exercise

Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. During mood swings, there may be features of psychosis (delusions and hallucinations) that are mood-congruent. Although psychotic symptoms are seen only in a minority of patients, they explain the early terminology of manic–depressive psychosis. Stage 1a is defined as mild or non-specific symptoms of mood disorder and intervened as formal mental health literacy; family psychoeducation; substance abuse reduction; cognitive behavioral therapy. Euphoric means the experience of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness. Certain natural rewards and social activities, such as aerobic exercise, laughter, listening to or making music, and dancing, can induce a state of euphoria. Racing thoughts are consistent, persistent, often intrusive thoughts that come in rapid succession. There is a direct link between depression and anxiety and racing thoughts. Whereas jumping from topic to topic as in the flight of ideas can be observed by others, ascertainment of racing thoughts requires asking the child whether his or her thoughts seem to be going too fast.

We investigated the associations between circulatory dynamics and Body Composition (BC) of the peripheral lower limbs with Exercise Habits (EHs). We surveyed the EHs of 34 healthy older adults (6 men, 28 women) and measured their BC and skin perfusion (SP). SP did not correlate significantly with any other variable. Participants with established EHs had a lower body weight and Fat Tissue thickness (Fat-T) than those without. Multiple logistic regressions with the presence or absence of an EH as the dependent variable and BC values as the independent variables established Fat-T as a significant variable. Sex was independently associated with soleus muscle thickness, Fat-T, Bone Density (BD), and leg segmental water. Age was independently associated with Fat-T and BD, and body mass index was associated with Fat-T. EHs were not independently associated with any of the BC measurements. Physical characteristics and EHs have minimal influence on peripheral circulatory dynamics.

A comprehensive approach to asymptomatic adults with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern discovered incidentally on routine electrocardiography (ECG) is debatable. The objective of this review article is to update the most recent evidence on the management of young patients with asymptomatic WPW patterns. A substantial proportion of adults with WPW patterns on ECG may remain asymptomatic but the lifetime risk for fatal arrhythmias still exists. The inherent properties of the accessory pathway determine the risk of sudden cardiac death. A low-risk pathway is considered when the pre-excitation is intermittent on ambulatory monitoring or when it disappears completely or abruptly during exercise testing. On the other hand, a high-risk pathway in EP study is suggested by the presence of the shortest pre-excited RR interval (SPERRI) during atrial fibrillation of ≤ 250 ms or accessory pathway effective refractory period (APERP) ≤ 240 ms. The cardiac evaluation may thus be considered in asymptomatic patients with WPW to determine the individual risk for future symptomatic arrhythmia. A shared-decision making must be performed before offering catheter ablation whose procedural success rate is high.

We investigated the effect of exercise therapy by simultaneously using motor imagery of thumb or all finger extension on the affected side and thumb or all finger extension exercise on the unaffected side by using the F-wave, which is used to measure the excitability of anterior horn cells to devise an appropriate exercise therapy using motor imagery for patients with increased muscle tone of the thumb muscles on the affected side. Tasks 1, 2, 3, and 4 involved motor imagery of thumb extension on the affected side, motor imagery of finger extension on the affected side, motor imagery of thumb extension on the affected side based on thumb extension on the unaffected side, and finger extension on the affected side based on finger extension on the unaffected side, respectively; conducted in three trials, with one week or more between each trial. Each task was performed for one minute, with a five-minute interval between tasks. The F-waves from the thenar muscles were recorded with median nerve stimulation on the affected side before and during the tasks. The relative values of the F-wave data of the task and the F-wave data before (resting state) and during the tasks were calculated. In results, the relative data of the F/M amplitude ratio in task 4 was lower than that in the other tasks in three trials. In conclusion, motor imagery of finger extension on the affected side with finger extension movement on the unaffected side was effective for improving the muscle tone of the thenar muscles on the affected side.

Background/Introduction: WHO recommended ‘ready to use therapeutic food’ (RUTF) for community-based management (CMAM) of severely malnourished children (SMC). This is often rejected by children. The objective is to identify and map the locally produced and socio-culturally acceptable food items to treat SMC. Methods: Through community participation, eight varieties of MAHAN Local therapeutic foods (LTFs) were prepared by tribal females at our center as per WHO norms with a shelf life of 4 weeks. LTFs with micronutrients were given at the feeding centers in the villages under supervision 3 - 4 times a day. Results: Multiple, palatable, culturally acceptable, safe, feasible with local womanpower, and cost-effective recipes were developed. Hence, our LTFs are qualitatively superior to other therapeutic foods. This mapping exercise provides a ready reference to other government or non-government organizations for CMAM. Conclusion: MAHAN-LTF is a multiple, palatable, generalizable, and sustainable therapeutic food and are being used in other tribal blocks of India.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) applications increased by 39.3% of individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process in Turkey. For this reason, this descriptive study was conducted to determine the use of integrative and integrated medicine practices in hemodialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of the study consisted of individuals who were treated in a hemodialysis unit in the city center (n = 235). It was planned to include whole of the population by using the whole number method, but patients, who did not agree to participate in the study and did not meet the inclusion criteria of the study, were excluded from the sample and the study was conducted with 160 patients between 1 June and 1 September 2021. As a data collection tool, a questionnaire consisting of 30 questions including socio-demographic and disease characteristics of the patients was prepared by the researcher upon review of related literature. Considering the distribution of phytotherapy method (herbal treatment) usage frequency of integrative and integrated medicine applications of individuals before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the most vitamins (21.8%), prebiotics (12.5%), and honey (%) 10.6), their use was found to be high. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of massage (40%), breathing exercises (30.0%) and spiritual therapy (28.7%) applications increased. As a result, it is seen that integrative and integrated applications are considered in the process of dealing with hemodialysis patients. Physicians need to be aware of and ask patients about their use of integrated and integrated health practices.

An established side-effect of neck dissection (ND) for head and neck (HNC) tumour management includes shoulder dysfunction (SD), which can impact quality of life (QOL). Shoulder strength and range of movement (ROM) are key parameters to be monitored in SD. However, such evaluations are not routinely conducted in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate objectively the impact of ND on shoulder functions. Methods: This is a pilot exploratory study in a tertiary cancer centre. Five participants with unilateral ND and advanced HNC, completed the study. Outcome measures consisted of self-reported QOL questionnaires, C2–T1 dermatomes and shoulder ROM and strength testing. Data was collected at baseline, 1.5-months after surgery and 6-months after diagnosis (after adjuvant treatment completion). Results: Most outcome measures on the surgically affected side were negatively impacted post-operatively, with varied recovery seen at follow-up. Sensory loss was noted at C3–4 dermatome levels. Shoulder ROM and strength was reduced on the surficial side for all participants, with some recovery after six months except for two participants.Conclusion: Results of SD after ND are diverse and unique to each patient. Findings from this pilot study indicate that regular rehabilitation/exercise may facilitate recovery of shoulder function post HNC surgery. However, customised rehabilitation may yield better outcomes. Future studies with a larger sample are indicated to validate the findings of this study.

The flat foot can be defined as a syndrome with multiple etiopathogenesis, characterized by an altered structure of the longitudinal arch of the plantar vault with its reduction in height. The plantar arch collapse can be counteracted by strengthening the muscles involved; for many years, specific physical exercises have been proposed for this purpose in physical and rehabilitation medicine. Our work aimed to improve the plantar arch muscles’ tone using high focal vibration therapy (300 Hz). Methods: 49 children with a 3rd degree flat foot (age: 8,7,6) underwent 10 sessions, 2 days/wk, of 30 min of focused high vibratory therapy at a frequency of 300 Hz (Vissman, Italy). Before and after treatment stabilometry (StT), static and dynamic baropodometry tests were performed. Results: Evaluation of StT showed an improvement in stability and a decrease in the sway area and ellipse area. Baropodometry tests showed a decrease in foot surface. Also, dynamic tests showed a decrease in both foot surfaces. Discussion: The results lead us to consider this method as a method of the first choice for a conservative approach in the rehabilitation of flat foot syndrome and also for 3rd grade children [1,2].

Although the beneficial effect of physical activity in the general population is well established, in elite athletes under vigorous physical activity, the effect on the electrical system of the heart is controversial. Indeed, several studies have shown an increased rate of atrial fibrillation among athletes, whereas others suggest that improved exercise capacity with training reduces atrial fibrillation recurrence. The pathophysiologic explanation of that discrepancy is missing, although several underlying mechanisms have been proposed. Taking into account the current knowledge, it seems that, although the beneficial effects of exercise are well recognized, there are conflicting data regarding the relation of the occurrence - the rate of atrial fibrillation to high-volume exercise and too long-term training. Its significance on the quality of life especially in highly trained athletes remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this short review will try to discuss this discrepancy and hopefully underlie the arising arguments. 

In line with what is defined by W.H.O. (World Health Organization) the objective of the work is to observe and define the interconnection between a healthy lifestyle and the quality of life perceived by people.For this purpose, 30 healthy subjects, who had never practiced sports at a competitive level, were recruited. All individuals were evaluated at T0 and T1 through clinical evaluation and specific functional tests to define the psycho-physical well-being of the person. For three months they were followed with a personalized diet. Subjects were divided into two randomized groups: group A called experimental that followed the protocol for the duration of the study, and group B said evaluation group that performed only evaluations at the same time as group A. both groups were evaluated twice, the first immediately after the last training session, the second evaluation was performed after 30 days from the first.The objective of the project was to analyze, after three months, the cognitive changes in memory and concentration skills, stress experienced at work or study, and psycho-physical well-being perceived by interested parties. The data collected during the evaluations showed that the interconnection between a healthy lifestyle and the quality of life perceived by people is evident.

Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV) is correlated with both, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and hip and ankle disorders in female athletes and has a more significant prevalence compared with male athletes because of numerous factors. The aim of this study is to determine if the connexion between DKV, landing errors, and non-contact ACL injury and re-injury in high-performance, adult, female team sport athletes can be eliminated by changing the frontal plane movement pattern and the landing errors during the rehabilitation process (RHB), a process which was focussed on dynamic knee stability with multidimensional single-leg jump landing training, on 3D knee balance improvement and multistimulus perturbation challenges and tasks,+ eccentric & concentric exercise, strength & conditioning, aerobic training that lasted from 26 - 44 weeks.Assessing and eliminating-reducing DKV during the RHB is mandatory in lowering the re-rupture rates in female professional athletes after ACL surgery and in preventing opposite knee trauma.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and often progressive condition that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) and as a result has negative consequences on a person’s physical condition, functioning, mood, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) [1]. 

Context: Illicit and performance-enhancing drug (PED) use is prevalent among athletes.Aims: We examine the prevalence of PED use among amateur athletes, identify the common characteristics and associated risk factors for illicit PED use and measure the perception and awareness among gym members regarding the safety and effects of illicit drug use.Settings and design: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adult male and female gym center attendees in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods and materials: Self-administered Arabic and English questionnaires were used for data collection. Statistical analysis used: SPSS version 26 was used to perform t- and chi-square tests.Results: This study included 379 participants, of whom 59.6% were male, 52.8% were between 26 and 35 years of age, and a majority of the participants had normal (47.5%) or overweight (40.9%) body mass index. Our study revealed a high prevalence (48.5%) of PED use among gym athletes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the true prevalence might have been higher due to the possibility of underreporting by some participants because of the sensitivity of the subject. Protein powder was the most commonly used type of PED. Of all the participants, 22.3% reported anabolic androgenic steroid use. Side effects of PEDs were observed in 19% of the study participants.Conclusion: The results of this study should encourage public health researchers and health advocates to design and implement behavioral interventions to educate the public on the benefits, risks, and contraindications of dietary supplements used by athletes to enhance their body performance.Key messages•    Performance-enhancing drug (PED) use is prevalent among both professional and amateur athletes.•    Gym athletes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, report increasing PED use.•    Side effects and negative health impacts are associated with illicit PED use.•    Misinformation on the risks and benefits of PEDs is a major public health concern.•    More efforts should be implemented in public awareness about the risk of using PED targeting younger populations.

Aim: The current paper presents a subjective symptom survey regarding postpartum discomfort (Study 1) and a case study on postpartum care using the program developed based on the survey results (Study 2). Thereafter, health care during the postpartum period is discussed.Methods: Study 1 analyzed 1638 postpartum women who completed the Subjective Fatigue Symptom Scale (SFSS) over the period from June 2012 to December 2019. Study 2 detailed the case of a 33-year-old primiparous woman who answered questions regarding the rehabilitation care program.Results: The 1638 subjects included in Study 1 had a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.2 years and a mean postpartum duration of 4.3 ± 2.3 months. Subjective symptoms included lower back pain, shoulder stiffness, sleepiness, wanting to lie down, yawing, and eye strain. The case included in Study 2 showed certain psychological and physical changes following the exercise program. The results of Study 1 showed that motor system discomfort, such as stiff shoulders and lower back pain, occurred in women across all postpartum stages. Our results demonstrated that care and exercise geared toward improving motor system function are imperative after childbirth. Meanwhile, the results of Study 2 imply that our rehabilitation program based on postpartum physical conditions had positive psychological and physical effects.Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that continuing rehabilitative care based on the physical condition during each postpartum stage facilitates improvement in mothers’ physical and psychological discomfort.

Purpose: Exercise has a positive regulatory effect on gut microbiota and is also involved in regulating multiple physiological functions of the human body. This article tested the effects of basketball exercises at different exercise intensities on the gut microbiota of college students. Methods: Athlete research subjects (male, aged 18 - 25) were selected from the basketball team and trained at different intensities to obtain a total of 101 fresh fecal samples. DNA was extracted by a DNA extraction kit and bacterial 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region high-throughput sequencing using the Illumina Hiseq platform. The downstream data were spliced, filtered and de-trimerized and then used to study the difference in gut microbiota. Results: Key bacterial taxa in the gut that responded to exercise intensity differed among athletes of different exercise intensities but most belonged to Firmicutes. With increasing exercise intensity, Butyricicoccus, Anaerostipes, Oxalobacter and Clostridium_IV in basketball players enrich. Further analysis of the functional prediction revealed that carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, metabolism of xenobiotics and glycans and metabolism were significantly expressed in the gut microbiota of basketball athletes with high intensity. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that after long-term professional training, the gut microbiota of athletes adapts to exercise stimulators and can quickly respond to changes in exercise intensity. In high-intensity training, the organism is protected from harm by enriching some beneficial bacteria.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. The disease is characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms such as depression and cognitive impairment. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are various treatments available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.This case study examines a 65-year-old retired accountant, Mr. John Smith, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago. Mr. Smith has been treated with a combination of medications, including levodopa and carbidopa and physical therapy to manage his symptoms. However, his symptoms have not significantly improved.This literature review explores the current research on Parkinson’s disease, including its pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to a depletion of dopamine and the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein, oxidative stress and inflammation. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, neurological examination and response to dopaminergic therapy. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, with medications and non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise and physical therapy. Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment option that has been shown to be effective in managing motor symptoms.While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, ongoing research into its pathophysiology and treatment holds promise for improving outcomes for patients. This case study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) seriously endangers human health, and there are obvious gender differences in incidence rate and prognosis, which are related to the evident differences in anatomical structure, physiological characteristics, and wall shear stress between males and females. In recent years, cardiac rehabilitation has been proven to be safe and effective in controlling the progression and improving the prognosis of CHD. Thereinto, exercise therapy is the central link of cardiac rehabilitation. Exercise can significantly affect vascular endothelial function by regulating wall shear stress. Based on previous research, this paper will briefly review the influence of exercise on wall shear stress in male and female patients with CHD, in order to provide a reference for formulating personalized cardiac rehabilitation programs and further improve the prognosis of CHD.

A collegiate football player presented to the athletic training room with the complaint of intermittent left upper extremity swelling. Deep vein thromboses as well as abnormalities of the cervical spine were ruled out initially. He was referred to a vascular surgeon and diagnosed with McCleery Syndrome after evaluation of the thoracic outlet with dynamic ultrasound testing. He was treated surgically for decompression of his venous thoracic outlet syndrome and has since made a full recovery.

This review paper investigates the relationship between creatine supplementation and the Akt/mTOR pathway, focusing on their impact on muscle performance. The Akt/mTOR pathway is a crucial signaling pathway that regulates muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophy in response to growth factors, nutrients, and mechanical stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that creatine supplementation can influence anabolic signaling pathways, including the phosphorylation of p70S6K, a downstream target of mTOR, leading to enhanced activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. Additionally, creatine supplementation has been shown to increase intramuscular creatine and phosphocreatine levels, improving ATP availability during exercise and enhancing high-intensity muscle contractions. Understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms of the Akt/mTOR pathway is vital for optimizing muscle performance, as dysregulated signaling can hinder muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophic responses. This review highlights the potential of creatine supplementation to modulate the Akt/mTOR pathway, offering insights into its mechanisms and implications for muscle performance enhancement. By unraveling this connection, researchers and practitioners can develop targeted strategies to maximize muscle performance and promote adaptive responses in various exercise and athletic contexts.

The newly launched IAEA project MEREIA (MEthods for Radiological and Environmental Impact Assessment; 2021- 2025), MEREIA continues some activities of previous IAEA exercises in the field of radioecological modelling and focuses on areas where the probabilistic approach determines the predictive capability of environmental models. The program offered the opportunity to set up well-designed and verified scenarios to collect and compare exposures predicted by particular models based on this scenario and then perform a validation study of contributing models. It consists of the comparison of model prediction with observed data or in the case where there is a lack of measurement data to perform a comparison within model prognoses.  The previous international works have brought significant improvement in environmental modeling in terms of better understanding and mathematical description of complex physical and chemical phenomena that occur in various environmental media and also have promoted new areas for experimental investigations. The new experimental results yielded updated handbooks of a large number of environmental parameters for less-known elements. Moreover, the principal objective of the activities in environmental modelling was an integrated risk assessment of the reference group of population and biota associated with radionuclides releases from various kinds of nuclear facilities as from different types and power nuclear reactors, radioactive waste disposal and more complex nuclear research facility. This reflects recent international recommendations to extend protection against radiation hazards of humans to wildlife flora and fauna. However, the statistics supported knowledge on some essential environmental parameters still remain small. Therefore, one could be aware of some limitations of the probabilistic approach that required advanced methods of probabilistic prognosis Monte Carlo.