MLP-RL-CRD: diagnosis of cardiovascular risk in athletes using a reinforcement learning-based multilayer perceptron.

Objective.Pre-participation medical screening of athletes is necessary to pinpoint individuals susceptible to cardiovascular events.Approach.The article presents a reinforcement learning (RL)-based multilayer perceptron, termed MLP-RL-CRD, designed to detect cardiovascular risk among athletes. The model underwent training using a publicized dataset that included the anthropological measurements (such as height and weight) and biomedical metrics (covering blood pressure and pulse rate) of 26 002 athletes. To address the data imbalance, a novel RL-based technique was adopted. The problem was framed as a series of sequential decisions in which an agent classified a received instance and received a reward at each level. To resolve the insensitivity to the initialization of conventional gradient-based learning methods, a mutual learning-based artificial bee colony (ML-ABC) was proposed.Main Results.The model outcomes were validated against positive (P) and negative (N) ECG findings that had been labeled by experts to signify individuals 'at risk' and 'not at risk,' respectively. The MLP-RL-CRD approach achieves superior outcomes (F-measure 87.4%; geometric mean 89.6%) compared with other deep models and traditional machine learning techniques. Optimal values for crucial parameters, including the reward function, were identified for the model based on experiments on the study dataset. Ablation studies, which omitted elements of the suggested model, affirmed the autonomous, positive, stepwise influence of these components on performing the model.Significance.This study introduces a novel, effective method for early cardiovascular risk detection in athletes, merging reinforcement learning and multilayer perceptrons, advancing medical screening and predictive healthcare. The results could have far-reaching implications for athlete health management and the broader field of predictive healthcare analytics.

Effects of Short-Term Green Tea Extract Supplementation on VO2 Max and Inflammatory and Antioxidant Responses of Healthy Young Men in a Hot Environment.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the use of green tea supplements has increased. Studies have shown that green tea can have positive effects on anti-inflammatory and antioxidative factors, as well as improve aerobic performance capacity. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the effects of this supplement on inflammatory factors, total antioxidant capacity responses, and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 Max) of healthy young men in summer. METHODS: This study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which 15 young men (age 25.06 ± 2.1) were randomly assigned into the green tea (GT) and placebo groups. Subjects performed maximum aerobic exercises (shuttle run 20 m) in separate workouts (14 days) in summer. They consumed 640 mg green tea extracts or maltodextrin 90 min before exercise in a double-blind design. Blood samples were collected before and after the exercise and then evaluated in the biochemistry laboratory. In this study, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study show that green tea supplement significantly slowed down the increasing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (GT: 15.03 ± 4.31 [pg/ml], placebo: 31.38 ± 7.18 [pg/ml], [P = 0.000]); increased the total antioxidant capacity (GT: 1.04 ± 0.06 [mm], placebo group: 0.72 ± 0.04 [mm], [P = 0.001 VO2]); and Max (GT: 44.43 ± 3.06 [ml/kg/min], placebo group: 34.88 ± 1.30 [ml/kg/min], [P = 0.001]) in the supplement group than placebo. In addition, no significant differences in interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) was observed between thee groups (GT: 26.86 ± 5.05 [pg/ml], placebo group: 23.47 ± 3.16 [pg/ml], [P = 0.251]). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of green tea supplements 90 min before aerobic exercise may decrease inflammation and oxidative stress factors and improve VO2 Max in summer.

The Effects of 8-week Nigella sativa Supplementation and Aerobic Training on Lipid Profile and VO2 max in Sedentary Overweight Females.

BACKGROUND: Regular moderate intensity physical activity and lipid lowering effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) supplementation may be appropriate management for sedentary overweight females. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of long-term N. sativa supplementation and aerobic training on lipid profile and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) in sedentary overweight females. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, which was conducted in Kerman city (Iran), 20 sedentary overweight females were divided into two groups and assigned to N. sativa supplementation (N. sativa capsules) or a placebo for the 8 weeks, both groups participated in an aerobic training program (3 times/week). Each N. sativa capsule contained 500 ± 10 mg N. sativa crushed seeds and subjects had to take 2 g N. sativa per day for 8 weeks. Blood lipids and VO2 max were determined at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks. RESULTS: N. sativa supplementation lowered total cholesterol (TC) (P < 0.01), triglyceride (P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.001) and body mass index (P < 0.01) and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) and VO2 max (P < 0.01). Aerobic training program lowered TC (P < 0.001) and LDL (P < 0.01) and increased VO2 max (P < 0.01). Furthermore, we observed a significant effect of aerobic training program and N. sativa supplementation lowered LDL and HDL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that 8-week aerobic training plus N. sativa supplementation have a synergistic effect in improve profile lipid parameters.