Cost Reduction in the Production of Green Dwarf Coconut Palm Seedlings Biostimulated with Bacillus cereus.

The production of coconut tree seedlings is an important step in the production process, as it substantially affects the productive performance of the adult plant, and the way of obtaining seedlings directly reflects the added costs. To minimize costs, the introduction of biostimulants can be considered a viable and sustainable technology. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of applying Bacillus cereus in promoting growth and reducing the costs of producing Brazilgreen dwarf coconut seedlings. The study has two stages, the first was an experiment carried out in a commercial nursery in the state of Pará-Brazil. The design was completely randomized, with two treatments: control with water (100% mineral fertilization) and B. cereus inoculation (50% mineral fertilization), with 10 replicates each. Biometric parameters and the quality of seedlings were evaluated. In the second stage, the production of stimulated seedlings was compared to that of commercial seedlings, and the effective operating cost (COE) and the total operating cost (TOC) were determined. Biostimulation with B. cereus promotes the growth of coconut tree seedlings, increases seedling quality, and reduces nursery time. In addition, the cost of production is reduced by 10%. Thus, microbial technology is a positive strategy for the production of Brazilian green dwarf coconut seedlings. Using B. cereus can guarantee obtaining seedlings with high performance and at a lower cost. These results may favor obtaining adult plants with high productivity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-023-01163-9.

Active intervals between sets and exercise of resistance exercises potentiate the magnitude of post-exercise hypotension in middle-aged hypertensive women.

BACKGROUND: Walking/run promotes greater post-exercise hypotension (PEH) than resistance exercise (RE) which can be associated nitric oxide production. Then, we investigated if adding walking between RE increases PEH. METHODS: Thirteen hypertensive women (48 ± 1.9 years; 26.8 ± 0.3 kg/m2) performed five experimental sessions: 1-traditional RE with passive interval (PIBS); 2-RE with active interval between sets (AIBS); 3-RE with active interval between exercises (AIEX); 4-aerobic exercise (AE); 5-no exercise. Blood pressure was measured before and immediately after exercise and every 10 min of a 60-min post-exercise recovery period. Plasma nitrite (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. RESULTS: AIBS, AIEX, and AE sessions promoted systolic PEH (12 ± 1.53; 16 ± 2.13; 18 ± 1.34 mmHg, respectively) and diastolic PEH (8 ± 1.38; 8 ± 0.79; 8 ± 0.58 mmHg). In AIBS, AIEX and AE sessions, significant PEH was noted at 10 or 20 min; in PIBS, PEH was significant only at 40 min. In the PIBS session, NO did not change, but presented higher values after AIBS, AIEX and AE sessions. MDA showed no changes between sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Passive or active intervals in resistance exercise promote PEH in hypertensive women. Active intervals shorten the PEH onset time as additional benefit.

Automated treatment planning for whole breast irradiation with individualized tangential IMRT fields.

PURPOSES: This study aimed to develop and validate algorithms for automating intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning in breast cancer patients, with a focus on patient anatomical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected 400 breast cancer patients without lymph node involvement for automated treatment planning. Automation was achieved using the Eclipse Scripting Application Programming Interface (ESAPI) integrated into the Eclipse Treatment Planning System. We employed three beam insertion geometries and three optimization strategies, resulting in 3600 plans, each delivering a 40.05 Gy dose in 15 fractions. Gantry angles in the tangent fields were selected based on a criterion involving the minimum intersection area between the Planning Target Volume (PTV) and the ipsilateral lung in the Beam's Eye View projection. ESAPI was also used to gather patient anatomical data, serving as input for Random Forest models to select the optimal plan. The Random Forest classification considered both beam insertion geometry and optimization strategy. Dosimetric data were evaluated in accordance with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 1005 protocol. RESULTS: Overall, all approaches generated high-quality plans, with approximately 94% meeting the acceptable dose criteria for organs at risk and/or target coverage as defined by RTOG guidelines. Average automated plan generation time ranged from 6 min and 37 s to 9 min and 22 s, with the mean time increasing with additional fields. The Random Forest approach did not successfully enable automatic planning strategy selection. Instead, our automated planning system allows users to choose from the tested geometry and strategy options. CONCLUSIONS: Although our attempt to correlate patient anatomical features with planning strategy using machine learning tools was unsuccessful, the resulting dosimetric outcomes proved satisfactory. Our algorithm consistently produced high-quality plans, offering significant time and efficiency advantages.

The frequency of the ACE I/D polymorphism in South America: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system and plays an important role in homeostasis and maintenance of blood pressure. However, little is known about allele and genotypic frequencies, as well as phenotypic characteristics associated with ACE polymorphism genotypes in South American populations. This study aimed to verify the allelic predominance and genotype frequency of ACE I/D polymorphism in South America and its association with the main diseases and related conditions. We conducted a systematic review considering studies published in the last 25 years available in PubMed, Scielo, LILACS, LIPECS, Coleciona SUS, CUMED, BINACIS, IBECS, and MEDLINE databases, resulting in the inclusion of 121 studies. Quality of the studies was assessed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Genetic Association (STREGA) guidelines. We mapped the frequency of the ACE I/D polymorphism in South American populations. 8,856 (32.1%) subjects were DD, 13,050 were ID (47.4%), and 5,644 were II (20.5%) carriers. The main associated conditions included systemic arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions, cardiorespiratory or respiratory characteristics, physical activity level, kidney conditions, aging-related diseases, as well as different types of cancers and metabolic conditions. 61.1% of the studies found no significant association between the respective conditions investigated and the ACE I/D polymorphism. Considering DD genotype or D allele, 21.5% of the studies observed negative and 4.9% positive outcomes. Regarding ID genotype, 4.1% of the studies identified negative and 0.8% positive outcomes, and for II genotype or I allele, 4.1% of the results had negative and 10.7% positive associations.

Effect of a cajuína hydroelectrolytic drink on the physical performance and hydration status of recreational runners.

Cajuína is a processed drink derived from cashew and is widely consumed in the northeast region of Brazil. This study evaluated the effect of a cajuína-based hydroelectrolytic drink on the aerobic performance and hydration status of recreational runners. Seventeen males (31.9 ± 1.6 years, 51.0 ± 1.4 ml/kg/min) performed three time-to-exhaustion running sessions on a treadmill at 70% VO2max, ingesting cajuína hydroelectrolytic drink (CJ), high carbohydrate commercial hydroelectrolytic drink (CH) and mineral water (W) every 15 min during the running test. The participants ran 80.3 ± 8.4 min in CJ, 70.3 ± 6.8 min in CH and 71.8 ± 6.9 min in W, with no statistical difference between procedures. Nevertheless, an effect size of η2 = 0.10 (moderate) was observed. No statistical difference was observed in the concentrations of sodium, potassium, and osmolality in both serum and urine between the three conditions. However, the effect size was moderate (urine sodium) and high (serum sodium, potassium, and osmolality). Urine specific gravity, sweating rate and heart rate were not significantly different between drinks. The cajuína-based hydroelectrolytic drink promotes similar effects compared to commercial hydroelectrolytic drink and water, considering specific urine gravity, heart rate, sweating, and time to exhaustion in recreational runners.

Physical and autonomic functionality in women with breast cancer pre and post chemotherapy: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most incident types of cancer among women in the world. Although chemotherapy is an effective way to treat several types of cancer, it may also cause serious complications, including cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to identify the impact of chemotherapy on functional capacity, muscle strength and autonomic function. METHODS: Ten breast cancer patients in therapeutic follow-up (TG) and ten women without comorbidities (CG) participated in the study (46±8.87 years old). Both groups were evaluated at two time points, before and 20 weeks after the start of chemotherapy. Functional capacity and muscle strength were assessed by 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and handgrip test, respectively. Autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability analysis. RESULTS: TG presented greater reductions in the handgrip test for the non-dominant hand (TG ↓15.2%; CG: ↑1.1%, p<0.05) compared to GC. However, no significant differences were found regarding VO2max (p>0.05) and 6MWT total distance (p>0.05). Regarding the heart rate variability variables before and after follow-up period, rMSSD (CG= 39.15±37.66; TG= 14.89±8.28, p= 0.01) and SDNN (CG= 55.77±40.03; TG= 26.30±10.37, p= 0.02) showed effect in the group and time interaction, whereas the LF/HF ratio presented significant difference only in the time analysis (CG= 2.24±2.30; TG= 2.84±1.82, p= 0.04). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy used in the treatment of breast cancer patients resulted in decreased muscle strength and autonomic imbalance. The data suggests that chemotherapy may carry the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration not required.

Carbohydrate metabolism evaluation of terrestrial snail Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) experimentally infected by the Paratanaisia bragai digenetic trematode (Digenea, Eucotylidae).

Among the effects of the larval development of digenetic trematodes on their intermediate hosts, changes in the carbohydrate metabolism in the snails stand out. The aim of this study was to analyze, every 10 days after infection (d.p.i.), the effects of Paratanaisia bragai infection on the glycogen content in the digestive gland and cephalopedal mass in Subulina octona snail, and also verify the glucose concentration and the enzyme D- and L-lactate dehydrogenase activity (EC1.1.1.27 and EC1.1.1.28) (LDH) and the concentration of some metabolites(oxalic, succinic, pyruvic and lactic acid) presents in the hemolymph. Histochemical analisys were also performed. We verified a total increase of 54.81% in glucose concentration in infected snails and an oscillating pattern in the glycogen content in the cephalopedal mass and in the digestive gland. LDH activity shows an increase of 10 d.p.i. (+ 74.32%) and 40 d.p.i. (+ 47.81%) and decrease at 20 d.p.i. and 30 d.p.i. The concentrations of oxalic, succinic and pyruvic acids showed significant and progressive reductions; however, lactic acid had a significant increase. Histological and histochemical analysis showed a tissue disorganization in the cephalopedal mass of infected snails and morphological changes in the digestive gland. These results confirm that infection causes metabolic pathway changes in the snails due to activation of an alternative anaerobic pathway for producing energy, indicated by the increased lactic acid content and LDH activity.

Histopathological and molecular methods as complementary diagnostic in case of lymphadenopathies suggestive of bovine tuberculosis.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a chronically evolving zoonotic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Anatomopathological examination during post mortem inspection in bovines is the main resource engaged in sanitary slaughter; however, it is very troublesome since many granulomatous inflammatory processes have similar morphological characteristics. Thus, this study aims to use complementary diagnosis methods (histopathological and polymerase chain reaction - PCR assays) to confirm the macroscopic assessment of lymphadenopathies indicative of tuberculosis in bovines slaughtered in a refrigerated slaughterhouse in Tailândia city, PA, Brazil. Fifty­one samples were collected from lesions indicative of tuberculosis in pre­scapular and pre­pectoral lymph nodes (or different lymphadenitis) in condemned carcasses. Histological processing employed routine techniques carried out at the Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal Rural University of the Amazon, while the PCR assay was performed at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Evandro Chagas Institute. Results showed that 1.96% of the histopathology samples corresponded to inflammatory processes typical of TB and that, in PCR, 4.25% of the samples had the amplification profile of the M. bovis species. These results indicate the importance of adding complementary methods to assist the sanitary inspection line and make inspection more efficient in its decisions.

Assessment of landmark detection in cephalometric radiographs with different conditions of brightness and contrast using the an artificial intelligence software.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of an artificial intelligence (AI) software in identifying cephalometric points on lateral cephalometric radiographs considering four settings of brightness and contrast. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Brightness and contrast of 30 lateral cephalometric radiographs were adjusted into four different settings. Then, the control examiner (ECont), the calibrated examiner (ECal), and the CEFBOT AI software (AIs) each marked 19 cephalometric points on all radiographs. Reliability was assessed with a second analysis of the radiographs 15 days after the first one. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Reliability of landmark identification was excellent for the human examiners and the AIs regardless of the type of brightness and contrast setting (mean intraclass correlation coefficient >0.89). When ECont and ECal were compared for reproducibility, there were more cephalometric points with significant differences on the x-axis of the image with the highest contrast and the lowest brightness, namely N(p = 0.033), S(p = 0.030), Po(p < 0.001), and Pog'(p = 0.012). Between ECont and AIs, there were more cephalometric points with significant differences on the image with the highest contrast and the lowest brightness, namely N(p = 0.034), Or(p = 0.048), Po(p < 0.001), A(p = 0.042), Pog'(p = 0.004), Ll(p = 0.005), Ul(p < 0.001), and Sn(p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While the reliability of the AIs for cephalometric landmark identification was rated as excellent, low brightness and high contrast seemed to affect its reproducibility. The experienced human examiner, on the other hand, did not show such faulty reproducibility; therefore, the AIs used in this study is an excellent auxiliary tool for cephalometric analysis, but still depends on human supervision to be clinically reliable.

Comparative evaluation of mutagenic effects of two cone-beam computed tomography in oral mucosa cells.

BACKGROUND: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic effects in cells of the oral mucosa after exposure to two different cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: Eighteen adults were submitted to the different CBCT (Carestream CS8100 3D and I-CAT). The cells were collected immediately before the CBCT exposure and 10 days later, when the material was placed on a slide and stained using the Feulgen/Fast Green technique. Microscopic analysis counted micronuclei and other nuclear alterations, which are indicative of cytotoxicity such as pyknosis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, and binucletion. 2000 cells were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test to compare the frequency of cellular alterations, and the Mann-Whitney U test to compare different CBCTs, both with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the micronucleated cell count before and after the exposition to the ionizing radiation from I-CAT (p = .298) and CS8100 3D (p = .203) A significate increase of pyknosis (p < .001), karyolysis (p < .001), karyorrhexis (p < .001), and binucletion (p < .001) were noted on I-CAT CBCT. There was no statistically significant difference in cellular alterations in CS8100 3D CBCT. CONCLUSION: Despite the increase in micronuclei after exposure, this study indicates that there is no evidence of genotoxicity. On the other hand, the I-CAT CBCT produced cytotoxic effects.

Association between phase angle and adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.

Phase angle, obtained by bioelectrical impedance, is an indicator of cellular integrity and has been proposed as a prognostic parameter in patients who are critically ill. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between phase angle and adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). An extensive literature search was performed in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, with interest in observational studies evaluating the association between phase angle and adverse clinical outcomes in individuals aged ≥18 years hospitalized with COVID-19. Studies were independently selected by two reviewers, according to eligibility criteria. Subsequently, data were extracted and presented in a qualitative synthesis. The evaluation of the quality of the studies was performed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The full methodology was published in PROSPERO (ID CRD42022306177). A total of 392 articles were identified, resulting in seven selected studies, of which six were prospective cohorts and one was retrospective. In the quality assessment, six studies obtained scores equal to or greater than seven, indicating a low risk of bias. A total of 750 participants composed the samples of the selected studies. Five studies reported an independent association between phase angle and adverse clinical outcomes during hospitalization for COVID-19, with emphasis on prolonged hospitalization and mechanical ventilation and higher mortality in patients with a lower phase angle. Thus, phase angle measurement can be useful in the early identification of risks in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, for the purpose of adequacy of clinical management.

Technologies Used in Production Systems for Santa Inês Sheep: A Systematic Review.

This study identifies the number of publications that presented technologies used in the production systems of Santa Inês sheep in the last 5 years (2017-2021) carried out in Brazil. Therefore, the objective was to identify where we are in terms of knowledge about technologies in different fields (health, reproduction, animal breeding, behavior and welfare, nutrition and feeding, forage and pasture, carcass and meat quality, and economics and management of livestock systems). After rigorous selection, 114 studies were appointed and classified by knowledge field, and the main approaches within each theme were evaluated, pointing out research gaps. Most technologies have been in northeastern states. However, government agencies should develop public policies to disseminate techniques in rural areas because the production system in this region is still subsistence. This study highlighted the need for works that present management practices and tools that impact the improvement of animal welfare. Agro-industrial by-products have been widely used as an alternative for sheep feeding. However, economic feasibility analyses are recommended with these foodstuffs to substantiate their use as an option to reduce production costs. There is a lack of research allusive to the management of production systems, especially those related to estimates of economic feasibility indicators.

Oral mucosa lesions in confirmed and non-vaccinated cases for COVID-19: A systematic review.

This systematic review purposed to investigate reports of oral lesions in confirmed COVID-19 patients summarizing clinical characteristics, histological findings, treatment and correlation of oral lesions and COVID-19 severity. Electronic search was conducted on November 2021 using seven databases to identify case reports/series describing lesions in oral mucosa in COVID-19 confirmed cases. A total of 5,179 studies were found, being 39 eligible from 19 countries, totalling 116 cases. It was observed only COVID-19 non-vaccinated cases and no sex or age predilection. The oral lesions presentation was mostly single location (69.8%), commonly in the tongue, lips, and palate, being ulcer the main clinical presentation. According to severity index for COVID-19, the reports were more frequent in patients with mild and moderate symptoms, being 75.8% in acute phase. The oral lesion appearance in post-acute COVID-19 were described after 14 to two months after patient recovery. Histologically, keratinocytes with perinuclear vacuolization, thrombosis and mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate were also described with the presence of the virus in keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and minor salivary glands. In conclusion, health care professionals should consider COVID-19 association when patient present ulcerated oral lesions and mild to moderate symptoms for COVID-19 or had acute-COVID-19.

Detraining and retraining in badminton athletes following 1-year COVID-19 pandemic on psychological and physiological response.

Purpose: Badminton is a racket sport, with fast and explosive movements and mental skills employed to anticipate the opponent's movements. The COVID-19 pandemic, led to social restriction in Brazil and sport event cancellations, subsequently, sports training was banned. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the impact of long-period detraining due to COVID-19 social restriction (8 months and 1-year) on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, nutritional behavior, and profile of mood states in badminton athletes and to verify if the athletes who returned to their regular training 4 months earlier than athletes who stopped their daily training routine during 1-year would improve these variables. Methods: Twenty-three young badminton athletes were analyzed: retrained group (14 athletes who stopped their daily training routine for 8 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic plus 4 months of retraining), and detrained group (9 athletes who stopped their daily training routine during 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic but performed home-based training). We evaluated body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, nutritional behavior, and mood states profiles. Results: Retrained athletes showed lower body fat (- 24.1% vs. + 20.8%, p < 0.001) and higher fat-free mass (+ 6.0% vs. - 0.2%, p = 0.007) after 1 year compared with the detrained group. For cardiorespiratory fitness [retrained: baseline = 55.5 ± 5.3 (47.1, 63.9) and after 1 year = 58.1 ± 2.4 (54.2, 61.9), ES = 0.65 vs. detrained: baseline = 53.4 ± 6.7 (47.2, 59.5) and after 1 year = 53.1 ± 5.6 (48.0, 58.3), ES = - 0.03] and nutritional behavior, including sauces and spices [retrained: baseline = 8.9 ± 7.0 (4.5, 13.4), and after 1 year = 3.4 ± 2.9 (1.8, 5.5), ES = - 1.11 vs. detrained: baseline = 6.8 ± 6.7 (1.6, 11.9) and after 1 year = 6.3 ± 5.5 (2.1, 10.6), ES = - 0.08], the ESs were medium and large, respectively, for Retrained but trivial for detrained group. For depression, ES was trivial in the retrained [baseline = 2.7 ± 3.3 (0.7, 4.7) and after 1 year = 2.6 ± 2.9 (0.8, 4.4), ES = 0.03] and moderate for detrained [baseline = 1.0 ± 1.5 (- 0.1, 2.1) and after 1 year = 1.8 ± 2.7 (- 0.3, 3.8), ES = 0.50]. Conclusions: Young badminton athletes who returned to their regular daily training 4 months earlier than athletes who stopped their daily training routine during 1-year due to COVID-19 social restriction decreased fat mass and increased fat-free mass. There were no significant differences between groups for cardiorespiratory fitness, nutritional behavior, and profile of mood state response.

The effect of the protective face mask on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise.

The protective face mask (PFM) has been widely used for safety purposes and, after the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, its use is growing steadily, not only among healthcare personnel but also the general population. While the PFM is important to preserve the wearer from contaminating agents present in the airflow, they are well known to increase the subjective perception of breathing difficulty. Although some studies have demonstrated that PFM use worsens exercise tolerance, several studies state that there is no such limitation with the use of PFM. Moreover, no serious adverse effects during physical exercise have been found in the literature. Physical exercise represents a significant challenge to the human body through a series of integrated changes in function that involve most of its physiologic systems. In this respect, cardiovascular and respiratory systems provide the capacity to sustain physical tasks over extended periods. Within this scenario, both convective oxygen (O2 ) transport (product of arterial O2 content × blood flow) to the working locomotor muscles and O2 diffusive transport from muscle capillaries to mitochondria are of paramount importance to endurance performance. Interestingly, the effects of PFM on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise depends on the type of mask and exercise (i.e., walking, running, or cycling), the ventilatory demands, arterial oxygen levels, maximal oxygen consumption and endurance performance. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the effect of protective face mask-wearing on (1) cardiorespiratory responses during aerobic exercise and (2) endurance performance.

Effects of FFP2/N95 face mask on low- and high-load resistance exercise performance in recreational weight lifters.

COVID-19 pandemic, has led to several countries adopting the use of masks in public spaces. Mask used during physical exercise it may induce early fatigue. However, despite the results with aerobic exercise, as far as we know, no studies have been carried out on wearing a mask during resistance exercise.This randomized, crossover study verified the acute effect of an FFP2/N95 face mask on moderate- and high-load upper body resistance exercise performance in recreational weight lifters.The FFP2/N95 face mask impacted performance, evaluated with bar velocity, in the high-intensity resistance bench press exercise until movement failure but decreased oxygen saturation and increased rate of perceived effort only in the moderate-intensity exercise.

Differences in Nervous Autonomic Control in Response to a Single Session of Exercise in Bodybuilders Using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids.

Considering the role of autonomic nerve activity in blood pressure control, this study aimed to investigate the cardiac autonomic nerve responses after an aerobic exercise session in Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) users. Twenty men (AAS, n = 9; control group, n = 11) performed an aerobic exercise session (60 min, 70 to 80% of HRmax). Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed before and during a 60-min post-exercise recovery period. RMSSD (root mean square successive difference of the RR intervals) and the LF/HF ratio (low frequency/high frequency spectra) were also evaluated. The Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare differences between initial group characteristics. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare pre- and post-exercise HRV recovery (p < 0.05). AAS had a lower SDNN (standard deviation of the intervals) (40.8 ± 16.8 vs. 71.6 ± 24.7 ms; p = 0.04, d = 1.4) and a higher LF/HF (3.4 ± 2.1 vs. 1.8 ± 0.9%; p = 0.03, d = 0.9) before exercise. AAS and controls had similar RMSSD (14.0 ± 15.8 vs. 18.9 ± 12.1 ms; p = 0.20) and a LF/HF (2.8 ± 1.6 vs. 2.4 ± 1.2 ms; p = 0.41) immediately post-exercise. The between-groups comparison revealed a higher HF/LF at 30 min (4.3 ± 1.4 vs. 2.5 ± 1.3%; p = 0.008, d = 1.3) and 60 min (5.0 ± 2.2 vs. 2.3 ± 0.8%; p = 0.001, d = 1.6) for the AAS group in the recovery time. This study demonstrated impaired parasympathetic activity at rest and immediately after the exercise session as an adverse effect of AAS usage, but similar behavior regarding the restoration of sympathetic activity.