Search results for "FITNESS"

The Effects of Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis in Preclinical and Human Models: A Narrative Review.

2022

Increasing evidence supports the importance of the gut microbiota (GM) in regulating multiple functions related to host physical health and, more recently, through the gut–brain axis (GBA), mental health. Similarly, the literature on the impact of physical activity (PA), including exercise, on GM and GBA is growing. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature that delves into the benefits or adverse effects produced by PA on physical and mental health status through modifications of the GM, highlighting differences and similarities between preclinical and human studies. The same exercise in animal models, whether performed voluntarily or forc…

Flower lose, a cell fitness marker, predicts COVID‐19 prognosis

2021

Abstract Risk stratification of COVID‐19 patients is essential for pandemic management. Changes in the cell fitness marker, hFwe‐Lose, can precede the host immune response to infection, potentially making such a biomarker an earlier triage tool. Here, we evaluate whether hFwe‐Lose gene expression can outperform conventional methods in predicting outcomes (e.g., death and hospitalization) in COVID‐19 patients. We performed a post‐mortem examination of infected lung tissue in deceased COVID‐19 patients to determine hFwe‐Lose’s biological role in acute lung injury. We then performed an observational study (n = 283) to evaluate whether hFwe‐Lose expression (in nasopharyngeal samples) could accu…

Does Longer Leukocyte Telomere Length and Higher Physical Fitness Protect Master Athletes From Consequences of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Infection?

2020

A Workflow for the Performance Based Design of Naturally Ventilated Tall Buildings Using a Genetic Algorithm (GA)

2019

Optimization of Natural Ventilation process in highrise buildings is one of the most complex and least addressed phenomenon in the field of sustainable architecture. This issue requires urgent consideration to reduce the computation time due to fast growing demand of vertical construction in metropolitan cities. Until recently most highrise buildings have been operated with mechanical systems, causing high energy loads in hot climates and have high carbon footprints. Highrise buildings with natural ventilation and sky gardens can address these problems. This study involves the development of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) addressing the multi objective optimization of natural ventilation in tall …

Effect of Oral Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Physical Performance in Healthy Old Women Over 65 Years: An Open Label Rando…

2015

Although older people are particularly liable to sarcopenia, limited research is available on beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation in this population, particularly in healthy subjects. In this parallel-group, randomized, controlled, open-label trial, we aimed to evaluate whether an oral supplement containing 1.5 g of calcium HMB for 8 weeks could improve physical performance and muscle strength parameters in a group of community-dwelling healthy older women. Eighty healthy women attending a twice-weekly mild fitness program were divided into two equal groups of 40, and 32 of the treated women and 33 control completed the study. We considered a change in the Short Physical …

Training During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of 12,526 Athletes from 142 Countries and Six Continents

2021

Abstract Objective Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March–Jun…

Exercising recommendations for paroxysmal AF in young and middle-aged athletes (PAFIYAMA) syndrome.

2017

We have recently described a new syndrome: strenuous endurance exercise-related atrial fibrillation (AF) under the acronym of ‘paroxysmal AF in young and middle-aged athletes’ (‘PAFIYAMA’). Provided that other risk factors for AF and underlying conditions have been excluded (1), the diagnostic criteria for this syndrome entail a number of conditions, classified as major and minor. An enhanced risk of AF has been clearly documented in endurance athletes (top-class, elite and recreational) (2-5), and such risk typically ranges between 1.2- to 15-fold compared to the general, sedentary population (the better cardiovascular fitness, the higher incidence of AF) (6-11). Anecdotally, the last auth…

Maternal body mass index, change in weight status from childhood to late adulthood and physical activity in older age

2021

This study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of maternal body mass index (BMI), weight status in childhood and late adulthood and device-measured total physical activity (TPA) in older age. The study involves 552 participants from Helsinki Birth Cohort Study who were born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1934-1944. TPA was measured with a multisensory body monitor at a mean age of 70 years and expressed in metabolic equivalent of task hours/day (METh/d). Childhood overweight (BMI > 85th percentile) was based on school health records at 6-7 years of age, and late adulthood overweight (BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)) was based on clinical measurements at the mean age of 61 years. Childhood overweight…

Test-retest reliability data of functional performance, strength, peak torque and body composition assessments in two different age groups of Kosovan…

2021

This article reports test-retest reliability data of laboratory- and field-based performance tests as well as body composition analyses of younger and older Kosovan adults. In total, 57 healthy young (18–35 years) and 61 older (>60 years) participants took part in two identical test sessions, with a median [25th – 75th percentile] of 14 [13–21] days in between. Functional performance tests included 30-s chair stand test (CST), 30-s arm curl test (ACT), six-minutes walking test (6MWT), sit and reach test, timed up and go test (TUG), as well as the assessment of gait speed (GS) at normal and fast pace. Isometric handgrip strength (HGS) was used to estimate strength of the dominant hand. Isoki…

VALIDACIÓN DE UNA ESCALA PARA EL ANÁLISIS DE LAS PERCEPCIONES DE LOS RESIDENTES SOBRE EL IMPACTO SOCIAL DE UN CENTRO DEPORTIVO

2019

Resumen La finalidad de este estudio es validar una escala para el análisis de las percepciones de los residentes sobre el impacto social de un centro deportivo. Se recogió una muestra de 406 residentes del municipio de Moncada (Valencia), con un error de muestreo de ±4,82, que contestaron a una encuesta de 31 ítems que recogían posibles impactos sociales derivados de la presencia del centro deportivo en la localidad. La aplicación de análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio redujo la escala a 28 indicadores distribuidos en siete dimensiones de impacto: impacto sociocultural, impacto socioeconómico, impacto en la imagen y la promoción del municipio, impacto en el desarrollo urbano y …