What does Winter Swimming Have to do with Balneotherapy?

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-64
Author(s):  
Anna Kokocińska ◽  
Przemysław Adamczyk ◽  
Irena Ponikowska
Keyword(s):  
Blood Count ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Cardiorespiratory System ◽  
Extreme Sports ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Complex Procedure ◽  
Oxidative Processes

Winter swimming is a complex procedure that simultaneously includes the effects of cold, water itself, physical activity, and the climate factor. All these elements are used in thermal medicine in a milder form. They also have a lot in common with Kneipp hardening therapy. In winter swimming, belonging to extreme sports, extremely strong stimuli act simultaneously. Winter swimming positively affects the cardiorespiratory system, complete blood count, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, immune system, the skin, metabolic processes, and the mental sphere. Empirically, many beneficial effects of winter swimming have been discovered, but there is very little scientific research showing this procedure’s mechanisms of action. Hence, they are often based on hypotheses. The mechanisms of action of winter swimming on complete blood count and the organism’s oxidative processes are best explained. However, the explanation of the mechanisms of action is mostly based on research conducted in cryotherapy. To obtain beneficial health effects, it is necessary to prepare properly for winter swimming and comply with the entire process’s rules, from preparation, through the treatment itself, to behavior after the procedure. In recent years, handbooks and guides have appeared in Poland that contain practical tips on the winter swimming procedure.

scholarly journals The Effect of Extreme Cold on Complete Blood Count and Biochemical Indicators: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 424
Author(s):  
Aneta Teległów ◽  
Valerjan Romanovski ◽  
Beata Skowron ◽  
Dawid Mucha ◽  
Łukasz Tota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Count ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Blood Indices ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Extreme Cold

Regular exposure to a cold factor—cold water swimming or ice swimming and cold air—results in an increased tolerance to cold due to numerous adaptive mechanisms in humans. Due to the lack of scientific reports on the effects of extremely low outdoor temperatures on the functioning of the human circulatory system, the aim of this study was to evaluate complete blood count and biochemical blood indices in multiple Guinness world record holder Valerjan Romanovski, who was exposed to extremely cold environment from −5 °C to −37 °C for 50 days in Rovaniemi (a city in northern Finland). Valerjan Romanovski proved that humans can function in extremely cold temperatures. Blood from the subject was collected before and after the expedition. The subject was found to have abnormalities for the following blood indices: testosterone increases by 60.14%, RBC decreases by 4.01%, HGB decreases by 3.47%, WBC decreases by 21.53%, neutrocytes decrease by 17.31%, PDW increases by 5.31%, AspAT increases by 52.81%, AlAT increase by 68.75%, CK increases by 8.61%, total cholesterol decreases by 5.88%, HDL increases by 28.18%. Percentage changes in other complete blood count and biochemical indices were within standard limits. Long-term exposure of the subject (50 days) to extreme cold stress had no noticeable negative effect on daily functioning.

scholarly journals Effect of raw and encapsulated policosanol on lipid profiles, blood biochemistry, activity, energy expenditure and macronutrient metabolism of adult cats

2021 ◽  
pp. 1098612X2110137
Author(s):  
James R Templeman ◽  
Kylie Hogan ◽  
Alexandra Blanchard ◽  
Christopher PF Marinangeli ◽  
Alexandra Camara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Indirect Calorimetry ◽  
Respiratory Quotient ◽  
Blood Count ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Serum Biochemistry ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Adult Cats ◽  
Activity Energy

Objectives The objective of this study was to verify the safety of policosanol supplementation for domestic cats. The effects of raw and encapsulated policosanol were compared with positive (L-carnitine) and negative (no supplementation) controls on outcomes of complete blood count, serum biochemistry, energy expenditure, respiratory quotient and physical activity in healthy young adult cats. Methods The study was a replicated 4 × 4 complete Latin square design. Eight cats (four castrated males, four spayed females; mean age 3.0 ± 1.0 years; mean weight 4.36 ± 1.08 kg; mean body condition score 5.4 ± 1.4) were blocked by sex and body weight then randomized to treatment groups: raw policosanol (10 mg/kg body weight), encapsulated policosanol (50 mg/kg body weight), L-carnitine (200 mg/kg body weight) or no supplementation. Treatments were supplemented to a basal diet for 28 days with a 1-week washout between periods. Food was distributed equally between two offerings to ensure complete supplement consumption (first offering) and measure consumption time (second offering). Blood collection (lipid profile, complete blood count, serum biochemistry) and indirect calorimetry (energy expenditure, respiratory quotient) were conducted at days 0, 14 and 28 of each period. Activity monitors were worn 7 days prior to indirect calorimetry and blood collection. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures mixed model (SAS, v.9.4). Results Food intake and body weight were similar among treatments. There was no effect of treatment on lipid profile, serum biochemistry, activity, energy expenditure or respiratory quotient ( P >0.05); however, time to consume a second meal was greatest in cats fed raw policosanol ( P <0.05). Conclusions and relevance These data suggest that policosanol is safe for feline consumption. Further studies with cats demonstrating cardiometabolic risk factors are warranted to confirm whether policosanol therapy is an efficacious treatment for hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Identifying Targets for the Prevention of Childhood Undernutrition in a Resource-Limited Peri-Urban Ecuadorian Community

2021 ◽  
pp. 037957212098250
Author(s):  
Suzanna L. Attia ◽  
Wolf-Peter Schmidt ◽  
Janeth Ceballos Osorio ◽  
Thomas Young ◽  
Aric Schadler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Blood Count ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Serum Zinc ◽  
White Blood Count ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Vitamin Deficiencies ◽  
Dietary Diversity Score

Background: In middle-income countries, malnutrition concentrates in marginalized populations with a lack of effective preventive strategies. Objective: Identify risk factors for undernutrition in a peri-urban Ecuadorian community of children aged 12 to 59 months. Methods: Data from a cross-sectional survey in 2011 of children 1 to 5 years were analyzed including demographic data, medical history and examination, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), anthropometric measurements, and blood for complete blood count, C-reactive protein, vitamin A, iron, and zinc levels. Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was calculated from FFQ. Bivariate and multivariate analysis assessed effects on primary outcome of undernutrition by DDS, vitamin deficiencies, and demographic and nutritional data. Results: N = 67, 52.2% undernourished: 49.3% stunted, 25.4% underweight, and 3% wasted; 74.6% (n = 50) were anemic and 95.1% (n = 39) had low serum zinc. Dietary Diversity Score was universally low (mean 4.91 ± 1.36, max 12). Undernutrition was associated with lower vitamin A levels (20 306, IQR: 16605.25-23973.75 vs 23665, IQR: 19292-26474 ng/mL, P = .04); underweight was associated with less parental report of illness (43.8%, n = 7 vs 80% n = 40, P = .005) and higher white blood count (13.7, IQR: 11.95-15.8 vs 10.9, IQR: 7.8-14.23 × 109/L, P = .02). In multiple regression, risk of undernutrition decreased by 4% for every $10 monthly income increase (95 CI%: 0.5%-7.4%, P = .02, n = 23); risk of underweight decreased by 0.06 for every increased DDS point (adjusted odds ratio: 0.06; 95 CI%: 0.004-0.91, P = .04, n = 23). Conclusions: In this peri-urban limited resource, mostly Indigenous Ecuadorian community, stunting exceeds national prevalence, lower monthly income is the strongest predictor of undernutrition, lower DDS can predict some forms of undernutrition, and vitamin deficiencies are associated with but not predictive of undernutrition.

scholarly journals Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1016
Author(s):  
María Jesús Rodríguez-Sojo ◽  
Antonio Jesús Ruiz-Malagón ◽  
María Elena Rodríguez-Cabezas ◽  
Julio Gálvez ◽  
Alba Rodríguez-Nogales
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Exclusion ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Immunomodulatory Properties ◽  
Immunological Alterations

Probiotics microorganisms exert their health-associated activities through some of the following general actions: competitive exclusion, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, production of bacteriocins, improvement of altered microbiota, and modulation of the immune response. Among them, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 has become one of the most promising probiotics and it has been described to possess potential beneficial effects on inflammatory processes and immunological alterations. Different studies, preclinical and clinical trials, have evidenced its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and elucidated the precise mechanisms of action involved in its beneficial effects. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the effect on host health, mechanisms, and future therapeutic approaches.

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