTORS IN THE MOUSE MYOCARDIUM IN RESPONSE TO ENDURANCE TRAINING

Introduction: Previous studies carried out in our laboratory showed the presence of hypertrophy associated with angiogenesis in the mouse myocardium in response to endurance training (I). Moreover, we analysed the expression of several angiogenic factors as VEGFR- 1/Flt-1, VEGFR-2/Flk-1, HIF-1a, iNOS and MMP-9 showing that the exercise differently regulates their expression levels in the angiogenic hearts according to the intensity and length of endurance training (II). The aim of this study was to examine the localization of VEGFR-1/Flt-1, VEGFR-2/Flk-1, HIF-1a, iNOS and MMP-9 in the same experimental model in order to observe in which cells these proteins are expressed in response to exer…

The effects of physical training without equipment on pain perception and balance in the elderly: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Research supports a link between exercise and falls prevention in the older population. OBJECTIVES: Our aims were to evaluate pain perception and balance skills in a group of elderly subjects and to examine the consequences of a standardized equipment-free exercise program intervention on these variables. The study utilized a randomized controlled trial method. METHODS: 92 subjects were recruited from a rural Sicilian village (Resuttano, Sicily, Italy). Subjects were randomly split into two groups, an experimental group (EG; n = 49) and a control group (CG; n = 43). Qualified fitness instructors delivered the standardized physical exercise program for the EG whilst the CG did no…

The influence of the stomatognathic system on explosive strength: A pilot study

[Purpose] Recent findings suggest there is an interesting interaction between the stomatognathic system and the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the influence of the temporomandibular joint on the explosive strength of the lower limbs. [Subjects and Methods] An observational study was carried out. The subjects were 60 male football players who voluntarily participated in the investigation. After a warm-up phase of 10 minutes, each participant performed three Squat Jumps (SJ) with different mandible positions: mouth closed and mouth open. SJ heights were recorded using a Sensor Medica force platform and the FreeMed system. [Results] Sixty participants we…

Expression of 60-kD Heat Shock Protein Increases during Carcinogenesis in the Uterine Exocervix

<i>Objectives:</i> The aim of the present study was to determine the presence and expression of the 60-kD heat shock protein (HSP60) in the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in the uterine exocervix and to evaluate its diagnostic and prognostic significance. <i>Methods and Results:</i> We performed Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses on biopsies from 40 cases, consisting of 10 normal exocervical biopsies, 10 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (L-SIL), 10 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (H-SIL) and 10 cancerous exocervices (G2 grade). The immunohistochemical results were quantified by computer-assisted image analysis. Western blot analysis sho…

EFFECTS OF OVERLOADED STRENGTH TRAINING ON VERTICAL JUMPING PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Effects of a constant and incremental workload training protocol on upper body strenght gains

EFFECTS OF THE SPORT-SPECIFIC TRAINING BACKGROUND ON SEATED MEDICINE BALL THROW IN YOUNG BASKET- BALL AND VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Introduction A sport-specific training background (SSTB) based on the nature of sport might affect explosive power of upper limbs in athletes (Izquierdo et al., 2002). However, there have been no attempts to study this in young female players from different ball games background. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sport-specific training background on explosive power of upper limbs in basketball [BP] and volleyball players [VP]. Methods In the present study, thirty one short-limbed girls (Scelic Index ≥54.6) of which 11 age-matched control sedentary subjects [SS] (age: 15.00+/-0.52 years, BMI: 21.10+/-2.09, SI: 55.45+/-1.45, sedentary life: 3 years); 10 bask…

The relationship between type 2 diabetes family history, body composition and blood basal glycemia in sedentary people.

The aim of this study was to verify whether there is a positive correlation between family history to type 2 diabetes mellitus and body mass and composition, and alterations in blood basal glycaemia levels in sedentary male and female. Anthropometric variables, blood parameters, body composition and body surface area were evaluated on 183 male and 237 female sedentary individuals. Participants were classified into two groups: FH(+) (family history positive) and FH(-) (familiar history negative) according to their medical history. The FH(+) group showed higher values of body mass and body surface area than FH(-) group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for the femal…

Vibration effect on ball score test in international vs. national level table tennis

In table tennis, motor skills are crucial for discriminating player level. However, there is a dearth of studies exploring the impact of a vibrational stimulus on performance. Thirty-four male players (age 25 +/- 2 years ; body mass index, BMI 23.4 +/- 1.2 kg.m(-2)) participated in the study. Seventeen played at international level (IL), while the remaining 17 played at national level (NL). The participants underwent a ball-handling test, the ball score, before (PRE) and after (POST) a vibrational stimulus. Intra-class correlation (ICC) for the ball score result showed good reliability (ICC 0.87 for IL and 0.80 for NL). Repeated measures ANOVA showed differences between groups for ball scor…

Effects of sport-specific training background on performance of volleyball and basketball athletes

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of 3 years of sport-specific training background (SSTB) on throwing performance and vertical jumping in young female players of team sports. Methods: Thirty-one healthy adolescent girls, of which 11 age-matched control subjects [C], 10 volleyballers (VP) and 10 basketballers (BP) were considered in our analysis. The vertical jumping performance was evaluated by squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump with (CMJ-AS) and without arm swing (CMJ) using Optojump system (Microgate S.R.L., Italy). Instead, the throwing performance was measured by seated backward overhead ball throw (SBOMBT) and seated chest pass throw (SCPT) using a 3-kg rubber m…

RESEARCH OF UNDIFFERENTIATED CELLS IN ADULT RAT MYOCARDIUM

PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT USE AMONG NETSURFERS VISITING HEALTH AND FITNESS COMMUNITY: FINDINGS FROM AN INTERNET-BASED SURVEY

Introduction It is largely known that protein supplement (PS) use is a widespread and accepted practice by athletes and people who attend commercial gyms (Bianco et al., 2011). However, only few studies have been carried out in order to investigate supplement use and lifestyle in netsurfers of health and fitness community. For this reason the purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the use of PS, age and lifestyle of people who visited a specific Italian sporting website: www.fitnessa360.com. Methods 273 subjects netsurfing in the www.fitnessa360.com completed the 6-item online-questionnaire about age, gender, daily cigarette consumption, protein supplement use, information sou…

Redox and autonomic responses to acute exercise-post recovery following Opuntia ficus-indica juice intake in physically active women

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate if the supplementation with Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) juice may affect plasma redox balance and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters following a maximal effort test, in young physically active women. Methods: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled and crossover study comprising eight women (23.25 ± 2.95 years, 54.13 ± 9.05 kg, 157.75 ± 0.66 cm and BMI of 21.69 ± 0.66 kg/m2) was carried out. A juice containing OFI diluted in water and a Placebo solution were supplied (170 ml; OFI = 50 ml of OFI juice + 120 ml of water; Placebo = 170 ml beverage without Vitamin C and indicaxanthin). Participants consumed the OFI juice or Placebo…

Ten kilodalton heat shock protein (HSP10) is overexpressed during carcinogenesis of large bowel and uterine exocervix

In the present study, we evaluated the presence and the level of expression of HSP10 in two carcinogenetic models: the 'adenoma-carcinoma sequence' of large bowel and the 'dysplasia-carcinoma sequence' of uterine exocervix. We found HSP10 was overexpressed during the carcinogenesis of both organs. In particular, HSP10 was overexpressed early in large bowel carcinogenesis, while the expression of this protein in exocervical carcinogenesis gradually increased from normal through dysplastic to neoplastic tissues. The quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry and the Western blotting confirmed these results. Our previous observations showed overexpression of HSP60 in the same carcinogenetic…

Effects of dietary supplement containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on liver of exercised mice

The involvement of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in heart exercise-related angiogenesis

Background Little is known about the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cardiac vascular remodelling induced by exercise. Our aim was to evaluate and localize MMP-2 and MMP-9’s activities in relation to capillary proliferation in mouse hearts trained for 15, 30 and 45 days. Methods Sixty-three mice were randomly assigned to 7 groups: four control sedentary groups (C0, C15, C30 and C45) and three groups trained by an endurance protocol (T15, T30 and T45). MMP-2 and MMP-9 were examined with zymography and immunostaining analyses. Capillary proliferation was evaluated counting the number of CD31-positive cells. Results Different activity patterns of the latent form of both MMPs…

Effetti dell’allenamento di endurance sulla microvascolarizzazione del miocardio di topo

ADULT STEM CELLS: THE REAL ROOT INTO THE EMBRYO?

During embryonic development, a pool of cells may become a reserve of undifferentiated cells, the embryo-stolen adult stem cells (ESASC). ESASC may be responsible for adult tissue homeostasis, as well as disease development. Transdifferentiation is a sort of reprogramming of ESASC from one germ layer-derived tissue towards another. Transdifferentiation has been described to take place from mesoderm to ectodermal- or endodermal-derived tissues and viceversa but not from ectodermal- to endodermal-derived tissues. We hypothesise that two different populations of ESASC could exist, the first ecto/mesoblast-committed and the second endo/mesoblast-committed. If confirmed, this hypothesis could le…

EFFECTS OF A TRAINING PROGRAM ON MEDICINE BALL THROWING PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Introduction It is often recommended that off-season training programs aim to develop muscular strength and power in volleyball players (Marques et al., 2008). However, improvements in performance may be possible with a well-designed training regimen. The purpose of this case report is to study the effects of a specific training program to improve explosive power of upper limbs in young female volleyball players. Methods In the present study were included twenty one short-limbed girls (Scelic Index ≥54.6) of which 11 age-matched control sedentary subjects [SS] (age: 15.00+/-0.52 years, BMI: 21.10+/-2.09, SI: 55.45+/-1.45) and 10 volleyball players [VP] (age: 14.50+/-0.97 years, BMI: 22.17+/…

Körperkoordinations test für Kinder: A short form is not fully satisfactory

Assessment of motor competence (MC) is crucial to finding deficiencies in children's motor development. Because of the need to ensure validity, reliability, and feasibility, the selection of contemporary testing batteries is a difficult task. Many papers report the validity of the KTK test in describing MC in school aged children. KTK consists of 4 four separate items: walking back, jumping sideways, moving sideways, and hopping for height. Some authors suggested the use of a short version of KTK that includes 3 items excluding one subtest: hopping for height. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of short versions of Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). A sample of 2,231 part…

Research of cardiomyocyte precursors in adult rat heart

Recent reports supported the existence of stem cells in adult hearts. However, phenotype and localization of these cells have not been completely described and it is unknown if cardiac regenerative potential differs from one subject to another. The aims of our work were to identify different populations of cardiac stem cells by the analysis of specific markers and to evaluate the expression variability of these markers in 12 adult rat hearts. The expression of CD9, taube nuss and nanog suggests the presence of stem cells from the earliest stages of embryogenesis in adult myocardium. Their different expression could be associated to the degree of stem cell differentiation. CD34 and c-Kit ant…

ANALYSIS OF INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE AND HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE FACTOR-1ALPHA IN THE VASCULAR REMODELLING OF EXERCISED MOUSE HEARTS

WHAT IS FITNESS

SEDENTARY BEHAVIOURS IN RELATION TO BODY-MASS-INDEX DEFINED EXCESS OF WEIGHT IN TEENAGERS LIVING IN A SMALL URBAN CENTRE OF SICILY, ITALY

Introduction: Epidemiological studies indicate that sedentary behaviours are associated with obesity independently of physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sedentary behaviours with excess of weight in a sample of children living in a smallest Sicilian town where several confounding factors could be presumed to play a limited role because of a very homogeneous daily lifestyle. Methods: The investigation involved a randomly selected sample of 100 pupils attending the first grade of secondary education school of a smallest town with 5,485 inhabitants. Sedentary behaviour was assessed by administering a questionnaire including questions about time spent…

EVALUATION OF HSP60, PROCASPASE-3 AND p53 EXPRESSION AFTER OXYDATIVE STRESS IN NCI-H292 CELLS

Defective apoptosis and tumorigenesis: role of p53 mutation and Fas/FasL system dysregulation

The transcription factor p53 and the cytokine receptor FasL are two of the most famous regulators of cell life, and their alterations can cause a large number of pathologies, including cancer. In this review, we focused on how they can determine defective apoptosis, one of the causes of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The importance of this knowledge lies in the new perspectives that gene therapy can offer to cure cancer.

Parental recognition of overweight as a health problem in school-age children living in an inner-city neighborhood of Palermo, Italy: a cross-sectional study

ISBN: 978-88-89876-08-

Modifications of the vasopressin and ANP in the rat hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus during and after the physical exercise.

Endurance Training and Heart Agiogenesis: new insights

Effects of a dynamic balance training protocol on podalic support in older women. Pilot Study

Background and aims: The foot provides the only direct contact with supporting surfaces and therefore plays an important role in all postural tasks. Changes in the musculoskeletal and neurological characteristics of the foot with advancing age can alter plantar loading patterns and postural balance. Several studies have reported that exercise training improves postural performance in elderly individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of a dynamic balance training protocol performed for 5 weeks on the support surface, percentage distribution of load in both feet, and body balance performance in healthy elderly women. Methods: Ten subjects (68.67±5.50 yrs old; 28.1…

Sports massage with ozonised oil or non-ozonised oil: Comparative effects on recovery parameters after maximal effort in cyclists

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of passive rest (PR) and sports massage with (SMOZO) and without (SM) ozonised oil on sports performance psycho-physiological indices in competitive amateur cyclists after 3 pre-fatiguing Wingate cycle and post-recovery ramp tests. DESIGN: An intra-subjects experimental design with repeated measures. SETTING: Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen male competitive cyclists (age: 27 ± 3.5 years, body weight: 77.6 ± 8.3 kg, height: 178 ± 7.7 cm) were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects' power output (P), heart rate (HR), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and blood lactate (BL) clearance in response …

The development of motor skills by a physical education programme in preschool children: a preschool-based controlled trial

Purpose: Unlike other European countries, Italian kindergartens do not include the physical education teacher in the school organic personnel. This is frequently associated with the lack of opportunities to perform physical education by preschool children. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a specific physical education program (PEP) on the quotient of gross motor development (QGMD) in preschool children. Methods: We conducted a school-based non-randomised controlled trial. It involved 119 children, clustered in a control group (CG, n = 29, age 52.1 ± 8.65 months; height 1.1 ± 0.07 m, body weight 19.2 ± 5.55 kg, body mass index (BMI) 16.9 ± 3.16) and an intervention group (…

Does Learning Through Movement Improve Academic Performance in Primary Schoolchildren? A Systematic Review

Physically active children have greater motor competence and a faster maturation compared with their sedentary peers. Recent research also suggests that physical activity during childhood may also promote cognitive development and therefore improve academic performance. The aim of this study was to understand if physically active academic lessons may improve academic achievement in primary schoolchildren. A systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was conducted. The search was performed on the following database: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), and PsycINFO (APA). Stu…

STUDY OF SAGITTAL SPINAL ROM IN ELDERLY WOMEN AFTER A SPECIFIC FLEXIBILITY-TRAINING PROGRAM

The reduction of spinal mobility is one luckless consequence of the aging process. In particular, scarcity of exercise appears to be the principal reason of aging-related spinal dysfunction syndrome, which is characterized by adaptive shortening of soft tissue and a partial loss of range of spinal motion (1). Several recommendations promoting the spinal flexibility in elderly people are based on stretching programs that include static and ballistic exercises and PNF techniques (2). Several studies showed that specific training programs could improve body balance (3), bodyweight distribution on feet (4), muscle strength and flexibility (5) in elders. In particular, Imagama et al. (2011) show…

Changes in plasmatic redox status following low-moderate interval exercise training in rhythmic gymnastics trainers

“CALCIAPENSIERI” PROJECT: AN ADD-ON TREATMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SUBJECTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Introduction If physical activity is a pivotal component of good health for everyone, there is an increasing emphasis on its importance for psychiatric patients affected from schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s dementia, major depressive disorder (Knochel et al. 2012). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soccer practice on the self reported health quality of life (SRHQL) and sports performance (SP) in psychotic subjects. Methods Eighteen schizophrenic male patients were randomized into either a trained (TG) and control group (CG). TG was trained for 12 weeks by two soccer training sessions/week. CG did not perform any regular sports activity during experimental period. Anthropome…

Match Load Physical Demands in U-19 Professional Soccer Players Assessed by a Wearable Inertial Sensor

Background: Wearable inertial sensors are poorly used in soccer to monitor external load (EL) indicators. However, these devices could be useful for improving sports performance and potentially reducing the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the EL indicators (i.e., cinematic, mechanical, and metabolic) differences between playing positions (i.e., central backs, external strikers, fullbacks, midfielders, and wide midfielder) during the first half time of four official matches (OMs). Methods: 13 young professional soccer players (Under-19; age: 18.5 &plusmn; 0.4 years; height: 177 &plusmn; 6 cm; weight: 67 &plusmn; 4.8 kg) were monitored through a wearable inertial sens…

Effects of Sicilian Opuntia ficus-indica juice on heart rate variability after a maximal exercise in young physically active women

Does the exercise training intensity affect plasmatic redox status in rhythmic gymnastic?

THE EVALUATION OF MUSCLE FLEXIBILITY IN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

Introduction The agility and coordination are two of many attributes required to become a successful player. Several reports have showed that the training of muscle flexibility leads to improvements both in the coordinative and technical performance, and in the process of motor learning (1). The aim of our study was to evaluate the flexibility of shoulders, trunk and lower limbs in young male soccer players compared to that of sedentary subjects. Methods Twelve players (age: 20.00 ± 3.74 years; weight: 74.25 ± 6.80 kg; height: 178.92 ± 6.65 cm) belonging all to the same soccer team and ten sedentary subjects (age: 21.8 ± 3.12 years; weight: 73.60 ± 5.29 kg; height: 179.50 ± 5.78) were teste…

A study on sports activities performed by Palermo football club fans

Introduction: It is known that sport is able to evoke high levels of emotional attachment and identification (Sutton et al., 1997). This phenomenon can be a factor stimulating the practice of football mainly at a young age. The aim of this study was to explore whether Palermo fans do sports activities and especially football. Methods: Several websites and telecasts mainly followed by Palermo fans were used to select the participants for this study and invite them to fill in a questionnaire. The data collected were elaborated by statistical analysis. Results: 899 fans filled in the questionnaire (743 men and 156 women). The average age of women was 32.74 ± 11.13 years; while that of men was …

Soccer practice as vehicle to improve sporting performance and psychophysical health in psychotic subjects

In recent years there has been a growing attention in the use of soccer as a vehicle to improve mental health. Local health organizations are beginning to understand that soccer may be an effective way to promote good mental health and help increase access to, and uptake of, services for mental health service users (Pringle 2009). The aim of this study was to investigate effects of soccer practice on the psychophysical perception and performance in psychotic subjects. Eighteen overweight male subjects, 10 trained psychotics [TPs] (age: 36+/-6 years; height: 164+/-7.00 cm; weight: 77.44+/-13.60 kg; BMI: 28.55+/-3.70) and 8 no-trained psychotics [NTPs] (age: 35+/-5 years; height: 163+/-4.00 c…

Effective strategies for promoting physical activity through the use of digital media among school-age children: A systematic review

Digital media are widespread among school-age children, and their incorrect use may lead to an increase in sedentary levels and the consequences associated with it. There are still few studies that have investigated whether physical activity levels could be increased through their use. The aim of this study was to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify whether digital strategies and technologies are capable of increasing the level of physical activity. A literature search was performed using the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The main outcomes evaluated the increase in physical activity levels, the number of steps, and the reduction of…

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and endurance training on peripheral blood and bone marrow of trained mice

Fat supplements, es- pecially conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), are increasingly popular ergogenic aids among endurance athletes. To evaluate the im- portance of fat supplementation in the practice of endurance sports, we investigated the effects of CLA supplementation on body weight, muscle hypertrophy, peripheral blood composition, and bone marrow composition in healthy, young, endurance- trained mice. Young, healthy mice were subdivided into control, trained, and treated groups, according to their running atti- tudes. Training was performed over a period of 6 weeks on a treadmill, at a gradually increasing duration and speed. CLA- treated groups were gavaged with 0.425 mg·d 1 CLA supplemen…

Un salutare esercizio

Upper and Lower Limb Strength and Body Posture in Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism: An Observational Case-Control Study

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is an endocrine disease with a precocious significant impairment of growth and neuromotor development. Thyroid hormones are essential for central nervous system development, maturation, and myelination. Furthermore, thyroid hormone deficiency affects the function of several systems, including the musculoskeletal system. The disease has a significant incidence in the general population (1:3000–1:2000 newborns in Italy). The aim of the present study was to evaluate any differences in upper and lower limb strength, body sway, and plantar loading distribution in children with CH compared to healthy children. Methods: In this study, the case group was c…

Poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma: A case report

Poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor. We studied a case arising in the pleural cavity of a young subject, characterised by the presence of spindle cell, small cell, and large epithelioid cell areas. We performed stains for mucosubstances and analysed the expression of cytokeratins 5/6, 7, 8, 18, 19, CEA, CD34, Ber-Ep4 and calretinin to characterize the phenotype of this neoplasm. We furthermore assessed immunohistochemically the presence of p53, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase 3, four apoptotic markers, to evaluate a relationship between apoptotic activity and the behaviour of this tumor. Our findings showed a strong presence of calretinin, p53 and Bcl-2 in all three ar…

FITNESS IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THE METABOLIC SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and persons who are less active and less fit have a 30% to 50% greater risk for high blood pressure and others metabolic diseases. The objective of this study was to improve the cardio-respiratory fitness, and to reduce body weight in an obese, hypertensive and sedentary man (Metabolic Syndrome Case Report). The anthropometrics and physiological characteristics were recorded before, during and after the experimentation. The subject performed a specific fitness program for eleven months (70 sessions). The results showed a significant reduction of Body Mass (p<0.001). Moreover the resting blood pressure recorded at the end…

Modification of the peptides ANP and oxytocin in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus during the physical exercises.

A web-based survey about protein supplemantion amongst net-surfers. An innovative approach using Protein Project Google App

Stima della fitness cardiorespiratoria (CRF) con un test "senza esercizio fisico" e associazione con indicatori convenzionali di rischio cardio-vascolare in un campione di giovani adulti

Study of axillary lymph node asymmetry in a female population

We analysed a large series of axillary lymph nodes, with and without metastases following radical mastectomy for breast cancer. We found left/right asymmetry in numbers of lymph nodes, and also asymmetry of lymph node dimensions, which could have been the caused by tumoral antigenic stimulation. The distribution of hyperplastic node patterns differed significantly.

Indagine conoscitiva sulla pratica sportiva nella Città di Palermo, I parte.

THE ANALYSIS OF BODY BALANCE IN A PARALYMPIC SPRINTER: A CASE REPORT

Introduction Trans-tibial amputation is responsible for biomechanical changes (i.e. absence of muscles, bones and joints) and modifications in both afferent and efferent projections. Because of these impairments, body balance is difficult to control and falls are a significant problem for trans-tibial amputees (Curtze et al., 2010). The aim of our study was to evaluate whether specific exercises can improve body balance in a paralympic sprinter (category: T-44) after 7 weeks of training. Methods The athlete was a healthy and active female subject (age: 37 years; weight: 58.2 Kg; height: 161cm; BMI: 22.45) with an unilateral transtibial amputation to 1/3 of the right lower limb since the age…

Do children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature show postural alterations? Possible influence of SHOX haploinsufficiency in a pilot study

Needs in terms of quality of life (QoL), consisting of physical, emotional and social domains, represent a hot spot in idiopathic short stature (ISS). Between ISS, it is estimated that 12% can have SHOX deficiency. Furthermore, SHOX deficiency can affect posture and GH treatment ameliorate their QoL. Although scientific research has investigated many fields of the physical domain, very few studies highlighted how this pathological condition may affect posture. The aim of this study was to evaluate postural characteristics in patients with ISS.

Peripheral Nerve Responses to Muscle Stretching: A Systematic Review

Stretching is commonly used to increase range of motion and flexibility. Therefore, investigations are usually oriented towards the muscle-tendon unit. Limited evidence exists regarding potential effects of stretching on peripheral nerves which lie within muscles. The objective of this investigation will be to elucidate the responses of peripheral nerves to stretching. A literature search was performed using the following databases: Scopus, NLM Pubmed and ScienceDirect. Studies regarding the effects of stretching protocols on responses of peripheral nerves were retrieved for investigation. The NHLBI tool was used for quality assessment. Outcomes included nerve stiffness, nerve displacement,…

Influence of a flexibility training program on psychophysical health of elderly women

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of a specific flexibility training program on the spinal health status and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in female older subjects. Methods: Thirty older women were recruited in a senior centre of Palermo and randomly assigned in two groups: trained group [TG] (n: 17; age: 68.35±6.04 years; BMI: 27.28±3.08) and control group [CG] (n: 13; age: 69.69±7.94 years; BMI: 27.88±2.81). TG was trained for 8 weeks by two sessions/week. In particular, every training session included three phases: warm up (~10 min), central period (~50 min) including specific exercises to train spinal flexibility, and cool down (~10 min)1. CG did not pe…

The analysis of endurance, speed and explosive strength in young football players

Introduction Endurance, speed and explosive strength are determinant factors of sporting performance for football players (Hoff & Helgerud, 2004). An evaluation of these abilities is fundamental in young subjects, who have still not completed their maturation, to plan an individualised and effective training program (Fernandez-Gonzalo et al., 2010). The aim of this study was to examine the level of variability in endurance, speed and explosive strength of lower limbs among young football players. Methods Sixteen male players with 5 years of experience playing football and participating in the “Giovanissimi Regionali” amateur championship (14.00 years old ± 7 months; 57.5 ± 6.66 kg weight, 1…

Modificazioni posturali indotte dal canottaggio in giovani atleti ben allenati

This research brings evidence that rowing represents a valid sports model for helping both healthy and paramorphic people in changing unhealthy back positions. In particular, this study analyzed the changes induced to the back of twenty well trained athletes. Furthermore, it was taken into consideration a case of an athlete who presented a case of kyphosis and lordosys. This study was carried on for a period of two years during which it was observed that both kyphosis and lordosys had disappeared in the subject observed for this study. The quantitative and qualitative variables taken into account here, demonstrate that the positive results for correcting and self-correcting the position of …

Protein supplementation and dietary behaviours of resistance trained men and women attending commercial gyms: a comparative study between the city centre and the suburbs of Palermo, Italy

Background: It is anecdotally recognized that commercial gym users assume supplements in order to improve performance or health. However, dietary behaviours of people and athletes attending commercial gyms have been poorly studied. The exact amount and frequency of dietary supplements consumption are still needed to be investigated. The main purpose of this study is to understand the quantity and quality of food intake, as well as dietary supplementation in people attending commercial gyms. Secondly to compare the city centre and the suburbs of Palermo, Italy. Methods: A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to 561 subjects, 207 from the city centre (CC) and 354 from the suburbs (SB) …

RELAZIONE TRA HANDGRIP E FAMILIARITÀ AL DIABETE DI TIPO 2: UNO STUDIO PILOTA/ RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HANDGRIP: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY

Obiettivo: È stata analizzata la possibile relazione, su un campione della popolazione siciliana, tra il grado di familiarità al diabete di tipo 2, i parametri antropometrici ed alcuni test di forza specifica. Materiali e metodi: In modalità random sono stati selezionati 88 uomini e 27 donne, distinti in FH- (assenza di familiarità per il diabete di tipo 2), FH+ (con un componente in linea indiretta con la malattia) ed FH++ (con un genitore affetto dalla malattia). Sono stati rilevati i parametri antropometrici, i parametri cardiovascolari ed è stato rilevato l’handgrip ad entrambe le mani. Le differenze tra i gruppi sono state analizzate con il test ANOVA ed attraverso correlazioni paramet…

USE OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS AND DIETARY BEHAVIOUR: RESULTS OF A SURVEY ON PEOPLE ATTENDING COMMERCIAL GYMS IN ITALY

Introduction Nutrition is traditionally perceived as a crucial component of physical fitness and performance. In the last few decades, the increasing understanding of human nutrition and exercise physiology has showed that a wise management of nutrient intake could positively affect fitness improvements and sport performance. The aim of this study was to examine the use of dietary supplements and diet behavior amongst regular fitness centers users in Italy. Methods A specific questionnaire was generated for the experimentation. The data were collected using the face-to-face interview method. Only strength and conditioning classes participants were included in the selection criteria. Trainin…

Mediterranean diet and dietary protein supplementation as possible predicting variables of weight management: An update of the protein project

Introduction: The Mediterranean diet is known to support the prevention of several chronic diseases and excessive weight gains. However, relevant investigations were performed in a clinical setting and healthy and physical active individuals were not considered. The aim of this study was therefore to understand the effects of protein supplements intake on body mass index (BMI) in healthy active individuals following the Mediterranean diet. Materials and methods: A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to 667 subjects, 627 living in a Mediterranean area (MD) and 40 in a non-Mediterranean area (NMD); questionnaire enquired dietary behaviors, including a comparison between dietary patter…

Parental perception of childhood overweight in an inner-city area of Palermo, Italy

EFFECTS OF THREE DISTINCT PROTOCOLS OF FITNESS TRAINING ON BODY COMPOSITION STRENGTH AND BLOOD LACTATE

60KDa chaperonin (HSP60) is over-expressed during colorectal carcinogenesis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of the heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a mitochondrial matrix-associated protein belonging to the chaperonin family, in colorectal adenomas and cancers, comparing them to normal colonic tissues and hyperplastic polyps. We performed both immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis for HSP60. Immunohistochemistry resulted positive in all tubular adenomas and infiltrating adenocarcinomas. By contrast, normal tissues and hyperplastic polyps were negative. Quantitative analysis showed that tubular adenomas with different levels of dysplasia did not present statistical differences concerning HSP60 positivity. In addition, carcinomas al…

Postural stability in subjects with whiplash injury symptoms: results of a pilot study

Posturographic tests can be used to assess and confirm the body's imbalance in subjects with whiplash injury. Further studies with larger cohorts are necessary to confirm this pilot study.To verify through a posturographic exam the qualitative and quantitative alterations of postural stability in subjects with previous cervical trauma in comparison with healthy subjects.A total of 42 subjects were analysed for the study; 22 as the control group (NM) and 20 (WM) with a positive anamnesis of whiplash injury from 3 to 12 month from diagnosis through a force platform. Centre of pressure (CoP) movements of the two groups with their eyes open and closed were recorded.During the closed eye test, t…

THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MANAGEMENT OF BODY WEIGHT IN PSYCHOTIC SUBJECTS

Psychotic subjects live an unhealthy lifestyle that tends to reinforce the metabolic syndrome (1). It is known, indeed, that antipsychotic treatments stimulate appetite (2) and induce weight gain (3). Several therapeutic approaches including psycho-educational behavioral interventions and exercise training programs have been elaborated in order to manage antipsychotic-induced weight gain (4,5). Wirshing et al. (2006) elaborated a specific project based on oral presentations in order to educate psychotic subjects about lifestyle changes they can adopt to reduce weight gain. They showed that patients with mental illness are able to benefit from educational presentations about nutrition and a …

Effects of a ludic-motor program on motor development and early literacy skills in preschool children

There is insufficient evidence in the literature about many correlations between motor and cognitive skills in 3-5 year old children [1]. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the development of the gross motor skills and the prerequisites of reading/writing following a ludic-motor program (LMP) in pre-school children. This study has involved 189 children (age: 4.62 ± 0.97 years; height: 107.83 ± 7.82 cm, body weight: 19.84 ± 4.95 kg) attending 8 kindergartens in Palermo. The children were randomly divided in a control group (C, n= 29), a 1-intervention group (I-1, n= 120) and a 2-intervention group (I-2, n= 40). I-1 and I-2 respectively performed 4 and 10 hours/week…

Interrelationship Between Age, Gender, and Weight Status on Motor Coordination in Italian Children and Early Adolescents Aged 6–13 Years Old

Although numerous evidences reported a negative correlation between motor coordination (MC) and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, the interrelationship between age, gender, and weight status is still debatable. Hence, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between MC and weight status according to age and gender across childhood and early adolescence in a large sample of Italian elementary and middle school students. A number of 1961 Italian school students (1,026 boys, 935 girls) was stratified in three consecutive age groups (6–7, 8–10, and 11–13 years) and four weight status categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese) accordi…

EFFECTS OF A SPECIFIC FLEXIBILITY TRAINING PROGRAM ON SPINAL RANGE OF MOTION IN OLDER WOMEN

Introduction Aging-related reduced spinal mobility can interfere with the execution of important functional skills and activities in elderly women. However there is a lack of studies about the effects of range of motion exercises on flexibility outcomes in older populations and a lack of consensus regarding the prescription of stretching exercises for older adults (ACSM, 2009). For these reasons the purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which spinal extension and flexion could be improved in a population of older women participating in a 8-week flexibility training program. Methods Thirty female volunteers were cluster randomized into either a control group [CG] (n: 13; age: 69…

Comparison of the effects of massage with mineral oil or ozonated oil bioperoxoil© on blood lactate, stress percevied and heart rate in cyclists

Muscular fatigue is a factor that influence heavily performance of athletes. There is a lack of data about effect of massage with substances “ad hoc”. The aim of our research was to investigate the effect of application of ozonated oil on some parameters linked to fatigue in cyclists. 30 cyclists male was divided in two groups of 15 (PLO= placebo oil; OZO=ozonated Oil). Subjects was submitted in two different session to work protocol that consist in a rectangular test on cyclergometer followed by 30’ of rest. After the rest athletes performed an incremental test. HR (heart rate), Wmax (Watt maximal), RPE (rate of Perceived Exertion) and Lab(Blood Lactate) was misured at the end and after 5’…

New insights into the role of matrix metalloproteinases in heart angiogenesis induced by exercise

Angiogenesis induced by exercise has been observed in both cardiac and skeletal muscle and plays a fundamental role in maintaining tissue function adequate to the increase in metabolic requests. Mechanical and haemodynamic forces are strong starters of angiogenic process via regulation of secondary mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). A crucial step of vessel sprouting is the degradation of the basement membrane and remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has long been accepted that MMPs are involved in the angiogenesis, but the exact mechanisms are not well characterized. Cryptic fragments and neo-epitopes released by pr…

Use of dietary supplements and dietary behaviour among young people who exercise at gyms

Effects of tinnitus on postural control and stabilization: A pilot study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the tinnitus's impacts on postural control. Material and methods: Sixty-six subjects (age: 46,71 ± 15,12 years, height 166,32 ± 8,88 cm, weight 64,85 ± 12,57 kg) with idiopathic tinnitus were recruited for the study and were tested. Each subject underwent to ‘Romberg test’, ‘Static balance’ and ‘posture analysis’. Static balance and posture analysis were performed two times, with open and close eyes, and were measured through the FreeMed posturography system. Results: showed that subjects had worse Baropodometric performances respect to benchmarks; moreover according to literature the results show that these patients had significant differ…

Positional transversal release is effective as stretching on range of movement, performance and balance: a cross-over study.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to compare the positional transversal release (PTR) technique to stretching and evaluate the acute effects on range of movement (ROM), performance and balance. Methods Thirty-two healthy individuals (25.3 ± 5.6 years; 68.8 ± 12.5 kg; 172.0 ± 8.8 cm) were tested on four occasions 1 week apart. ROM through a passive straight leg raise, jumping performance through a standing long jump (SLJ) and balance through the Y-balance test were measured. Each measure was assessed before (T0), immediately after (T1) and after 15 min (T2) of the provided intervention. On the first occasion, no intervention was administered (CG). The intervention order was rando…

COMPARISON OF VERTICAL JUMPING PERFORMANCE AMONG YOUNG SEDENTARY SUBJECTS, BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Introduction: The ability to jump high is considered important in a number of sports. It is commonly accepted that the use of the arms increases jump height (I). In particular, in some sport situations such as basketball and volleyball the ability to utilize arm swing is fundamental in order that players may reach the maximum performance. Instead, sedentary subjects are not usually able to utilize efficiently upper-limb motion compare to active people during vertical jumping performance. The purpose of this study was to examine flight time (sec.) [Ft], jump height (cm) [Jh] during vertical jumping by countermovement [CMJ] with and without arm swing in young, sedentary subjects and basketbal…

INCREASED EXPRESSION OF TITIN IN MOUSE GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE AFTER AN ENDURANCETRAINING PROGRAM

Training session intensity affects plasma redox status in amateur rhythmic gymnasts

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine systemic responses of oxidant/antioxidant status following 2 training sessions of different intensity in amateur rhythmic gymnasts. Methods: Before the experimental training, 10 female gymnasts performed a gradually increased exercise test to assess maximal heart rate, maximal oxygen consumption, and anaerobic threshold. They executed 2 intermittent training sessions separated by 48 h of recovery (48 h-post R): the first was performed at low-moderate intensity (LMI) and the second at high intensity (HI). Blood samples were collected immediately pre- and post-training and 48 h-post R. Hydroperoxide level (OxL) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)…

Effects of a physical education program on the development of early literacy abilities in preschool children

Introduction Several studies showed a relationship between physical activity and cognition in school-aged children (Carson et al 2015). The aim of this study was to analyse whether the amount and frequency of a physical education (PE) program affected the early reading and writing skills in preschool children. Methods This study involved 189 children (age: 4.62 ± 0.97 years; height: 107.83 ± 7.82 cm, body weight: 19.84 ± 4.95 kg) of 8 Palermo kindergartens who were randomly divided in a control group (C, n= 29), a 1-intervention group (I-1, n= 120) and a 2-intervention group (I-2, n= 40). I-1 and I-2 children performed a PE program of 16-week length for 4 and 10 hours/week, respectively (to…

Influenza della familiarità al diabete di tipo 2 sulle caratteristiche antropo-biometriche di giovani calciatori

The neurosecretion of oxytocin in the hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei of training rats

Changes in spinal range of motion after a flexibility training program in elderly women

Giuseppe Battaglia,1,2 Marianna Bellafiore,1,2 Giovanni Caramazza,2 Antonio Paoli,3 Antonino Bianco,1,2 Antonio Palma1,2 1Department of Law, Society, and Sport Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 2Sicilian Regional Sports School of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Sicily, Italy; 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy Background: Aging-related reduced spinal mobility can interfere with the execution of important functional skills and activities in elderly women. Although several studies have shown positive outcomes in response to spinal flexibility training programs, little is known about the management of sets and repetitions in traini…

Family history to type 2 diabetes influence on body parameters of young soccer players

The aim of our study was to analyze the difference of phenotype in healthy soccer players with family history of type 2 diabetes and healthy soccer players without family history of type 2 diabetes. The anthropometric parameters and body composition was analysed. The group with positive family history (FH+) had the highest values of wrist circumference (p<0.05) associated with not statistically significant increase of body fat mass and fat free mass. Also, the heart function was analysed. FH+ players had a diastolic basal pressure values higher than other group, but other functional parameters were the same. Analysing lung function indicators, FH+ players showed significant greater FEV1 and…

Protective role of the complement regulatory protein human CD-55 in cardiac xenograft: a descriptive study and a revision of the literature.

The limited and inadequate availability of organs from human donors has resulted in the utilisation of xenografts as an alternative tool. Nevertheless, hyperacute rejection (HAR) following xenograft determines the loss of the transplanted organ. The “primum movens” is the activation of the complement pathway mediated by the binding of natural xenogenic antibodies to the endothelium of the graft, followed by the lysis of the endothelial cells with subsequent oedema, thrombosis and necrosis of the transplanted organ. In this work we describe morphological and biomolecular observations of isolated human-decay accelerating factor (h-DAF, CD55) transgenic pig hearts, after perfusion for four hou…

Validity and repeatability of the Pediatric Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUAped) for the screening of atopy.

BACKGROUND High atopy prevalence has been reported in athletes. Having an age-specific questionnaire for predicting atopy is important for an optimal management of young athletes. The study objectives were as follows: (i) developing a scoring system for the Pediatric Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUAped); (ii) identifying the optimal age target within the range 7-14 years; (iii) assessing AQUAped validity and repeatability in the identified target population. METHODS A total of 133 young athletes (age 7-14 years) were recruited. Following a screening visit, the participants filled AQUAped at baseline (T0) and after 7 days (T1), concomitantly undergoing skin prick testing. Using atopy…

Upper body strength endurance evaluation: A comparison between the handgrip strength and three body weight tests

BACKGROUND: The hand-grip strength test has been widely adopted to evaluate upper limb strength. Other field based tests as push-ups and pull-ups are commonly used for the same purpose. It is however unclear if these may be used interchangeably for upper body strength evaluation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate strength endurance of the upper body and understand which test could be the most appropriate for upper body evaluation. METHODS: Thirty-eight healthy young male participants were tested with three tests comprised of: 1) push-ups (PS), 2) pull-ups (PL) and 3) parallel dips (PD) performed to exhaustion. Grip strength (GS), total number of repetitions, time-…

Validity and reliability of an inertial sensor device for specific running patterns in soccer

Electronic performance tracking devices are largely employed in team sports to monitor performance and improve training. To date, global positioning system (GPS) based devices are those mainly used in soccer training. The aim of this study was to analyse the validity and reliability of the inertial sensor device (ISD) in monitoring distance and speed in a soccer-specific circuit and how their performance compare to a GPS system. 44 young male soccer players (age: 14.9 ± 1.1, range 9–16, years, height: 1.65 ± 0.10 m, body mass: 56.3 ± 8.9 kg) playing in a non-professional soccer team in Italy, participated in the study. We assessed the players trough a soccer running sport-specific circuit. …

Effects of physical activity on postural balance in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from pilot study

How Does the Amount of a Physical Education Intervention Affect Gross Motor Coordination in Early Childhood?

Little is known about the dose–response of physical education interventions on motor coordination in preschoolers. Our aim was to investigate whether the development of motor skills changed depending on different amounts of a physical education program (PEP) in children aged 3–5 years. One hundred forty-five children were recruited from kindergartens and randomly divided into a control group (CG, n = 28), which did not perform any PEP, and two intervention groups, which performed 4 h/week (I1, n = 78) and 10 h/week (I2, n = 39) of a PEP for 16 weeks. Each lesson was set in the form of a programmed game in order to produce fun, thus increasing enthusiasm for participation. Before and after t…

Effects of pilates exercise programs in people with chronic low back pain: a systematic review

The Pilates method has recently become a fast-growing popular way of exercise recommended for healthy individuals and those engaged in rehabilitation. Several published studies have examined the effects of Pilates method in people with chronic low back pain (LBP). The objective of this study is to describe and provide an extensive overview of the scientific literature comparing the effectiveness of the Pilates method on pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. The study is based on the data from the following sources: MEDLINE-NLM, MEDLINE-EBSCO, Scopus Elsevier, Cochrane, DOAJ, SciELO, and PLOSONE. Original articles and systematic reviews of adults with chronic nonspeci…

INFLUENCE OF FELDENKRAIS METHOD ON SPINE HEALTH IN PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS. PILOT STUDY/INFLUENZA DEL METODO FELDENKRAIS SULLA SALUTE DEL RACHIDE IN MUSICISTI ORCHESTRALI PROFESSIONISTI. STUDIO PILOTA

Obiettivo: Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di esaminare se il Metodo Feldenkrais fosse utile per migliorare la flessibilità muscolare e ridurre il dolore alla schiena in musicisti orchestrali professionisti. Materiali e metodi: Diciassette partecipanti sono stati reclutati da un orchestra sinfonica di Palermo (Italia) e divisi casualmente in un gruppo di controllo (C, n = 8) e un gruppo Feldenkrais (F, n = 9). Il primo non ha partecipato al protocollo Feldenkrais e a qualsiasi altra attività fisica; mentre il secondo ha preso parte ad un programma costituito da quattro lezioni di gruppo di Consapevolezza Attraverso il Movimento (CAM) eseguito 2 ore alla settimana per 4 settimane. A…

Percezione del problema dell'eccesso di peso nell'infanzia da parte dei genitori: risultati di un'indagine nel centro storico di Palermo

The surprising influence of family history to type 2 diabetes on anaerobic performance of young male élite athletes

Aims/Hypothesis It is known that family history to type 2 diabetes induces anthropometric changes in various populations. Regular physical activity can induce adaptations in these subjects regularizing body composition and anthropometric parameters. The aim of this study is therefore to understand if family history to type 2 diabetes affects anaerobic performance in young male élite athletes. Methods Forty six young male élite athletes were tested. Thirty three without family history to type 2 diabetes (FH-) and thirteen with family history to type 2 diabetes (FH+). Anthropometric parameters, body composition, physiological parameters and athletic performance were assessed. Results Weight (…

Evaluation of Posturographic and Neuromuscular Parameters during Upright Stance and Hand Standing: A Pilot Study

Upright bipedal posture is the physiological human posture; however, it is not the only possible form of human standing; indeed, an inverted position, a handstand, is required during gymnastics or other sports. Thus, this study aimed to understand the differences between the two standing strategies from a postural and neuromuscular perspective. Thirteen gymnasts with at least three years of sports experience underwent a baropodometric assessment and a surface electromyography (sEMG) examination in a standard upright bipodalic stance and during a handstand. The sEMG examination was performed on the gastrocnemius during an upright stance and on the flexor carpi radialis during the handstand. …

Structural analysis of rat patellar tendon in response resistance and endurance training.

Little is known about tendon adaptations induced by mechanical loading. Our goal was to evaluate the effects of two different exercise training protocols on adult rat patellar tendon. Ninety-six male Wistar rats were divided into a sedentary group (control), a resistance-trained group and an endurance-trained group. The examinations were performed after 15, 30 and 45 days of training and after 2 weeks of rest since training was stopped. The content of collagen fibers and the cell nuclei number were quantified on tendon cross sections. In order to assess the training effectiveness, we evaluated the heart/body weight ratio, which was higher in 45 day-trained rats than their controls (P<0.01),…

VALUTAZIONE DELLA PRESTAZIONE DI SALTO VERTICALE IN SOGGETTI SEDENTARI, GIOCATORI DI PALLAVOLO E DI PALLACANESTRO

La prestazione di salto verticale risulta essere uno degli elementi caratterizzanti il gioco della pallavolo e della pallacanestro. Tuttavia, poco è noto circa gli effetti dei loro modelli prestativi sulla capacità di salto verticale in giovani atlete. Lo scopo di questo lavoro, è stato, pertanto, quello di valutare, in soggetti sedentari e giocatori di pallavolo e pallacanestro di sesso femminile, il tempo di volo e l’altezza di salto durante l’esecuzione dello squat jump (SJ) e del counter-movement jump (CMJ). Dai risultati ottenuti il modello prestativo appare essere un fattore condizionante la prestazione di salto verticale nei soggetti allenati. E in particolare, i gesti tecnici della …

3'-Untranslated regions of oxidative phosphorylation mRNAs function in vivo, as enhancers of translation

Recent findings have indicated that the 3´-untranslated region (3´-UTR) of the mRNA encoding the β-catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial H+-ATP synthase has an in vitro translation-enhancing activity (TEA) [Izquierdo and Cuezva, Mol. Cell. Biol. (1997) 17, 5255–5268; Izquierdo and Cuezva, Biochem. J. (2000) 346, 849–855]. In the present work, we have expressed chimaeric plasmids that encode mRNA variants of green fluorescent protein in normal rat kidney and liver clone 9 cells to determine whether the 3´-UTRs of nuclear-encoded mRNAs involved in the biogenesis of mitochondria have an intrinsic TEA. TEA is found in the 3´-UTR of the mRNAs encoding the α- and β-subunits of the rat H+-ATP syn…

Adaptations of foot in point fight athletes

Indagine sugli effetti dell'attività ludico-motoria nello sviluppo motorio e cognitivo dei bambini della scuola dell'infanzia

L’obiettivo del presente studio è stato quello di valutare l’influenza di un programma di attività motorie sullo sviluppo delle abilità motorie e dei pre-requisiti della lettura e della scrittura in bambini di 3-5 anni delle scuole dell’Infanzia del Comune di Palermo. Centottanove bambini sono stati divisi in 3 gruppi: un gruppo che non ha seguito alcun intervento e due gruppi che hanno seguito un programma motorio rispettivamente della durata di 52 e 180 ore. Le abilità di locomozione e di controllo degli oggetti sono state misurate con il test of gross motor development, i pre-requisiti della lettura e della scrittura con il PRCR-2. Il programma motorio ha aumentato significativamente la …

Determination of a strength index for upper body local endurance strength in sedentary individuals: a cross sectional analysis.

A range of balance between flexor and extensor muscles is fundamental in order to prevent pathologies caused by bad postures or to ensure health of the joint as a measure of prevention of overtraining in specific muscle groups. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the ratio between “pulling” and “pushing” strength in sedentary individuals. 212 healthy participants, of both genders (139 male and 73 female; age 32 ± 13.3 years, weight 70.2 ± 14.1 kg, height 173 ± 9 cm) were retained for investigation. Strength was assessed through a new methodology: Pulling through a lat-pulldown test while pushing strength through a chest-press test. Both tests were performed to exhaustion with an …

Can the 20 and 60&nbsp;s All-Out Test Predict the 2000&nbsp;m Indoor Rowing Performance in Athletes?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to look for a new, simple, and fast method of assessing and monitoring indoor race performance and to assess the relationship between 20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m indoor rowing performances of youth rowers to evaluate their anaerobic profile.Methods: For three consecutive days, 17 young able-bodied male rowers (15.8 +/- 2.0 years), performed three tests (20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m) on a rowing ergometer. Mean power (W-20, W-60, and W-2000) and 2000 m time (t(2000)) were considered for the analysis. In addition, 14 athletes (15-18 years) performed a 20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m tests and used this as a control group. To define the anaerobic profile of the athletes, W-2…

The variation of the balance strategy during the lifespan: a pilot stduy

STUDY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FUTSAL

The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender differences in futsal male and female professional players with at least three years of sports practice at the federal level. For this reason we analyzed the anthropometric characteristics and athletic performance by standardized agility and speed tests such as: Agility T-test, 20-m Sprint test and shuttle test. We found significant sex and role-related differences in futsal game in agreement with the scientific literature that show a best performance of male soccer players than female ones in Agility T-test, 20-m Sprint test and shuttle test.

INVOLVEMENT OF VEGF RECEPTOR SYSTEM IN THE ANGIOGENESIS OF HIPERTTROPHIC HEARTS OF TRAINED MICES

Adaptations in heart rate and arterial pressure induced by a specific training exercise program for elite soccer referees: a case report.

Increased expression of titin in mouse gastrocnemius muscle after an endurance-training program

Titin, a sarcomeric giant protein, plays crucial roles in muscle assembly, elasticity and stability. Little is known about titin adaptation to endurance exercise. We studied the effects of endurance training on titin expression in mouse gastrocnemius muscles (MGM). Sixty-three ten-week-old male Swiss mice were divided into seven groups. Four groups were composed of untrained control animals (C0, C15, C30, C45) instead the other three included mice trained for 15 (T15), 30 (T30) and 45 (T45) days by treadmill. The training protocol was mainly aerobic, characterized by moderate-intensity, rhythmic and continuous exercises. Titin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry on MGM section…

Soccer practice as an add-on treatment in the management of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Giuseppe Battaglia,1,3 Marianna Alesi,2 Michele Inguglia,4 Michele Roccella,2 Giovanni Caramazza,3 Marianna Bellafiore,1,3 Antonio Palma1,3 1Department of Law, Social and Sport Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Palermo Italy; 3Regional Sports School of CONI Sicilia, Sicily, Italy; 4Local Health of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Abstract: Physical activity is an important aspect of good health for everyone; it is even more important for psychiatric patients who usually live an unhealthy lifestyle. In recent years, there has been growing focus on the use of soccer as a vehicle to improve the health of subjects with severe mental illness…

Analisi della frequenza cardiaca e della concentrazione di lattato ematico in soggetti sovrappeso allenati con uno specifico protocollo di spinning.

How does economic status influence the fitness level in young healthy students? The Asso Project

Cardiovascular Responses to Muscle Stretching: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

AbstractThe aim of this study will be to review the current body of literature to understand the effects of stretching on the responses of the cardiovascular system. A literature search was performed using the following databases: Scopus, NLM Pubmed and ScienceDirect. Studies regarding the effects of stretching on responses of the cardiovascular system were investigated. Outcomes regarded heart rate(HR), blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV of which baPWV for brachial-ankle and cfPWV for carotid-femoral waveforms), heart rate variability and endothelial vascular function. Subsequently, the effects of each outcome were quantitatively synthetized using meta-analytic synthesis with random-…

1RM BENCH PRESS PERFORMANCE: A NEW METHOD OF EVALUATION IN RECREATIONAL MALE AND FEMALE

It is widely recognised that the 1 RM bench press test is the most valid in evaluating the upper body maximal strength in both athletes and sedentary individuals. Various approaches are used for its evaluation, both through prediction equations or practical attempts. The aim of this study was to assess a new method to perform the bench press test combining previously validated theoretical and practical procedures. Fifteen participants (8 male Age=23.5±2.3 FM%=17.3±9.2 and 7 female Age=27.9±10 FM%=25.6±6.9) with no specific training history were tested. Physiological parameters ware recorded before, during and after each test. Participants had to perform a set of repetitions to fatigue (RTF)…

Study of gross motor skill performance in kindergarten children

Several studies show a high decline in coordinative motor skills in childhood (Roth et al., 2009). For this reason, promotion of physical activity and motor skills appear to be a valuable mean to improve children’s development in today’s kindergartens. The purpose of the investigation was to study the effects of a specific training program to train gross motor skills in kindergarten children. Forty-one preschool children (27 females and 14 males) were cluster randomized into either a control group [CG] (n: 19; age: 4.68+/-0.82 years; height: 1.11+/-0.07 m; weight: 21.51+/-4.88 kg) and a trained group [TG] (n: 22; age: 4.55+/-0.51 years; height: 1.12+/-0.06 m; weight: 21.95+/-4.87 kg). The T…

The evaluation of motor skills on young soccer player: an innovative approach

Whiplash injure and human body balance: a force platform analysis.

Whiplash injury is common trauma in occidental countries, its evaluation is estimated commonly clinically. Posturography may be used to verify body human imbalance whiplash injury related. The aim of this study was to analyze human body equilibrium in both sexes and verify if posturographic test can be used to assess body human imbalance in subjects with whiplash injury. We selected 41 volunteers of both sexes to analyze human body balance trough a force platform of health subjects and subjects with whiplash injure. Recording the Centre of Pressure (CoP) movements of these groups with open and closed eyes, we found that in both sexes, subjects with cervical injure had a significant increase…

Effects of physical activity on postural balance in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from a pilot study

Background: The juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the main rheumatic disease in pediatric age. The rheumatic diseases are main causes of physical disability and have high economic costs for society. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the physical activity can prevent the decline in balance related diseases in children with previous diagnosis of JIA. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six subjects were enrolled in this study. Thirty-nine healthy subjects were included in the control group (CG) and seventeen in juvenile idiopathic arthritis group (JIAG). Subsequently, the JIAG was stratified in two ones, respectively: JIAG active (JIAG-ACT) and JIAG sedentary (JIAG-SED). The analysis was…

An Interaction Path of Mothers’ and Preschoolers’ Food-and Physical Activity-Related Aspects in Disadvantaged Sicilian Urban Areas

Background: The relationship between mothers and their children’s lifestyle is still unclear, especially in disadvantaged areas. Consequently, the study aims to identify a path explaining the extent to which maternal eating habits and physical activity (PA) level predict food-related aspects, PA practice and Quotient of Gross Motor Development (QGMD) in preschoolers from disadvantaged urban areas. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 79 dyads of mothers and children were recruited from kindergartens. Information related to family socio-demographic aspects, mothers’ and children’s dietary intake frequencies and PA/sedentariness, mothers’ weight and height, mothers’ perception o…

Protein supplementation in strength and conditioning adepts: knowledge, dietary behavior and practice in Palermo, Italy

Abstract Background It is known that supplement use is a widespread and accepted practice by athletes and people who attend commercial gyms. Little is known about protein supplement amongst people undertaking strength training in commercial gyms in Italy when compared to the US. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the use of protein supplementation, alone or in association with other supplements, and dietary behavior amongst regular fitness center attendees in Palermo, Italy. Design Resistance training information have been collected from 800 regular fitness center attendees for the initial analysis. A specific questionnaire was generated for the experimentation. Data were co…

The relationship between moderate hearing loss with balance and postural control

NERVOUS AND VASCULAR DISORDERS RELATED TO CYCLING

STUDIO DEL PROFILO PRESTATIVO DI UNA VELOCISTA PARALIMPICA

L’obiettivo principale di un atleta di elite è quello di partecipare a manifestazioni sportive di elevato livello agonistico e di grande prestigio internazionale quali i Giochi Olimpici o Paralimpici. Affinché ciò avvenga, nella maggior parte dei casi, gli atleti seguono complesse programmazioni pluriennali di allenamento. Tuttavia, alcuni soggetti privi di un passato sportivo raggiungono in breve tempo i limiti di qualificazione richiesti per partecipare a gare di livello internazionale. Lo scopo del lavoro è stato, pertanto, quello di esaminare il percorso prestativo di una velocista disabile attraverso l’analisi della distribuzione dei carichi di lavoro e dei tempi di gara caratterizzant…

IMPROVING EQUILIBRIUM BY SHORT-TERM BALANCE TRAINING IN HEALTHY OLDER WOMEN

Does Stretching Training Influence Muscular Strength? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Thomas, E, Ficarra, S, Nunes, JP, Paoli, A, Bellafiore, M, Palma, A, and Bianco, A. Does stretching training influence muscular strength? A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-This aim of this study was to review articles that performed stretching training and evaluated the effects on muscular strength. Literature search was performed using 3 databases. Studies were included if they compared the effects on strength following stretching training vs. a nontraining control group or stretching training combined with resistance training (RT) vs. an RT-only group, after at least 4 weeks of intervention. The meta-analyses were performe…

HUMAN BALANCE EVALUATION IN SUBJECTS WITH CERVICAL INJURIES COMPARED TO HEALTHY SUBJECTS: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY

Introduction It is very important that forensic medicine properly calculates the biological damage not only through the disturbance indicated by the patient, but more accurately through instrumental diagnosis. Our aim was to verify through posturography the qualitative and quantitative alterations of postural stability in subjects with cervical trauma, compared to the control group. Methods We analysed 78 subjects, selecting 42 volunteers and distinguishing a control group of 22 normal men (NM) and a group of 20 men (WM) with a positive anamnesis of whiplash injury for six months. Through a force platform, we recorded the Centre of Pressure (CoP) movements of these groups, both with their e…

The effect of time-of-day and sleep deprivation on postural control: A systematic review.

Background: Postural control (PC) can be affected by circadian rhythm and sleep deprivation, whereby it has been reported the result of PC measurement in clinical and experimental situations can be influenced by both factors. It has been suggested sleepiness can result in deficiency in PC, which in turn can lead to occupational accidents and subsequent injuries. This is while no study critically reviews or summarizes findings surrounding this topic in the literature. Research question: Is there any significant effect of sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm on PC variables among healthy individuals? Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were used to detect relevant studies. O…

Influence of Geographical Area and Living Setting on Children's Weight Status, Motor Coordination, and Physical Activity

This study was aimed (i) to examine the effect of living setting (rural vs. urban), geographical area (North vs. Center vs. South), and gender (boys vs. girls) on weight status, motor coordination, and physical activity (PA) level of Italian school-age children; (ii) to examine differences in the neighborhood walkability of different school areas from different geographical areas and living settings; and (iii) to examine whether motor coordination, PA level, geographical areas, living setting, neighborhood walkability, and gender could predict children's weight status. We assessed anthropometric parameters, gross motor coordination, and PA level in 1,549 children aged between 8 and 13 years…

The effects of extra-virgin olive oil supplemented with Vit. E and Q10 on plasma antioxidant capacity and aerobic performance in athletes

INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SINTHASE (iNOS) PROTECTS THE HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPHITELIUM EXPOSED TO OXIDANTS BY APOPTOSIS

SELF-ESTEEM AND POSTURE: AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OF PEDAGOGIC AND POSTURAL TRAINING

SELF-ESTEEM AND POSTURE: AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OF PEDAGOGIC AND POSTURAL TRAINING Bellafiore, M.1,3, Battaglia, G.1,3, Caramazza, G.2,3, Storniolo,F.1, Costantino, D.3, Bianco, A.1,3, Palma, A.1,3. 1: DISMOT (Palermo, Italy), 2: PhD in “Human Diet and Nutri- tion” (Palermo, Italy), 3: Regional Sport School of Sicily CONI (Olympic National Italian Committee, Italy). Introduction It is known that exists a strong interaction between psycho-emotional aspects and postural system. A deficit in self-esteem can be associated with an altered conception of own body imagine which reflects itself in the behavior and posture of the person. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a program…

Group fitness activities on elderly: an useful approch to prevent injuries and dropping out

INVOLVEMENT OF VEGF RECEPTOR SYSTEM IN THE ANGIOGENESIS OF HYPERTROPHIC HEARTS OF TRAINED MICE

The role of physical activity on postural stability and fitness characteristics in pediatric patients with GH deficiency

Purpose: Patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) show low fitness levels before GH treatment is started. Muscular strength, flexibility and postural stability are related to health and quality of life. Since it is widely recognized that physical activity increases GH secretion and GH could ameliorate fitness, if a high adherence to treatment is documented (1), the purpose of this study is to investigate any difference on posturographic parameters and muscular features in physically active children with GHD, treated with GH with a high adherence to the treatment, and compared with sedentary pediatric patients. Methods: 13 children (7 males, 6 females) with GHD were enrolled at the Univ…

SPACE FLIGHT AND LOSS OF STRENGTH IN UPPER LIMB MUSCLES

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on bone marrow composition of endurance trained mice

Food literacy predictors and associations with physical and emergent literacy in pre-schoolers: results from the Training-to-Health Project

AbstractObjective:Food literacy (FL) is a crucial need encompassing basic literacy and fundamental movement skills. The present study aimed to investigate the FL level in pre-schoolers and to evaluate the effect of potential predictors and the associations with gross motor and emergent literacy skills.Design:Cross-sectional study conducted within the Training-to-Health Project.Setting:Kindergartens (n 21) in the Palermo City Council, Italy.Participants:Pre-school children aged 3–6 years (n 921) followed education sessions on nutritional topics, practical activities and compiled prearranged sheets. FL was assessed by the five-domain toolkit ‘preschool-FLAT’; gross motor and emergent literacy…

Significant modifications in body composition and cardio-respiratory fitness induced by a specific indoor cycling protocol

Postural and neuromuscular strategies during upright stance and hand standing

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protects the human bronchial epithelium exposed to oxidants by apoptosis

Analysis of weight status and back pain in public employees

Effects of Different Long-Term Exercise Modalities on Tissue Stiffness

AbstractStiffness is a fundamental property of living tissues, which may be modified by pathologies or traumatic events but also by nutritional, pharmacological and exercise interventions. This review aimed to understand if specific forms of exercise are able to determine specific forms of tissue stiffness adaptations. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases to identify manuscripts addressing adaptations of tissue stiffness as a consequence of long-term exercise. Muscular, connective, peripheral nerve and arterial stiffness were considered for the purpose of this review. Resistance training, aerobic training, plyometric training and stretching were r…

Effects of a dietary supplement containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on liver of exercised mice

Comparison of Postural Features and Muscle Strength between Children with Idiopathic Short Stature and Healthy Peers in Relation to Physical Exercise

Previous research has reported that children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) showed functional and cognitive impairments. The purpose of this study was to compare muscle strength and body posture between children with ISS treated with growth hormone (GH) and healthy peers (healthy children, HC), and to analyze whether these parameters were affected by physical exercise. Eighteen children for the ISS group (mean age: 10.96 ± 1.68 years) and 26 children for the HC group (mean age: 10.19 ± 1.06 years) were recruited for the study. All participants performed the following assessments: handgrip and Sargent test for the muscle strength evaluation; baropodometric and stabilometric test for the…

Sport e disabilità psichica: una complementare strategia d’intervento

L’attività motoria è nota essere in grado di migliorare la salute psicofisica dei soggetti con disabilità mentale (Hutchinson, 1999) ed, in particolare, il gioco del calcio risulta essere un importante veicolo d’intervento nella riabilitazione psichiatrica (Pringle, 2009). Lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di studiare gli effetti della pratica del calcio sulla condizione prestativa e psicofisica in soggetti psicotici dopo 8 settimane di allenamento. Metodi: Hanno partecipato allo studio 10 soggetti in sovrappeso (età: 36±6 anni; peso: 77.44±13.60 Kg; altezza: 164.44±7.00 cm; IMC: 28.55±4.06), afferenti nell’anno 2008 alle strutture psichiatriche di Palermo e Provincia e la cui ido…

Effects of Mediterranean Diet Combined with CrossFit Training on Trained Adults’ Performance and Body Composition

CrossFit is a high-intensity training discipline increasingly practiced in recent years. Specific nutritional approaches are usually recommended to maximize performance and improve body composition in high-intensity training regimens; notwithstanding, to date there are no targeted nutritional recommendations for CrossFit athletes. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a diet approach with a well-designed proportion of macronutrients, using only available/seasonal food of the Mediterranean area, whose health benefits are well demonstrated. No studies have evaluated this dietary strategy among CrossFit athletes and practitioners; for this reason, we tested the effects of 8 weeks of MD on CrossFit at…

Hsp60/procaspase 3 complex formation in human cells: impact on apoptosis and carcinogenesis.

THE USE OF SPORTS DRINKS IN SPORTS AND FITNESS AMBIT

Introduction Sport drinks are beverages aimed at rehydrating the body, restoring the electrolytes (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, P) and energy reinstatement (carbohydrates and other nutrients). As is well established in research5, the concentration of these substances decreases as a result of sustained strain and, in some cases, these can even finish and alter the organic functionality1,7. Sport drinks were born for the purpose of performance and are classified based on their concentration/litre in isotonic beverages (with an electrolytic composition more or less similar to body fluids [about 300 mOsm /L] with medium – rapid assimilation), hypotonic beverage (with an electrolytic composition lower tha…

Unipedal vertical jumping performance in soccer players

Introduction: The muscular strength between the dominant and non-dominant legs of soccer players has been the centre of research that has highlighted contradictory results. Several researchers have reported symmetry between the dominant and non-dominant legs, whereas others suggest the existence of a significant asymmetry. Kicking and cutting skills in soccer are clearly unilateral, require asymmetrical motor patterns and can lead to the development of asymmetrical adaptations in the musculoskeletal function of the lower limbs (Fousekis et al., 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine the flight time [FT] and jump height [JH] during a vertical one-legged countermovement jump by domin…

How does physical education affect the development locomotor and object control skills in preschool children?

Introduction Unlike other European countries, in Italian kindergartens the physical education (PE) teacher is not including in the school organic personnel. This is frequently associated with lack of opportunities to perform PE by preschool children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse whether the effects of a PE program on the development of locomotor and object control skills in preschool children would depend on the hour amount of intervention. Methods This study involved 189 children (age: 4.62 ± 0.97 years; Height: 107.83 ± 7.82 cm, body weight: 19.84 ± 4.95 kg) of 8 Palermo kindergartens who were randomly divided in a control group (C, n= 29), an intervention group 1 (I1, …

INFLUENCE OF FAMILY HISTORY OF TYPE 2 DIABETES ON PHENOTYPE AND PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE OF BOTH SEX.

The type 2 diabetes is commonly considered a complex genetic disease, resulting from interactions between multiple genes and environmental factors without any single factor having strong independent effects. We studied the influence of family history to type 2 diabetes on physical phenotype of 47 health adolescents. In both sexes groups with positive family history (FH+) had the highest values of stature and body weight (p<0.05 for males, not significant for females), waist circumference (p<0.05 for males, not significant for females), and wrist circumference (p=0.05 for males, not significant for females). Considering performance, FH+ males showed a significant higher performance in power …

A TRAINING PROTOCOL INTEGRATED OF PILATES- AND YOGA-BASED EXERCISES FOR WOMEN WITH BACK PAIN

A TRAINING PROTOCOL INTEGRATED OF PILATES- AND YOGA-BASED EXERCISES FOR WOMEN WITH BACK PAIN Bellafiore, M.1,3, Battaglia, G.1,3, Caramazza, G.2,3, Fantauzzo, V.1, Bianco, A.1,3, Palma, A.1, 3. 1: DISMOT (Palermo, Italy), 2: PhD in “Human Diet and Nutrition” (Palermo, Italy), 3: Regional Sport School of Sicily CONI (Olympic National Italian Committee, Italy). Introduction Pilates and Yoga are bodymind activities recently become very popular in Italian fitness gyms. Their outcomes have been studied separately and it has been reported that both reduce low back pain affecting either the physiological and mental aspects (Posadzki et al., 2011; Tilbrook et al., 2011). However, few evidences are …

Evaluation of the podalic support in subjects with dyslexia: a pilot study

Effects of game funcional model on jump performance in youg basketballers and volleyballers

PERCEZIONE DEL PROBLEMA DELL'ECCESSO DI PESO NELL'INFANZIA DA PARTE DEI GENITORI: RISULTATI DI UN'INDAGINE NEL CENTRO STORICO DI PALERMO

The hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system in developing rats

Studies concerning the development of the magnocellular system are scarce and discordant in literature. We carried out an immunohistochemical study on supraotic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei using antivasopressin and antioxytocin antibodies in developing rats between the 15th day of intrauterine life and the 6th day of postnatal life. In addition, we performed RT-PCR experiments to establish the stage at which these hormones appear and neurosecretory activity commences. The results showed that supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei appear, respectively, on the 16th and the 18th day of intrauterine life and both immediately synthetize vasopressin neurohormone. By contrast, synthesis…

Relationship between velocity and muscular endurance of the upper body

Strength, power and muscular endurance tests have been developed as means of assessing people's physical abilities. However, testing may be expensive or time consuming. A method to reduce the time of physical assessment could be to use predictive algorithms for indirect assessment. The aim of this study will be to determine a relationship between strength, power and muscular endurance in order to identify predictors for an easier and faster assessment. 33 male strength-trained participants (22.8 ± 4.6 years, 172.5 ± 6.7 cm, 68.0 ± 10.6 kg) performed a single pull-up (SPU) and a single push-up (SPH) and a set of pull-ups (EPU) and push-ups (EPH) to exhaustion. The participants were divided i…

PERFORMING SOCCER GAME AFFECTS THE VELOCITY, AGILITY AND PSYCHOPHYSICAL CONDITION IN PSYCHOTIC SUBJECTS

Introduction Physical activity is an important aspect of good health for everyone and is even more important for psychiatric patients who usually live an unhealthy lifestyle and assume medications that tend to reinforce their metabolic syndrome (Kopp, 2009). The purpose of this study was to examine whether performing soccer game by psychotic subjects has effects on their velocity, agility and psychophysical perception. Methods Methods Eighteen overweight male subjects, 8 no-trained psychotics [NTPs] (age: 35.00+/-5.00 years; height: 163.00+/-4.00 cm; BMI: 25.00-29.90) and 10 trained psychotics [TPs] (age: 36.00+/-6.00 years; height: 164.00+/-7.00 cm; BMI: 25.00- 29.90) from Local Health of …

Studying embryonic lung development by tissue engineering: a novel three-dimensional model

Endurance-type exercise induces mouse heart angiogenesis: a morphological study.