23 research outputs found
Optimization of post-exercise recovery beverages’ composition
No full textFluid intake and adequate hydration are essential and critical during and after training sessions and competition events. Reductions in body water content will prejudice performance with exercise performance significantly impaired when 2% or more of body weight is lost through sweat [1-3]. Guidelines states that in the post exercise (within 30 minutes to 1 hour after the end of the physical exercise), effective rehydration requires the intake of a volume of fluid equal to, at least, the 150% of the difference between body weight before and after the training [4] but a lack is still present regarding specific guidelines related to beverage formulations, strategies and volumes.
Indeed, in addition to water, sweat contains variable amounts of sodium, with lesser amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium so it is important that athletes can benefit from intake of an appropriate amount of a well-formulated drink [5-9].
Our prevoius studies underlined the potential role of skimmed milk as post recovery drink possibly linked to its specific characteristics [10-12]. In particular, milk has naturally high concentrations of electrolytes, that should aid in fluid recovery following exercise [4, 13].
Moreover, it contains casein and whey proteins in a ratio of 3:1 which provides for slower digestion and absorption of these proteins resulting in sustained elevations of blood amino acid concentrations.
In this regard, the aim of this study was to further evaluate the role of milk as post-recovery beverage. In particular, skimmed milk was tested in different volumes (no diluted skimmed milk, skimmed milk diluted 1:2 and 1:3) in order to better evaluate its role and to optimize volume. Moreover, specific nutrients (i.e. Casein, Sodium) and their possible combinations (Casein + Sodium, Whey proteins + Sodium) were taken into account in different concentrations to investigate possible role of specific nutrients.
30 athletes, both male and female, aged between 19 and 47, took part to the study. Each strategy was tested for one week with an intake equal to 500ml of the specific drink with the addiction of an amount of water equal to the volume needed to reach the 150% of loss body weight during the exercise.
A specific questionnaire was performed to ask about type of activity performed, the intensity of the activity, the urine colour, the thirst sensation after waking up in the morning; eventual cramps. Anthropometric measurement and Bioimpedence Analysis (both mono-frequency and multi-frequency) were performed to assess body composition and hydration in term of total body water, intra-cellular water and extra-cellular water.
Following guidelines indications, through the use of 150% of water intake in the post exercise, a variability among subjects were observed with cases also of worsening of hydration status underlining the importance of beverage characteristics as several elements might affect fluid balance: the macronutrient content, the electrolyte (i.e. sodium and potassium) [5-9].
Among the different strategies tested, skimmed milk resulted again the best one, able both to improve total body water in terms of intra-cellular water and body composition more than single milk nutrients. This underlines the importance of further investigate milk as post-exercise recovery beverage in terms not only of nutrients content but also nutrients synergism.
Even if data obtained by this study are limited by the restricted number of athletes, obtained results can be considered a step ahead to better evaluate the role of milk as recovery beverages, to define its applicability and to study new hydration protocols in order to improve the present knowledge on athlete’s hydration and recovery.
References
[1] Maughan RJ. Investigating the associations between hydration and exercise performance: methodology and limitations. Nutr Rev. 2012;70(suppl_2):S128-S131.
[2] Maughan RJ, Shirreffs SM, Leiper JB. Errors in the estimation of hydration status from changes in body mass. J Sports Sci. 2007;25(7):797-804.
[3] Goulet ED, et al. Pre-exercise hyperhydration delays dehydration and improves endurance capacity during 2 h of cycling in a temperate climate. J Physiol Anthropol. 2008;27(5):263-71.
[4] Shirreffs SM, Watson P, Maughan RJ. Milk as an effective post-exercise rehydration drink. Br J Nutr. 2007; 98(1):173-180.
[5] Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116(3):501-528.
[6] Brancaccio P, et al. Supplementation of Acqua Lete(R) (Bicarbonate Calcic Mineral Water) improves hydration status in athletes after short term anaerobic exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012; 9(1):35.
[7] Maughan RJ, et al. A randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status: development of a beverage hydration index. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;103(3):717-23.
[8] Kalman DS, et al. Comparison of coconut water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sport drink on measures of hydration and physical performance in exercise-trained men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):1.
[9] Oliver S, et al. Development of a hydration index: a randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status. Nutr Hosp. 2015;32 Suppl 2:10264.
[10] Vici G, Albertini F, Quintavalle A, Belli L, Polzonetti V. Milk as recovery drink after exercise: a case study. Alimenti Funzionali e Nutraceutici per la Salute. Camerino, 28th June 2016
[11] Vici G, Camilletti D, Cesanelli L, Belli L, Polzonetti V. Effects of different nutritional strategies in post exercise recovery. Cibo e Nutraceutici: direzione salute. Camerino, 10th July 2018
[12] Vici G, Camilletti D, Mozzoni A, Cesanelli L, Belli L, Polzonetti V. Effects of specific re-hydration protocols after exercise in non-elite and elite athletes. 3rd Sport Nutrition International Conference. Bologna, 30th November 2018
[13] Roy BD. Milk: the new sports drink? A Review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008;5:15
A Framework for Rapidly Prototyping Data Mining Pipelines
No full textWith the advent of Big Data, data mining techniques have become crucial for improving decision-making across diverse sectors, yet their employment demands significant resources and time. Time is critical in industrial contexts, as delays can lead to increased costs, missed opportunities, and reduced competitive advantage. To address this, systems for analyzing data can help prototype data mining pipelines, mitigating the risks of failure and resource wastage, especially when experimenting with novel techniques. Moreover, business experts often lack deep technical expertise and need robust support to validate their pipeline designs quickly. This paper presents Rainfall, a novel framework for rapidly prototyping data mining pipelines, developed through collaborative projects with industry. The framework’s requirements stem from a combination of literature review findings, iterative industry engagement, and analysis of existing tools. Rainfall enables the visual programming, execution, monitoring, and management of data mining pipelines, lowering the barrier for non-technical users. Pipelines are composed of configurable nodes that encapsulate functionalities from popular libraries or custom user-defined code, fostering experimentation. The framework is evaluated through a case study and SWOT analysis with INGKA, a large-scale industry partner, alongside usability testing with real users and validation against scenarios from the literature. The paper then underscores the value of industry–academia collaboration in bridging theoretical innovation with practical application
BEAR: BPMN and Environment AnimatoR
No full textNowadays, BPMN is a de-facto standard for modeling multiple participants processes as collaboration diagrams. BPMN collaboration can be heavily influenced by the physical environment in which the involved participants act. Indeed, they can occupy a position, move in the space, make decisions according to the environment’s status, and change it. However, BPMN lacks support for integrating the environment. To overcome this limitation, we present BEAR, a tool for modeling and animating together a BPMN collaboration and its environment in the form of a place graph. BEAR supports designers in precisely understanding the interplay between BPMN collaborations and the environment
Gold(III) complexes with thiosemicarbazone ligands: insights into their cytotoxic effects on lung cancer cells
No full textCancer continues to pose a global threat, underscoring the urgent need for more effective and safer treatment
options. Gold-based compounds have recently emerged as promising candidates due to their diverse range of
biological activities. In this study, three gold(III) complexes derived from thiosemicarbazone ligands have been
synthesized, fully characterized, including their X-ray crystal structures. We conducted initial mode-of-action
studies on DNA and BSA, followed by a comprehensive investigation into the cytotoxic effects of these novel
gold(III) complexes on lung cancer cells (A549, H2052, and H28). The results demonstrated a concentrationdependent cytotoxic response, with H28 cells exhibiting the highest sensitivity to the treatment. Furthermore,
the analysis of the cell cycle revealed that these compounds induce cell cycle arrest and promote apoptosis as a
response to treatment. We also observed distinct morphological changes and increased oxidative stress,
contributing significantly to cell death. Notably, these complexes exhibited the ability to suppress interleukin-6
production in mesothelioma cell lines, and this highlights their anti-inflammatory potential. To gain an initial
understanding of cytotoxicity on healthy cells, hemolysis tests were conducted against human blood cells, with
no evidence of hemolysis. Furthermore, a toxicity assessment through the in vivo Galleria mellonella model
underscored the absence of detectable toxicity. These findings prove that these complexes are promising novel
therapeutic agents for lung cance
Maternal air pollution exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy and markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction
No full textBackground: Maternal exposure to air pollutants has been associated with pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. Endothelial dysfunction, an imbalance in vascular function, during pregnancy is considered a key element in the development of pre-eclampsia. Environmental exposure to particulate matter (PM) during the first trimester of pregnancy might increase maternal inflammatory status thus affecting fetal growth, possibly leading to preterm delivery. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate possible effects of PM10 and PM2.5 exposure on fetal growth in healthy pregnant women at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy by investigating the relationship between circulating biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6), early systemic prothrombotic effects (CRP, plasma fibrinogen, PAI-1) and endothelial dysfunction (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1). Methods: 295 pregnant women were recruited. Individual PM exposure was assigned to each subject by calculating the mean of PM10 and PM2.5 daily values observed during the 30, 60, and 90 days preceding enrolment (long-term) and single lag days back to fourteen days (short-term), and circulating plasma biomarkers were determined. Results: For long-term exposure, we observed an increase in sVCAM-1 and a decrease of PAI-1 levels for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 concentration. Decreases in IL-6 and CRP levels were associated with each 10 μg/m3 PM2.5 increase. For short-term exposure, the levels of sVCAM-1 and PAI-1 were found to be associated with PM10 exposure, whereas fibrinogen levels were associated with PM2.5 exposure. Maternal plasmatic fibrinogen levels were negatively associated with the crown-rump length (p-value = 0.008). Discussion: The present study showed that both long- and short-term exposures to PM are associated with changes in circulating levels of biomarkers in pregnant women reflecting systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction/activation. Our findings support the hypothesis that inflammation and endothelial dysfunction might have a central role in modulating the detrimental effects of air pollution exposure during pregnancy
Cuerpo, voz y territorio en Wachay de Cecilia Salman
No full textIn this article we approach the dramatic text Wachay by the writer Cecilia Salman from Santiago del Estero; we are interested in reflecting on how the author constructs the feminine/animal/natural/sound universe anchored in popular stories of our northern soil. From a decolonial perspective, we will comment on the resignification of cultural texts of the region, through an original and localized fabric.En este artículo abordamos el texto dramático Wachay de la escritora santiagueña Cecilia Salman; nos interesa reflexionar sobre cómo la autora construye el universo femenino/animal/natural/sonoro anclada en historias populares de nuestro suelo norteño. Desde una perspectiva decolonial comentaremos acerca de la resignificación de textos culturales de la región, a través de un tejido original y lugarizado
ANALYSIS OF MICRORNA EXPRESSION IN MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA, ASBESTOSIS AND BENIGN PULMONARY DISEASE: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
No full textObjectives: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of a panel of microRNAs in
plasma samples of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).
Methods: A group of patients with pathological diagnosis of MPM were randomly
selected from a prospective mesothelioma database. Similarly, a group
of patients with asbestosis and one with benign pulmonary disease werechosen for comparison. A panel of miRNA including miR-16, miR-17, miR-21,
miR-126 and miR-486 were evaluated. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) followed
by Bonferroni post-hoc test was used for multiple comparisons. A Pvalue
<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Fourteen patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, 14 patients
with asbestosis and 21 patients with benign pulmonary disease were studied.
The expression of miR-16 (P < 0.0001), miR-17 (P < 0.0001), miR-21 (P = 0.004),
miR-126 (P = 0.0016) and miR-486 (P = 0.003) was significantly lower in
patients with asbestosis compared with subjects with benign pulmonary
disease. The expression of miR-16 (P = 0.018), miR-17 (P = 0.024) and miR-126
(P = 0.019) was significantly lower in patients with MPM compared with
patients with benign pulmonary disease. Only miR-486 was able to discriminate
patients with MPM in respect to patients with asbestosis (P = 0.004).
Amongstpatients with MPM, expression levels of miR-17 (P = 0.023) and miR-
486 (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in patients with epithelioid type compared
to patients with sarcomatoid and biphasic type.
Conclusions: the expression of miR-16, miR-17 and miR-126 was able to distinguish
patients with MPM from subjects with benign pulmonary diseases. Levels
of miR-17 and miR-486 were significantly higher in patients with mesothelioma
epithelioid type. The available data clearly support the role of miRNAs in the
aetiology of MPM, suggesting their possible use as diagnostic markers of the
disease. Further large-scale studies are required to validate their usefulness in
routine clinical settings
Exhaled breath analysis in suspected cases of non-small-cell lung cancer: a cross-sectional study
No full textLung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide and is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There is a considerable interest in finding diagnostic methods in the disease's earliest stages. A complementary approach to imaging techniques could be provided by exhaled breath gas phase and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis. The aim of this study was to quantify various biomarkers in the exhaled breath gas phase and EBC in suspected cases of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study involved 138 subjects with suspected lung cancer, 71 of whom had a subsequent diagnosis of NSCLC. The diagnostic power of a combination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-EBC, and exhaled pentane, 2-methyl pentane, hexane, ethyl benzene, heptanal, trans-2-nonenal in distinguishing NSCLC and non-NSCLC subjects was poor-to-fair (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.68), similar to that of smoking history alone (expressed as pack-years, AUC = 0.70); a further improvement was observed when smoking history was combined with exhaled compounds (AUC = 0.80). The diagnostic power was increased in those patients with little or no past smoke exposure (AUC = 0.92) or where past smoke exposure was up to 30 pack-years (AUC = 0.85). Exhaled substances had a good accuracy in discriminating suspected cancerous cases only in those subjects with a modest smoking history (≤ 30 pack-years), but the inclusion of other exhaled biomarkers may increase the overall accuracy, regardless of tobacco smoke
MicroRNA Expression in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestosis: A Pilot Study
No full textBackground. The identification of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for asbestos-related diseases is relevant for early diagnosis and patient survival and may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease development and progression.Aims. To identify a pattern of miRNAs as possible diagnostic biomarkers for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and asbestosis (ASB) and as prognostic biomarkers for MPM patients.Methods. miRNA-16, miRNA-17, miRNA-126, and miRNA-486 were quantified in plasma and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic roles compared to patients with other noncancerous pulmonary diseases (controls). Results. The expression of all the miRNAs was significantly lower in patients with MPM and ASB than that in controls. miRNA-16, miRNA-17, and miRNA-486 in plasma and tissue of MPM patients were significantly correlated. Furthermore, the expression of miRNA-16 in plasma and tissue, and miRNA-486 only in tissue, was positively related with cumulative survival in MPM patients.Conclusions. All the miRNA levels were decreased in patients with MPM or ASB, supporting the role of circulating miRNAs as a potential tool for diseases associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. miRNA-16 was directly related to MPM patient prognosis, suggesting its possible use as a prognostic marker in MPM patients.</jats:p
Plasma and EBC microRNAs as early biomarkers of non-small-cell lung cancer
No full textLung cancer is a major cause of death in Western countries. Current screening methods are invasive and still lead to a high percentage of false positives. There is, therefore, a need to find biomarkers that increase the probability of detecting lung cancer early. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are stable molecules in blood plasma and exhaled breath condensate (EBC). We quantified miRNA-21 and miRNA-486 expression from plasma and EBC samples from patients with a diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and controls. miRNA-21 was significantly higher in plasma and in EBC of the NSCLC patients and miRNA-486 was significantly lower. This difference indicates a significantly improved diagnostic value, and suggests that these miRNAs could be clinically used as a first-line screening test in high-risk subjects
