Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning in healthy elderly individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is widely used in motor recovery. Nevertheless, whether tDCS improves motor learning in healthy older adults is still controversial. This review aims to investigate the effectiveness of tDCS on motor learning in healthy elderly individuals. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases were initially searched from inception to December 5, 2022. The standard mean difference (SMD) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analysed via random-effect models. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, no significant effects were found regarding improvement in motor learning based on the speed or accuracy of the task and reaction time for the tDCS intervention group. After subgroup analysis, a significant effect was found for improved motor learning based on reaction time in the primary motor cortex (M1)-cerebellar group. CONCLUSIONS: This review revealed that tDCS had no significant effect on improving the speed or accuracy of motor learning in healthy elderly adults. However, it has a significant effect on improving the motor learning ability based on the reaction time of the task (mainly referring to the tDCS stimulation position of M1 and cerebellar), although the results have obvious heterogeneity and uncertainty.

Circ_0003611 regulates apoptosis and oxidative stress injury of Alzheimer's disease via miR-383-5p/KIF1B axis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a high incidence neurodegenerative disease. Emerging evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important modulator in the pathogenesis of AD. The aim of this paper was to reconnoiter the effects of circular RNA_0003611 (circ_0003611) on Aß-triggered neuronal injury in AD. In this work, the abundance of circ_0003611 was augmented in AD patients and SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells treated with Aß. Aß-mediated cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and glycolysis were abolished through circ_0003611 silencing. Circ_0003611 worked as a miR-383-5p sponge, and the protective role of circ_0003611 absence on Aß-triggered neuronal injury was overturned by releasing miR-383-5p. Meanwhile, miR-383-5p directly targeted KIF1B, and miR-383-5p upregulation might relieve Aß-triggered neuronal injury by reducing KIF1B expression. Mechanical analysis discovered that circ_0003611 served as a sponge of miR-383-5p to impact KIF1B expression. These findings indicated that circ_0003611 improved Aß-triggered neuronal injury in AD through targeting the miR-383-5p/KIF1B axis, which might deliver innovative therapy targeting for AD.

Diagnostic test accuracy of waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is a controversial evaluation index of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of WHtR as a measure to screen for clusters of at least one CVRF (CVRF1), two CVRFs (CVRF2), and three CVRFs (CVRF3) in different ages, sexes, regions and cut-offs. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Springer, Taylor & Francis Online, Wiley Online Library, Wanfang, and CNKI databases were searched for eligible publications up to June 2021. The QUADAS-2 checklist was used to assess the methodology of the included studies. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies that evaluated 85281 children and adolescents aged 5-19 years were included in the meta-analysis. The AUSROC values were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.54-0.57), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.81-0.83), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.89-0.90) for CVRF1, CVRF2, and CVRF3, respectively. Higher AUSROC values were found for adolescents (12-19 years), that is, 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88-0.93), 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92) for males, and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.90-0.91) for a cut-off of ≥ 0.51 in the identification of CVRF3. CONCLUSION: WHtR can be used as an accurate screening tool for CVRF3 and CVRF2 in children and adolescents, and it is recommended to select different cut-offs according to different ages, sexes, and regions.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiovascular disease prevention among middle school students in China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly increasing globally. With a concerning increase among adolescents due to unhealthy habits, obesity, and hypertension, understanding the current status of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to CVD prevention among middle school students is crucial for developing effective school-based health programs to prevent CVD. Methods: The analytic cross-sectional survey is used in questionnaires to assess KAP related to CVD prevention among middle school students (N = 17,731) from 50 schools across 16 provinces in China in June-July 2023. The pass rate of KAP scores is categorized as good and poor. Independent predictors of good KAP of CVD prevention are ascertained using a binary logistic regression model. Results: The study surveyed 8,118 (45.78%) junior high school students and 9,613 (54.22%) high school students. The overall mean [standard deviation (SD)] for the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 26.88 (8.12), 53.53 (7.22), and 39.80 (5.96), respectively. The knowledge scores had the lowest pass rate at 56.89%. Only 6.83% of the students know "the definition of blood pressure in adolescents." Attitudes toward health were positive, though the attitude regarding "the danger of prolonged sedentary to cardiovascular health" scored lowest at 73.55%. The practice section had a pass rate of 89.30%; 40.27% of students reported that they spend more than an hour a day on screens. Only one-third of the students would go to bed before 12 o'clock. In univariate analysis, junior high school and high school students differed significantly in knowledge and practice (p < 0.001), but attitude did not differ significantly (p = 0.103). Conclusion: The majority of students lack sufficient knowledge about CVD. It is also found that socioeconomic background, family environment, and educational levels have an impact on cardiovascular health behaviors among students. Strengthening health education involving students, parents, teachers, and communities is essential to promote health knowledge and practices among adolescents.

High-level physical activity provides protection against all-cause mortality among U.S. adults with depression.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity (PA) offers numerous benefits, decreasing all-cause mortality (ACM) among the general population. However, its impact on individuals with depression remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between various PA levels and ACM among adult patients with depression in the United States. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018, as well as relevant mortality data up to December 31, 2018 were extracted. 4850 adults with depression were incorporated into this cohort study. PA level was quantified based on weekly metabolic equivalent of task (MET-min/week) and categorized into four groups according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Weighted Cox proportional-hazards models were leveraged to assess the association of different PA levels with ACM among adults with depression, and adjustments were made for various sociodemographic and health factors. RESULTS: Among the 4850 patients with depression, 503 deaths were noted over a median follow-up of 6.6 years. The weighted Cox regression analysis showed that participants with high-level PA (>1200 MET-min/week) had a markedly lower risk of ACM (HR = 0.48, 95 % CI 0.33 to 0.68) compared to those with no PA (0 MET-min/week). The benefit conferred by the high-level PA group (HR = 0.65, 95CI 0.45 to 0.94) remained significant (p < 0.05) after adjustment for other confounders. LIMITATIONS: PA and some covariates were assessed through self-reported questionnaires. CONCLUSION: High-level PA has the most pronounced effect on reducing ACM among adult patients with depression, which should be recognized in clinical and public health guidelines.

A comparative analysis of energy expenditure and substrate metabolism in male university students with overweight/obesity: Tabata vs HIIT and MICT.

Introduction: Exploring the energy expenditure and substrate metabolism data during exercise, 10-minute recovery, and 20-minute recovery phases in Tabata, HIIT(High-Intensity Interval Training), and MICT(Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training). This study explores the scientific aspects of weight reduction strategies, examining energy expenditure and substrate metabolism from various training perspectives. The aim is to establish a theoretical foundation for tailoring targeted exercise plans for individuals within the population with overweight/obesity. Methods: This study used an experimental design with fifteen male university students with overweight/obesity. Participants underwent random testing with Tabata, HIIT, and MICT. Tabata involved eight sets of 20 seconds exercise and 10 seconds rest, totaling 4 minutes. HIIT included four sets of power cycling: 3 minutes at 80% VO2max intensity followed by 2 minutes at 20% VO2max. MICT comprised 30 minutes of exercise at 50% VO2max intensity. Gas metabolism indices were continuously measured. Subsequently, fat and glucose oxidation rates, along with energy expenditure, were calculated for each exercise type. Results: During both the exercise and recovery phases, the Tabata group exhibited a significantly higher fat oxidation rate of (0.27 ± 0.03 g/min) compared to the HIIT group (0.20 ± 0.04 g/min, p<0.05) and the MICT group (0.20 ± 0.03g/min, p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the HIIT and MICT groups (p=0.854). In terms of energy expenditure rate, the Tabata group maintained a substantially elevated level at 5.76 ± 0.74kcal/min compared to the HIIT group (4.81 ± 0.25kcal/min, p<0.01) and the MICT group (3.45 ± 0.25kcal/min, p<0.001). Additionally, the energy expenditure rate of the HIIT group surpassed that of the MICT group significantly (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study finds that male college students with overweight/obesity in both exercise and recovery, Tabata group has lower fat and glucose oxidation rates, and energy expenditure compared to HIIT and MICT groups. However, over the entire process, Tabata still exhibits significantly higher rates in these aspects than HIIT and MICT. Despite a shorter exercise duration, Tabata shows a noticeable "time-efficiency" advantage. Tabata can be used as an efficient short-term weight loss exercise program for male college students with overweight/obesity.

Comparative effectiveness of open and closed skill exercises on cognitive function in young adults: a fNIRS study.

While it is widely acknowledged that exercise has positive effects on cognitive function, the specific impacts of different types of exercises, particularly open and closed skill exercises, on cognitive impairment continue to be a debated topic. In this study, we used fNIRS and cognitive psychology tasks to investigate the effects of different types of exercises on cognitive function and brain activity in young adults. We conducted an observational study to assess the cognitive function of participants who had engaged in these exercises for a long period. Additionally, we examined the effects of open skill exercise (badminton) and closed skill exercise (calisthenics) on localized blood flow in the prefrontal lobe of the brain using an experimental research method. Specifically, during the Stroop task, the badminton group exhibited significantly higher △HbO2 in channel 18, corresponding to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, compared to the calisthenics group (F = 4.485, P < 0.05, η2 = 0.074). In the 2-back task, the calisthenics group showed significantly higher △HbO2 in channel 17, corresponding to the frontopolar area, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior prefrontal gyrus, than the badminton group (F = 8.842, P < 0.01, η2 = 0.136). Our findings reveal that open skill exercises are more effective in enhancing cognitive inhibition, thereby increasing attention capacity, self-regulation, and flexibility in response to environmental changes. Conversely, closed skill exercises demonstrate greater efficacy in improving working memory within cognitive functions, showcasing an enhanced capacity for information processing and storage. These data indicate that while both open and closed skill exercises are beneficial for cognitive function, they exhibit significant distinctions in some aspects.

Effects of mind-body exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis study.

BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of physical and mental exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Computer searches of PubMed, Web of science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Service, Wanfang database, China Knowledge Network, and VIP full-text database of Veep journals were conducted to obtain clinical randomized controlled trials on physical and mental exercise interventions in middle-aged and elderly people with MCI. The literature was screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the final included literature was subjected to data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and publication bias test was performed using stata17.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 27 publications with a total of 2565 cases of elderly people with MCI were included. The control group was conventional care, health education, or blank control, and the physical and mental exercise group was exercises including Tai Chi, dance, orthopraxia, and qigong for 30 to 90 minutes each time, 3 to 6 times per week, for a total duration of 8 to 36 weeks. Meta-analysis results showed that Montreal cognitive assessment scores (mean difference [MD] = 2.33, 95% CI [1.55, 3.10], P < .00001), the mini-mental state examination score (MD = 1.73, 95% CI [0.60, 2.86], P = .003), trail making test-A score (MD = -4.00, 95% CI [-6.75, -1.25], P = .004), trail making test-B score (MD = -18.46, 95% CI [-23.87, -13.06], P < .00001), global deterioration scale score (MD = -0.72, 95% CI [-1.09, -0.34], P = .0002), Wechsler Logical Memory Scale score (MD = 2.07, 95% CI [0.03, 4.10], P = .05), berg score (MD = -0.70, 95% CI [0.32, 1.07], P < .0003), cerebrospinal fluid Tau protein level (MD = -166.69, 95% CI [-196.93, -136.45], P < .00001), and cerebrospinal fluid levels of αß1-42 protein (MD = 180.39, 95% CI [134.24, 226.55], P < .00001). CONCLUSION: Mind-body exercise can improve cognitive performance, depressive status, and balance as well as increase αß1-42 protein levels and decrease Tau protein levels in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Effects of aerobic exercises in prediabetes patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of different durations of continuous aerobic exercise on prediabetic patients. Materials and methods: The research encompassed randomized controlled trials that examined how various durations of aerobic exercise training affected outcomes related to Body Mass Index (BMI), Fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour plasma glucose (2hPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in individuals diagnosed with prediabetes. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched as of January 7, 2023. The Cochrane Risk of Bias, version 2 (ROB 2) tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Results: A total of 10 RCTs with 815 prediabetic patients were included. The average age of the participants was 56.1 years, with a standard deviation of 5.1 years. Among the participants, 39.2% were male. The interventions consisted of aerobic dance, treadmill running, walking, and a combination of aerobic exercises. The training sessions occurred three or four times per week. In prediabetic patients, aerobic exercise demonstrated a significant reduction in BMI compared to the control group, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of -1.44 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.89, -0.98). There was a decrease in FBG levels, with WMD of -0.51 mmol/L (95% CI -0.70, -0.32). Additionally, aerobic training led to significant improvements in 2hPG levels, with a WMD of -0.76 mmol/L (95% CI -1.14, -0.38). Furthermore, prediabetic patients showed a decrease in HbA1c levels after engaging in aerobic training compared to the control group, with a WMD of -0.34% (95% CI -0.45, -0.23). Conclusion: In summary, engaging in aerobic exercise can have a significant positive impact on glycemic levels in individuals with prediabetes. It can also lead to reductions in BMI, FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, and other relevant indicators. The extent of these improvements may vary slightly depending on the duration of the aerobic exercise intervention. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023395515.

Effect of oral administration of GABA on thermoregulation in athletes during exercise in cold environments: A preliminary study.

Background: γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a common ingredient in sports supplements and other health products, regulates body temperature in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH). To date, no study has examined the effect of GABA on thermoregulation during exercise in humans in a cold temperature environment (11 ± 0.3°C, 45% ± 2% relative humidity). Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind study. Ten trained male athletes consumed either a drink (3 ml/kg weight) containing GABA (1,000 mg, trial G) or an equivalent amount of placebo drink (trial C) before exercise. They rested for 20 min and then cycled at 60% of maximum output power for 40 min, pedaling at 60 rpm, and recovered for 20 min. Core temperature (Tc), skin temperature (upper arm, chest, thigh, calf), and heart rate (HR) were monitored at rest (T0), exercise begins (T20), 20 min of exercise (T40), the exercise ends (T60), and at recovery (T80). Results: Compared to T0, Tc decreased significantly at T20 and increased significantly at T40, T60 and T80 (p < 0.01). From 35-80 min, the Tc was higher in trial G (peaked at 37.96 ± 0.25°C) than in trial C (37.89 ± 0.37°C), but it failed to reach significant difference (p > 0.05); Tsk continued to increase during exercise and was significantly higher than T0 at T40 (p < 0.05), T60 and T80 (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in Tsk between the two trials (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings provide initial evidence that oral administration of GABA does not affect thermoregulation and has no adverse effects on the body as an ergogenic exercise supplement during exercise in cold environments.

Effects of caffeinated beverage ingestion on salivary antimicrobial proteins responses to acute exercise in the heat.

Caffeine is commonly used by athletes as an energy supplement, but studies on its effects on salivary antimicrobial proteins (sAMPs) in humans during exercise are rare with ambiguous findings. It is also still controversial whether hot environments affect sAMPs. Using a double-blind, randomized crossover design, we examined 12 endurance-trained male collegiate athletes who completed the following two experiments: a caffeine experiment (CAF) and a placebo experiment (PLA). The participants acutely consumed caffeine-containing (6 mg/kg body weight) sports drink (3 ml/kg body weight) or an equivalent amount of placebo sports drink and subsequently performed cycling exercise for 40 min in the heat (33 ± 0.24°C, 64 ± 2.50% relative humidity) at 50% of maximum output power, maintaining a pedal frequency of 60 rpm. Saliva was collected at 60 min pre-exercise (T-60), the start of exercise (T0), 20 min of exercise (T20), and the end of the exercise (T40), and salivary α-amylase (sAA) and lactoferrin (sLac) were tested. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured at T0-T40, while core body temperature (T re ) and heart rate (HR) were monitored continuously. T re , HR, and RPE increased with time during the exercise (p < 0.01), with no difference in T re and HR between the CAF and PLA (p > 0.05), but RPE was higher in the PLA than in the CAF (p < 0.05). sLac concentrations were significantly higher at T20 and T40 than at T-60 (p < 0.01) and higher at T40 than at T0 and T20 (p < 0.01), with no difference between the CAF and PLA (p > 0.05). Compared with T-60, sAA activity was significantly increased at T0, T20, and T40 (p < 0.01). sAA activity was significantly higher at T40 than at T0 and T20 (p < 0.01), at T20 than at T0 (p < 0.05), and in the CAF than in the PLA (p < 0.01). Heat stress caused by acute exercise in hot environments did not impair the sAMPs parameters of the participants. Instead, the participants showed transient increase in sAA activity and unchanged sLac concentrations. Caffeine may increase salivary markers related to immune response during exercise.