Physiological Considerations to Support Podium Performance in Para-Athletes

The twenty-first century has seen an increase in para-sport participation and the number of research publications on para-sport and the para-athlete. Unfortunately, the majority of publications are case reports/case series or study single impairment types in isolation. Indeed, an overview of how each International Paralympic Committee classifiable impairment type impact athlete physiology, health, and performance has not been forthcoming in the literature. This can make it challenging for practitioners to appropriately support para-athletes and implement evidence-based research in their daily practice. Moreover, the lack of a cohesive publication that reviews all classifiable impairment types through a physiological lens can make it challenging for researchers new to the field to gain an understanding of unique physiological challenges facing para-athletes and to appreciate the nuances of how various impairment types differentially impact para-athlete physiology. As such, the purpose of this review is to (1) summarize how International Paralympic Committee classifiable impairments alter the normal physiological responses to exercise; (2) provide an overview of “quick win” physiological interventions targeted toward specific para-athlete populations; (3) discuss unique practical considerations for the para-sport practitioner; (4) discuss research gaps and highlight areas for future research and innovation, and (5) provide suggestions for knowledge translation and knowledge sharing strategies to advance the field of para-sport research and its application by para-sport practitioners.

Exercise with Energy Restriction as a Means of Losing Body Mass while Preserving Muscle Quality and Ameliorating Co-morbidities: Towards a Therapy for Obesity?

Exercise with Energy Restriction as a Means of Losing Body Mass while Preserving Muscle Quality and Ameliorating Co-morbidities: Towards a Therapy for Obesity? Antonia Giacco1*, Elena Silvestri1*, Rosalba Senese2, Federica Cioffi1, Arianna Cuomo2, Assunta Lombardi3, Maria Moreno1, Antonia Lanni2 and Pieter de Lange()2 1Dipartimento di Science e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Benevento, Italy 2Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Caserta, Italy 3Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II," Napoli, Italy © The Authors Abstract Obesity and related co-morbidities are a major public health threat worldwide, and efforts to counteract obesity by means of physiological interventions are currently being explored and applied. Here we present an overview of the literature on the effect of dietary/exercise-based programs on loss of different components of body mass. We also discuss gain or lack of loss of lean mass in view of muscle quality maintenance, which is an important aspect to consider when employing weight-loss strategies to tackle obesity. By comparing results obtained in participants with mild to severe obesity with those obtained in lean participants, we highlight variations in the success of these interventions. Furthermore, we briefly address the observation that although certain interventions may not always affect body composition they can nevertheless ameliorate co-morbidities (insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Based on what is currently known, in this narrative review we include data from human and animal studies related to the process of unravelling the mechanisms underlying conservation of functional muscle mass.

Current status of neuroprotective and neuroregenerative strategies in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

Background: Immune-mediated demyelination and consequent degeneration of oligodendrocytes and axons are hallmark features of multiple sclerosis (MS). Remyelination declines in progressive MS, causing permanent axonal loss and irreversible disabilities. Strategies aimed at enhancing remyelination are critical to attenuate disease progression. Objective: We systematically reviewed recent advances in neuroprotective and regenerative therapies for MS, covering preclinical and clinical studies. Methods: We searched three biomedical databases using defined keywords. Two authors independently reviewed articles for inclusion based on pre-specified criteria. The data were extracted from each study and assessed for risk of bias. Results: Our search identified 7351 studies from 2014 to 2020, of which 221 met the defined criteria. These studies reported 262 interventions, wherein 92% were evaluated in animal models. These interventions comprised protein, RNA, lipid and cellular biologics, small molecules, inorganic compounds, and dietary and physiological interventions. Small molecules were the most highly represented strategy, followed by antibody therapies and stem cell transplantation. Conclusion: While significant strides have been made to develop regenerative treatments for MS, the current evidence illustrates a skewed representation of the types of strategies that advance to clinical trials. Further examination is thus required to address current barriers to implementing experimental treatments in clinical settings.

Using Field Based Data to Model Sprint Track Cycling Performance

Cycling performance models are used to study rider and sport characteristics to better understand performance determinants and optimise competition outcomes. Performance requirements cover the demands of competition a cyclist may encounter, whilst rider attributes are physical, technical and psychological characteristics contributing to performance. Several current models of endurance-cycling enhance understanding of performance in road cycling and track endurance, relying on a supply and demand perspective. However, they have yet to be developed for sprint-cycling, with current athlete preparation, instead relying on measures of peak-power, speed and strength to assess performance and guide training. Peak-power models do not adequately explain the demands of actual competition in events over 15-60 s, let alone, in World-Championship sprint cycling events comprising several rounds to medal finals. Whilst there are no descriptive studies of track-sprint cycling events, we present data from physiological interventions using track cycling and repeated sprint exercise research in multiple sports, to elucidate the demands of performance requiring several maximal sprints over a competition. This review will show physiological and power meter data, illustrating the role of all energy pathways in sprint performance. This understanding highlights the need to focus on the capacity required for a given race and over an event, and therefore the recovery needed for each subsequent race, within and between races, and how optimal pacing can be used to enhance performance. We propose a shift in sprint-cyclist preparation away from training just for peak power, to a more comprehensive model of the actual event demands.

Advances in simultaneous PET/MR for imaging neuroreceptor function

Hybrid imaging using PET/MRI has emerged as a platform for elucidating novel neurobiology, molecular and functional changes in disease, and responses to physiological or pharmacological interventions. For the central nervous system, PET/MRI has provided insights into biochemical processes, linking selective molecular targets and distributed brain function. This review highlights several examples that leverage the strengths of simultaneous PET/MRI, which includes measuring the perturbation of multi-modal imaging signals on dynamic timescales during pharmacological challenges, physiological interventions or behavioral tasks. We discuss important considerations for the experimental design of dynamic PET/MRI studies and data analysis approaches for comparing and quantifying simultaneous PET/MRI data. The primary focus of this review is on functional PET/MRI studies of neurotransmitter and receptor systems, with an emphasis on the dopamine, opioid, serotonin and glutamate systems as molecular neuromodulators. In this context, we provide an overview of studies that employ interventions to alter the activity of neuroreceptors or the release of neurotransmitters. Overall, we emphasize how the synergistic use of simultaneous PET/MRI with appropriate study design and interventions has the potential to expand our knowledge about the molecular and functional dynamics of the living human brain. Finally, we give an outlook on the future opportunities for simultaneous PET/MRI.

The Effect of Intervention with Acupressure Therapy on Improving Overall Male Sexual Performance

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure therapy on improving the overall male sexual performance. Acupressure therapy is a therapeutic approach that assumes that throughout the body there are certain nerves that have a direct and close relationship with the tissues and organs and they can be stimulated. Method: This study was conducted in a semi-experimental and pre-test-post-test design with control group. The community of this research was from men living in Tehran who had been at least two years of their last permanent marriage and between the ages of 20 and 45 and living in Iran. In this study, the target points in reflexes and in other parts of the body were 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 28, 29, 33, 34. Measurement tool in this research was International index of erectile function. Results: The findings of the study showed that the subjects in the acupressure group had an increase of 18.27% in the post-test and 18.6% in comparison with the pre-test in the overall sexual performance. The result of the study was that the intervention by acupressure therapy method had an impact on overall male sexual performance. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that interventions using acupressure therapy are effective in improving overall male sexual performance and it is possible to emphasize the need for more attention to psycho-physiological interventions, including the approach of acupressure therapy in the field of sexual issues.

Shared Neural Correlates Underlying Addictive Disorders and Negative Urgency

Negative urgency is a personality trait reflecting the tendency to act rashly in response to extreme negative emotions and is considered a transdiagnostic endophenotype for problematic levels of addictive behaviors. Recent research has begun to identify the neural correlates of negative urgency, many of which appear to overlap with neural circuitry underlying addictive disorders associated with negative urgency. The goal of this qualitative review is to summarize the extant literature concerning the neural correlates of negative urgency, to compare these correlates with those implicated with addictive disorders, and to propose new ways to begin to leverage such findings in treatment and intervention approaches. We also address current limitations in the field and make recommendations for areas for future growth in this research domain. Patterns of structure and function in the ventral striatum, frontal regions, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and amygdala are common across addictive disorders and are related to both real-world risky behaviors and self-report measures of negative urgency. We propose that the time has come to move past considering this trait and these disorders as completely separate entities, and instead for the field to consider how general patterns of convergence across these disorders can lead to a more transdiagnostic approach to treatment and intervention. We suggest future work utilize these convergent patterns in the development of animal models of negative urgency, in the identification and testing of prime pharmacological and physiological interventions, and as objective biomarkers to be used when testing behavioral, pharmacological, and physiological intervention effectiveness. Little empirical work has been done to date in these areas and advances in these nascent fields would advance understanding and applications of the neuroscience of negative urgency.