1,721,027 research outputs found
Minireview: Current status of endoscopic duodenal mucosal resurfacing
Full text linkSeveral strategies are being pursued to overcome the alarming pandemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In recent years, duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR) has shown its potential to improve glycemic indices. Following animal studies, which demonstrated feasibility and safety, the procedure has been applied in two human studies. The DMR procedure has been considered feasible and safe in humans with a limited occurrence of complications and adverse events. Reductions in glycated haemoglobin, weight, fasting plasma glucose, and alanine transaminase have been proven at different follow-up time-points. The length of the ablation may induce different outcomes, having the patients with long duodenal segment ablated showed greater beneficial effects. The current evidence does not still prove the apparent insulin-sensitizing mechanism explaining the impact of the DMR procedure on hepatic glucose production. However, the initial findings have demonstrated a positive risk-benefit ratio and an effect on the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as T2D. Future studies should clarify the mechanisms underlying the positive effects and durability of the treatment using controlled trial conditions on larger number of patients
Fostering the acupuncture practice for health outcomes research: the perspective from Taiwan
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Notational analysis of elite men’s water polo related to specific margins of victory
No full textThe present study aimed to analyze the water polo matches of the men's World Championships, comparing technical and tactical aspects of winning and losing teams, during closed (≤ 3 goals of margin of victory at the end of the 4(th) quarter; winning, W; losing, L) and unbalanced (>3 goals; winning, MW; losing, ML) games. Therefore, 42 of the 48 (6 were draw at end of the 4(th) quarter) matches were considered. According to each game situation (i.e., even, counterattack, power-play, transition), a notational analysis was performed in relation to the following aspects: occurrence of actions, action outcome, execution and origin of shots, and mean duration. In addition, the occurrence of the offensive (and role) and defensive arrangements of even and power-play were analyzed. To show differences (p < 0.05) in terms of margin of victory, an analysis of variance was applied. Although ML (74 ± 11%) performed more even actions than W (68 ± 7%) and MW (69 ± 6%), the latter teams (W = 9 ± 6%; MW = 13 ± 6%) performed more counterattacks than L (3 ± 2%) and ML (5 ± 5%). Power-play is more played during closed (W = 20 ± 3%; L = 22 ± 3%) than unbalanced games (MW = 17 ± 4%; ML = 16 ± 7%). Moreover, differences in terms of margin of victory emerged for mean duration (even, power-play, transition), action outcome (even, power-play), zone origin (even, counterattack, power-play) and technical execution (even, power-play) of shots, and even and power-play offensive (and role) and defensive arrangements. Divergences mainly emerged between closed and unbalanced games, highlighting that the water polo matches of the men's World Championships need to be analyzed either considering the winning and losing outcome of match and specific margins of victory. Thus, coaches can advance their knowledge, considering that closed and unbalanced games are largely characterized by the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform power-play actions, and by a divergent grade of defensive skills regardless of game situation, respectively. Key pointsThe water polo matches of the men's World Championships need to be analyzed considering successful/unsuccessful teams as well as specific margins of victory.Closed matches are mainly characterized by a high occurrence of the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform the power-play actions.For the unbalanced matches, a divergent grade of defensive skills between teams has been highlighted.Coaches can improve their training, considering the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform the power-play actions towards a closed match, and caring the defensive skills of each game situation towards an unbalanced match
Assessment of sprint and change of direction performance in college football players
No full textThe aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between straight-sprint and change-of-direction performance. Total sprinting time and split time at 5 m were collected from 44 college football players during a 15-m straight sprint (SS15m) and a 15-m zigzag sprint with two 60° changes of direction (COD15m). Differences in sprinting time between COD15m and SS15m and between COD5m and SS5m were expressed as percentage of decrement at 5 m and 15 m (Δ%5m and Δ%15m). Significant and high correlations emerged between SS15m and COD15m (r = .86, P < .0001), SS5m and SS15m (r = .92, P < .0001), SS5m and COD5m (r = .92, P < .0001), and COD5m and COD15m (r = .71, P < .0001). Δ%5m and Δ%15m showed a range of 1.2-30.0% and 34.9-59.4%, respectively. These results suggested how straight-sprint and change-of-direction performance are similar abilities in college football players, in particular when a smaller angle of the change of direction is considered. Moreover, it seems necessary to have athletes undergo tests that mimic the demands of football game, which is characterized by sprint on short distances and with changes of direction
The role of brain natriuretic peptide during strenuous endurance exercise and appetite regulation
Full text linkEffects of judo training on bones: A systematic literature review
No full textThe aim of this study was to provide a systematic literature review on the osteogenic effects of judo (PROSPERO: CRD42016041803). The online search was conducted according to the inclusion criteria: observational studies and clinical/interventional trials in English from inception to June 2016; bone health, bone mineral density (BMD), diameters, impact force, and bone turnover marker (BTM) outcomes. Thirty-four studies were included and graded for their methodological quality ("fair" quality: 79.4%). The most used assessment method (44.1%) was X-ray absorptiometry. A positive association between judo and bone health/status emerged. Findings support site-specific BMD accrual in children, adolescents, adult athletes, and in premenopausal and postmenopausal female practitioners. Bone turnover markers revealed a hypermetabolic status in high-level judo athletes. The osteogenic stimuli of judo seem to protect athletes from alterations in bone metabolic balance due to weight loss cycling. Sexual dimorphism was found between judoka in bone diameters and mass, and significant differences in bone breadths emerged between elite and nonelite judokas. The fall techniques reduced bone impact force and velocity with respect to "natural" fall. Further longitudinal, cross-sectional, and interventional researches are required. This article provides useful information on bone for health sport scientists, coaches, and practitioners, stimulating future research lines on judo. In particular, coaches and physical trainers should consider introducing judo fall techniques in their training plans to prevent fall-related injuries, especially relevant in the older population. Conversely, coaches are urged to carefully control weight cycling dietary habits of their athletes, which can produce serious metabolic responses on bones
Dual-career through the elite university student-athletes’ lenses: The international FISU-EAS survey
No full textAthletes have the right to combine their sport and higher education careers (e.g., dual career), but differences in the recognition of the student-athlete's status and availability of dual career programmes and services exist worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dual career phenomenon through the international student-athletes' views. Student-athletes competing at the 2017 Summer Universiade were recruited to respond a 31-item online survey encompassing demographic characteristics (Q1-8), sport and university engagement (Q9-13), student-athletes' knowledge and possible sources of information regarding dual career (Q14-22); and dual career support at personal, sport, and academic levels (Q23-31). Four hundred twenty-six respondents (males: 46%, females 54%), competing in 22 different sports (individual: 74%, team: 26%) from Africa (4%), America (20%), Asia (34%), Europe (39%), and Oceania (3), had experienced previous international sports events (94%). Differences among continents emerged for sport (p<0.001) and university (p = 0.039) engagement, and transfer time from home to the training venue (p = 0.030). Individual sports student-athletes showed higher sport engagement (p = 0.003) compared to team sports counterparts. Differences among university majors emerged for university engagement (p<0.001). Long absence from classes (57%), limited leisure time (50%), financial uncertainty (44%), reduction of training due to education (42%), and overload feelings (37%) emerged. The majority of the sample resulted not familiar with dual career programmes (60%) and public authorities (69%), envisaging national dual career policies at university (37%) and sport (25%) levels. Multiple relevant dual career supporters at personal, sport, and university levels were identified, mainly parents (86%) and coaches (65%). To strengthen the potential of the student-athletes of the future, a dual career network should be established among several stakeholders, for transnational cooperation and sharing of knowledge and best practices through extensive communication between policy-makers, practitioners and those having a strong supportive dual career role (e.g., parents, coaches, and university sport staff)
Agility assessment in female futsal and soccer players
No full textAgility is the player's capability to perform rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus. The aims of this study were as follows: 1) to assess the reliability of a reactive visual stimuli agility field test (RVS-T); and 2) to evaluate differences in RVS-T and planned (PVS-T) agility performances between female soccer and futsal players. Material and methods: Sixty-six female players belonging to Italian teams of regional level were recruited to the study. The experimental apparatus consisted of four lighted spherical visual stimuli connected to a computer able to randomly generate three different sequences. Differences between RVS-T and PVS-T performances were calculated to evaluate the decision-making time (DMT) of players. Results: The intraclass reliability coeffcient for RVS-T was 0.80. Significant (P<0.05) differences emerged only for RVS-T (futsal, 17.3±0.5 s; soccer, 18.8±1.1 s) and DMT (futsal, 2.6±0.6 s; soccer, 4.1±1.2 s), whereas similar performances between groups resulted for PVS-T (futsal, 14.7±0.6 s; soccer, 14.6±0.6 s). Conclusions: The RVS-T proved to be a reliable tool to evaluate agility in field conditions. Futsal players showed better RVS-T and DMT performances with respect to soccer counterparts, probably due to the higher velocity of actions and faster decision-making of their sport. The lack of difference in PVS-T performances conrms the importance to evaluate agility capabilities of players in both planned and reactive conditions
Effects of a 4-month judo program on gait performance in older adults.
No full textBackground: Falls prevention is a critical goal of training program for older individuals. This study explored the effects of a judo program on gait performance in older adults.
Methods: Pre- and post-intervention (15 weeks, 1-hr session, twice a week) step length (cm), gait cycle time (s), speed (m·s-1) and cadence (step·min-1) mean values (AVG) and coefficients of variation (CV) were assessed in a judo (JG: N.=16 novice judoka; age=69.3±3.9 years) and a control (CG: N.=14 healthy older adults; age=70.1±4.5 years) group. Two 3 (motor complexity: flat, corridor, hurdling) ×2 (group: JG, CG) ×2 (time: pre, post) MANOVAs with repeated measures were applied to ascertain differences in gait parameters.
Results: A significant Time×Motor Complexity×Group interaction was found for AVG and CV. For AVG, JG showed improvements for flat and hurdling conditions in step length (flat: ∆=+2.6%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=+3.2%, d=0.4), gait cycle (flat: ∆=-4.3%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=-4.0%, d=0.5), speed (flat: ∆=+6.6%, d=0.7; hurdling: ∆=+6.7%, d=0.6) and cadence (flat: ∆=4.3%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=3.9%, d=0.5). For CV, JG improved step length for flat (∆=-20.9%, d=0.6) and hurdling (∆=-16.3%, d=0.8) conditions, whereas CG showed a deterioration in the step length for the corridor condition (∆=+22.3%, d=0.7).
Conclusions: The findings demonstrated the effectiveness of an adapted judo program for improving gait performance in older individuals, suggesting a potential protective effect for fall risk
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