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Exercise-Induced muscle–fat crosstalk: molecular mediators and their pharmacological modulation for the maintenance of metabolic flexibility in aging /
No full textRegular physical activity induces a dynamic crosstalk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, modulating the key molecular pathways that underlie metabolic flexibility, mitochondrial function, and inflammation. This review highlights the role of myokines and adipokines—particularly IL-6, irisin, leptin, and adiponectin—in orchestrating muscle–adipose tissue communication during exercise. Exercise stimulates AMPK, PGC-1α, and SIRT1 signaling, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and autophagy, while also regulating muscle hypertrophy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Simultaneously, adipose-derived factors like leptin and adiponectin modulate skeletal muscle metabolism via JAK/STAT3 and AdipoR1-mediated AMPK activation. Additionally, emerging exercise mimetics such as the mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c and myostatin inhibitors are highlighted for their roles in increasing muscle mass, the browning of white adipose tissue, and improving systemic metabolic function. The review also addresses the role of anti-inflammatory compounds, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and low-dose aspirin, in mitigating NF-κB and IL-6 signaling to protect mitochondrial health. The resulting metabolic flexibility, defined as the ability to efficiently switch between lipid and glucose oxidation, is enhanced through repeated exercise, counteracting age- and disease-related mitochondrial and functional decline. Together, these adaptations demonstrate the importance of inter-tissue signaling in maintaining energy homeostasis and preventing sarcopenia, obesity, and insulin resistance. Finally, here we propose a stratified treatment algorithm based on common age-related comorbidities, offering a framework for precision-based interventions that may offer a promising strategy to preserve metabolic plasticity and delay the age-associated decline in cardiometabolic health
Effectiveness of remote high-intensity aerobic interval training on quality of life and physical health in breast cancer survivors: two years follow-up /
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of a remotely supervised HIIT program implemented during six months NACT on quality of life (QoL) and physical health outcomes in women with breast cancer, assessed 18–24 months post-intervention. The HIIT intervention study was two arm randomized control trial implementing remotely supervised 4x4 min training at an intensity of 85-95% of peak heart rate for 6 months during NACT. Physical health was assessed by treadmill VO 2peak , 6MWT and sit-to-stand test, and QoL by the EORTC QoL30. Participants were 24 BC survivors who agreed to participate in follow-up 18-24 months after the intervention (HIIT= 13, CG = 11). Results: At follow-up, the HIIT group demonstrated significant difference in change of VO 2peak (p = .046, ES = .169) and time to exhaustion (p = .024, ES= .211). Both groups presented significantly higher 6MWT and sit to stand test results at follow-up compared to pre-NACT (p < .05), while the magnitude of change was not significant. HIIT group results demonstrated moderate associations between 6MWT and Physical Functioning (r = −.674, p = .012) and Emotional Functioning (− .567, p = .043). A remotely supervised 6-months HIIT during NACT showed positive effects on submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness, absolute VO 2peak and muscle strength at 18-24 months follow-up. Moderate negative association between 6MWT and perceived physical and emotional functioning highlighted the complex relationship between physiological outcomes and self-reported QoL. The HIIT can be recommended during NACT to maintain prolonged effects on physical health of BC survivors
Metaverse marketing: a business-to-business analysis of brand strategies and generation Z engagement in the sports industry /
No full textThis research explores the interplay between the services the Metaverse industry provides, including brand gamification, Metaverse marketing factors (novelty, interactivity, Influencer), and their impact on brand advocacy and loyalty among Generation Z within the sports industry. Employing a quantitative approach, the researchers collected data from 384 participants. The findings reveal significant positive relationships between brand gamification and Metaverse novelty and interactivity. The outcomes of Metaverse devices exhibited that consumers developed a strong affinity for specific brands due to the influence of social media influencers. In addition, the vibrant and dynamic realm of the Metaverse has generated a wave of positive brand sentiment among individuals. The research examined the efficiency of transforming brand experiences inside the Metaverse into gamified systems, significantly influencing people and increasing their affection for the brands within the sports industry. Metaverse is a critical tool for Generation Z as this group seeks immersive, active, and engaging experiences, and effective branding in Metaverse can provide a solid appeal to this tech-savvy youth. The findings of this research provide significant managerial implications for both the Metaverse market and the sports industry, highlighting the significance of leveraging the Metaverse for enhanced brand engagement and loyalty among Generation Z
Adapted basketball training improves fitness and motivation in adolescents with moderate obesity: a randomized controlled trial /
No full textBackground: Adolescent obesity represents a global public health issue, with an urgent need for tailored intervention strategies, particularly in school settings. Objectives: This study investigated the impact of adapted basketball training—with and without video summaries—on BMI, fitness, motivation, and technical skills in adolescents with moderate obesity. Methods: Fifty-five participants were randomly assigned to one of three instructional modalities—a modified basketball program enriched with video summaries (ADAPT + VID), a modified program without videos (ADAPT), and a traditional program (CONT)—and completed an eight-week intervention. Before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention, participants in all three groups underwent testing to assess: (i) anthropometric measurements (BMI), (ii) technical accuracy (passing, dribbling, and shooting), (iii) physical fitness using the Intermittent Fitness Test 15-15 (Spartacus Test), and (iv) motivation using the Situational Motivation Scale. Results: Assessments revealed significant improvements in the ADAPT + VID group, with notable reductions in BMI (d = 0.25, p < 0.05), enhanced physical fitness (d = 0.19, p = 0.002), and improved performance in passing (d = 1.42, p < 0.001), dribbling (d = 1.30, p < 0.001), and free-throw shooting (d = 0.80, p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant increase in intrinsic motivation (d = 1.18, p < 0.001) and a reduction in amotivation (d = 1.12, p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusions: These findings suggest that incorporating pedagogical video summaries into an adapted basketball program may effectively improve physical health, motor skills, and motivation among adolescents with moderate obesity
Six-day fasting causes temporary increases in both antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress in healthy young men: a randomized controlled trial /
No full textThe impact of prolonged fasting on human oxidative stress (OS) levels and antioxidant defence mechanisms remains poorly understood. The aim of this current study was to investigate the redox response to a 6-day fast in a cohort of healthy men. Twenty-six participants were randomly allocated to a 6-day complete fasting or a control trial. Sympathetic activity, substrate oxidation, redox status, blood glucose, ketones, and testosterone concentrations were assessed. Throughout the fasting period, ketone concentration and fat oxidation increased, and carbohydrate oxidation and glucose and testosterone concentrations decreased. Heart rate increased on fasting days 2 and 4 and returned to the pre-fasting level on fasting day 6. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased after fasting days 4 and 6, and this increase was accompanied by an increase in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but the TAC/MDA ratio remained constant. Notably, all fasting-evoked changes returned to the baseline values after resumption of the regular diet. Thus, prolonged fasting activated both antioxidant defence and OS, but the redox balance was maintained. Consistent with this response, ketone concentration and sympathetic nervous system activity increased, and testosterone concentration decreased. These variables returned to the pre-fasting state after resumption of the usual eating habits
Examining the influence of green HR practices on green organizational performance: evidence from pharmaceutical sector of Asian economies /
No full textAdvanced ECG Analysis to evaluate multimodal exercise effects on cardiovascular health /
No full textBackground and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the primary causes of death throughout the world. Engaging in physical activity (PA) is crucial for the prevention of CVD, as a lack of exercise significantly impacts global health. For health promotion purposes, it is important to optimize PA and develop the main physical components. Multimodal exercise program (MEP) interventions cause unique cardiac changes that can be systematically analyzed using advanced ECG techniques. Using algebraic co-integration methods, this study examined the physiological cardiac adaptations of a 6-week MEP compared to sedentary control subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 physically inactive males, aged 20–35 years, were recruited for a 6-week MEP. The intervention group (IG) consisted of 28 participants, while the control group (CG) included 22 participants. The MEP included balance, endurance, muscle strength, and flexibility exercises in one session. The cardiovascular system (CVS) was assessed using electrocardiography (ECG) and arterial blood pressure during an incremental cycle ergometer test, both before and after the 6-week period. Results: After the post-MEP, the IG’s resting HR showed a slight but insignificant decrease, from 84.5 to 82 bpm, with improved recovery rates at minute 1 (113.1–104.7 bpm). The CG showed a similar trend. pBP in IG significantly increased post-MEP during recovery at minute 1 (73–81) and minute 2 (65–72), where the CG showed a slight but significant difference. DskJT-QRS in IG post-MEP increased significantly during recovery in minutes 1–4, with all values showing p < 0.05. CG showed significance only at minute 3. Conclusions: Both the 6-week MEP and control had a positive impact on the CVS. The statement refers to changes in dynamic interactions between ECG parameters registered during the incremental exercise test and especially during the recovery after workload. Algebraic data co-integration analysis of ECG parameters demonstrated a sensitive assessment of the influence of exercising on the cardiovascular system
Definitions of determinants of physical activity behaviour: process and outcome of consensus from the DE-PASS expert group /
No full textBackground: Despite extensive research on physical activity behaviour (PAB), consensus is lacking on related terms and definitions, thereby hindering the ability to compare findings between studies and to develop reliable assessment tools. This study therefore aimed to establish consensus on the definitions of key PAB determinants. Methods: First, an international expert steering committee was established, comprising members of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) action "DEterminants of Physical ActivitieS in Settings" (DE-PASS). Recently published review-level studies were used to identify key determinants of PAB. Two independent reviewers systematically reviewed the literature to catalogue the range of definitions used for key determinants of PAB (steps 1-2). A two-round modified Delphi survey was conducted online from February to September 2023, to determine the optimal definition for each determinant. In round 1, experts selected the most suitable definition for each of the 41 initially identified determinants. In round 2, experts ranked the appropriateness of the definition selected from round 1 on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined a priori as ≥ 75% agreement on the definition (i.e., ratings of ≥ 4 points). A professional English language expert ensured concise, coherent wording and high-quality editing of the definitions (steps 3-6). Results: Eighty-five experts in PAB research participated in round 1, and sixty-nine experts in round 2. Consensus of definitions was achieved for 39 of the 41 determinants (88.4%-98.6% agreement). The consensus threshold was not achieved for two determinants: genetic profile and regulation (69.6%) and backyard access/size (73.9%). Conclusions: The findings of this study offer a consensus-based set of definitions for 39 key determinants of PAB. These definitions can be used homogenously in academic research on physical activity
The effect of acute and prolonged cooling and heating on muscle force and recovery /
No full textBackground: It has been observed that temperature manipulation has different effect on skeletal muscle function. We hypothesise that both acute and prolonged heating will reduce muscle force more than cooling and recovery will be slower in the heating. Methods: Ten participants (age 27.1 ± 6.8 years) performed acute and prolonged thermal manipulations and neuromuscular testing. We measured muscle, rectal temperatures, P20, P100, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) after acute and prolonged cold water immersion (CWI) and hot water immersion (HWI) and control (CON) sitting. Results: Muscle temperature (Tmu) significantly increased following both acute and prolonged HWI and significantly decreased after acute and prolonged CWI, compared to baseline and CON conditions, p < 0.05. Rectal temperature (Trec) increased after HWI and declined significantly only during prolonged CWI, p < 0.05. Electrically evoked torques (P20 and P100) and MVIC decreased significantly after fatiguing stimulation across all conditions, p < 0.05, with greater post-recovery impairments in HWI compared to CWI, especially in the prolonged phase, p < 0.05. Central activation ratio (CAR) declined significantly only in the prolonged HWI condition after bath and following 3 min of recovery, compared to baseline and other conditions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although HWI effectively increases body temperature, it may significantly impair neuromuscular recovery more than CWI or passive rest
Digital health literacy of adolescents and its association with vaccination literacy: the first evidence from Lithuania /
No full textBackground: Health literacy, including its digital and vaccination-specific components, is essential for informed health decision-making in adolescence—a developmental period when health attitudes and behaviors are shaped and may persist into adulthood. Although the importance of these competencies is increasingly recognized, little is known about the relationship between digital health literacy (DHL) and vaccination literacy (VL) among adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between DHL and VL among Lithuanian adolescents, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Digital Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS19-DIGI) and the Vaccination Literacy Questionnaire (HLS19-VAC) in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 9–12 grades students from Lithuanian gymnasiums using HLS19-DIGI and HLS19-VAC instruments. Analyses included confirmatory factor analyses for validity, McDonald’s omega for reliability, ANOVA and chi-square tests for group comparisons, and linear regression to evaluate DHL—VL associations, adjusting for gender, grade, and frequency of digital resource use. Results: A total of 792 students (42.0% male; mean age 16.4 years) completed the survey. The HLS19-DIGI (CFI = 0.945, TLI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.081) and HLS19-VAC (CFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.959, RMSEA = 0.089) showed satisfactory structural validity, and both scales had good reliability (0.757 and 0.803). Mean DHL and VL scores were 78.28 (SD = 24.24) and 82.64 (SD = 27.22), respectively. Over half of the participants had excellent DHL (55.7%) and VL (63.4%). DHL was a strong predictor of VL (β = 0.429, p < 0.001). The frequency of digital resource use was not significantly related to VL. Conclusions: Higher DHL is associated with higher VL, suggesting that skills in searching for, appraising, and applying online health information can enhance informed vaccination decision-making. Interventions delivered through trusted channels, such as schools and healthcare providers, should aim to strengthen both literacies, address misinformation, and foster critical evaluation competencies to support vaccine uptake in youth