Themes and trends in marathon performance research: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis from 2009 to 2023.

Background: When marathon runners break the 2-h barrier at the finishing line, it attracts global attention. This study is aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of publications in the field of marathon running, analyze relevant research contributors, and visualize the historical trends of marathon performance research over the past 15 years. Methods: On 8 December 2023, we extracted high-quality publication data from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning from 1 January 2009 to 30 November 2023. We conducted bibliometric analysis and research history visualization using the R language packages biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. Results: A total of 1,057 studies were published by 3,947 authors from 1,566 institutions across 63 countries/regions. USA has the highest publication and citation volume, while, the University of Zurich being the most prolific research institution. Keywords analysis revealed several hotspots in marathon research over the past 3 years: (1) physiology of the elite marathon runners, (2) elite marathon training intensity and pacing strategies, (3) nutritional strategies for elite marathon runners, (4) age and sex differences in marathon performance, (5) recovery of inflammatory response and muscle damage. Conclusion: This study presents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of marathon performance research over the past 15 years. It unveils the key contributors to marathon performance research, visually represents the historical developments in the field, and highlights the recent topical frontiers. The findings of this study will guide future research by identifying potential hotspots and frontiers.

Seeing beyond words: Visualizing autism spectrum disorder biomarker insights.

Objective: This study employs bibliometric and visual analysis to elucidate global research trends in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) biomarkers, identify critical research focal points, and discuss the potential integration of diverse biomarker modalities for precise ASD assessment. Methods: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using data from the Web of Science Core Collection database until December 31, 2022. Visualization tools, including R, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and gCLUTO, were utilized to examine collaborative networks, co-citation patterns, and keyword associations among countries, institutions, authors, journals, documents, and keywords. Results: ASD biomarker research emerged in 2004, accumulating a corpus of 4348 documents by December 31, 2022. The United States, with 1574 publications and an H-index of 213, emerged as the most prolific and influential country. The University of California, Davis, contributed significantly with 346 publications and an H-index of 69, making it the leading institution. Concerning journals, the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Autism Research, and PLOS ONE were the top three publishers of ASD biomarker-related articles among a total of 1140 academic journals. Co-citation and keyword analyses revealed research hotspots in genetics, imaging, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, gut microbiota, and eye tracking. Emerging topics included "DNA methylation," "eye tracking," "metabolomics," and "resting-state fMRI." Conclusion: The field of ASD biomarker research is dynamically evolving. Future endeavors should prioritize individual stratification, methodological standardization, the harmonious integration of biomarker modalities, and longitudinal studies to advance the precision of ASD diagnosis and treatment.

The Study of SRSF1 Regulates Abnormal Alternative Splicing of BCL2L11 and the Role in Refractory Acute Ayeloid Leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Abnormalities in splicing factors, such as mutations or deregulated expression, can lead to aberrant splicing of target genes, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite this, the precise mechanism underlying the abnormal alternative splicing induced by SRSF1, a splicing factor associated with poor AML prognosis, remains elusive. METHODS: Using strict splicing criteria, we globally screened for alternative splicing(AS) events in NPMc-positive and NPMc-negative AML samples from TCGA. An AS network associated with AML prognosis was then established. Functional assays, including CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Western blot, were conducted on K562 and THP-1 cells overexpressing SRSF1. Cell viability following 72-hour Omipalisib treatment was also assessed. To explore the mechanism of SRSF1-induced AS, we created a BCL2L11 miniGene with a site-specific mutation at its branch point. The AS patterns of both wild-type and mutant miniGenes were analyzed following SRSF1 overexpression in HEK-293T, along with the subcellular localization of different spliceosomes. RESULTS: SRSF1 was significantly associated with AML prognosis. Notably, its expression was markedly upregulated in refractory AML patients compared to those with a favorable chemotherapy response. Overexpression of SRSF1 promoted THP-1 cell proliferation, suppressed apoptosis, and reduced sensitivity to Omipalisib. Mechanistically, SRSF1 recognized an aberrant branch point within the BCL2L11 intron, promoting the inclusion of a cryptic exon 3, which in turn led to apoptosis arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of SRSF1 and the resulting abnormal splicing of BCL2L11 are associated with drug resistance and poor prognosis in AML.

Revisiting the contribution of different factors in determining the changes in potential evapotranspiration over China.

In this paper, a daily gridded observation data across China from 1961 to 2022 were used to calculate daily potential evapotranspiration (PET). The observed variables included daily temperature, sunshine hours, average wind speed, and average relative humidity. PET was determined using the Penman-Monteith method recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The long-term trend of PET was investigated in six regions of China during different seasons. To further compressed the influence of various meteorological factors on the PET trend, the contribution of each meteorological element to the long-term trend of PET was analyzed. The results indicate the following: (1) PET reaches its peak during summer which values from 145 to 640 mm, while it is lowest during winter from 21 to 244 mm. (2) The spatial patterns of PET trend changes are relatively similar across the four seasons, characterized by a decrease in the eastern regions and an increase in the western regions. The reduction is most significant during the summer and the range of trend is from -2.04 to 1.48 mm/day, while the increase becomes more pronounced in the winter which trend is from -0.34 to 0.53 mm/day. (3) The contribution of factors varies significantly across different regions. In spring and autumn, RH and U have little difference in contribution from other factors. But tsun is varies different from regions, the contribution value is largest in the northwest and smallest in the northeast. However, during summer, tsun become the most significant contributor in the YZ and SE regions, while in winter, Tm emerges as the most significant contributor to the PET trend in all six subregions. In SW, the contribution from U2 is the smallest in all seasons, with RH and Tm being the two crucial factors determining the PET trend in this region.

Correlations among serum alpha-(1,6)-fucosyltransferase and early symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional retrospective study.

Alpha-(1,6)-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) has been found to play a role in modulating the central immune system and inflammatory responses. Limited studies have assessed the correlations between serum FUT8 levels and various non-motor symptoms associated with early Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, our research aims to investigate the associations between serum FUT8 levels and symptoms such as smell dysfunction, sleep duration, sleep problems, and MMSE scores in PD patients. FUT8 and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We analyzed the correlations between serum FUT8 levels, NfL, and early symptoms of PD using Spearman's correlation, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression models. The expression of FUT8 in CSF samples from PD patients was significantly upregulated, with its protein levels in CSF being positively associated with serum levels. Furthermore, there were significant positive associations between serum FUT8 levels with NfL levels, smell dysfunction, short sleep duration, and long sleep duration. However, a significant inverse relationship was observed between FUT8 levels and MMSE scores. Additionally, we explored gender and age differences in the correlations of FUT8 levels and early symptoms in patients. This study reveals that increased FUT8 levels are positively correlated with a higher risk of early PD-associated symptoms. These findings suggest that serum FUT8 could serve as a promising biomarker for the early detection of PD.

Impacts of polypropylene microplastics on the distribution of cadmium, enzyme activities, and bacterial community in black soil at the aggregate level.

Microplastics (MPs) can co-occur widely with heavy metals in soil. This study intended to investigate the influences of the co-exposure of polyethylene MPs (0.5 %, w/w) and cadmium (Cd) in black soil on the Cd distribution, enzyme activities, and bacterial communities in both bulk soil and different sized soil aggregates (> 1, 0.50-1, 0.25-0.50, and < 0.25 mm aggregates) after a 90-day incubation. Our results showed that the existence of MPs increased the distributions of Cd in >1 mm and < 0.25 mm soil aggregates and decreased its distributions in 0.50-1 mm and 0.25-0.50 mm soil aggregates. About 12.15 %-17.65 % and 9.03 %-11.13 % of Cd were distributed in the exchangeable and oxidizable forms in bulk soil and various sized soil aggregates after the addition of MPs which were higher than those in the only Cd-treated soil (11.17 %-14.72 % and 8.66 %-10.43 %, respectively), while opposite tendency was found for Cd in the reducible form. Urease and ß-glucosidase activities in the Cd-treated soils were 1.14-1.18 and 1.07-1.31 times higher than those in the Cd-MPs treated soils. MPs disturbed soil bacterial community at phylum level and increased the bacteria richness in bulk soil. The levels of predicted functional genes which are linked to the biodegradation and metabolism of exogenous substances and soil C and N cycles were altered by the co-exposure of Cd and MPs. The findings of this study could help deepen our knowledge about the responses of soil properties, especially microbial community, to the co-occurrence of MPs and heavy metals in soil.

The effect of exercise training intervention for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm on cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory variables: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of exercise training intervention in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that recruited 588 AAA patients were extracted using 4 databases (PubMed, Embase, Wanfang Data, and Cochrane Library). Physiological and biochemistry parameters that included in this study are high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), respiratory peak oxygen uptake rate (VO2peak), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), anaerobic threshold (AT), the diameter of AAA, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Standard mean difference (SMD) was used to assess the between group effect. RESULTS: This meta-analysis was synthesized with findings from RCTs and found that hs-CRP (SMD, - 0.56 mg/dL; 95% CI: - 0.90 to 0.22; P = 0.001), VO2peak (SMD, 0.4 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.60; P < 0.001), TG (SMD, - 0.39 mg/dL; 95% CI: - 0.02 to 0.77; P = 0.04), and AT (SMD, 0.75 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.96; P < 0.001) were significantly improved in the exercise groups, while the size of AAA (SMD, - 0.15; 95% CI: - 0.36 to 0.06; P = 0.15), TC (SMD, 0.16 mg/dL; 95% CI: - 0.10 to 0.42; P = 0.23), HDL/LDL ratio (SMD, - 0.06; 95% CI: - 0.32 to 0.20; P = 0.64), HDL (SMD, - 0.09; 95% CI: - 0.39 to 0.20; P = 0.54), LDL (SMD, 0.08; 95% CI: - 0.21 to 0.38; P = 0.59), and MMP-9 (SMD, - 0.23 mg/dL; 95% CI: - 0.53 to 0.06; P = 0.12) did not differ in the exercise groups compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: Exercise intervention improved some of the CVD risk factors but not all, hs-CRP, VO2peak and AT were significantly improved after exercise intervention, while, changes of MMP-9, the size of AAA, and the overall lipids profile were not. Exercise intervention provides an additional solution for improving cardiorespiratory capacity and health status among AAA patients, and might lead to a delay of AAA progression.

Eight Weeks of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 Supplementation Improves Lipid Metabolism and Sports Performance through Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Cross-Country Skiers: A Preliminary Study.

(1) Background: Probiotics in the form of nutritional supplements are safe and potentially useful for strategic application among endurance athletes. Bifidobacterium animalis lactis BL-99 (BL-99) was isolated from the intestines of healthy Chinese infants. We combined plasma-targeted metabolomics and fecal metagenomics to explore the effect of 8 weeks of BL-99 supplementation on cross-country skiers' metabolism and sports performance. (2) Methods: Sixteen national top-level male cross-country skiers were recruited and randomly divided into a placebo group (C) and a BL-99 group (E). The participants took the supplements four times/day (with each of three meals and at 21:00) consistently for 8 weeks. The experiment was conducted in a single-blind randomized fashion. The subject's dietary intake and total daily energy consumption were recorded. Blood and stool samples were collected before and after the 8-week intervention, and body composition, muscle strength, blood biochemical parameters, plasma-targeted metabolomic data, and fecal metagenomic data were then analyzed. (3) Results: The following changes occurred after 8 weeks of BL-99 supplementation: (a) There was no significant difference in the average total daily energy consumption and body composition between the C and E groups. (b) The VO2max and 60°/s and 180°/s knee joint extensor strength significantly increased in both the C and E groups. By the eighth week, the VO2max and 60 s knee-joint extensor strength were significantly higher in the E group than in the C group. (c) The triglyceride levels significantly decreased in both the C and E groups. In addition, the LDL-C levels significantly decreased in the E group. (d) The abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis increased two-fold in the C group and forty-fold in the E group. (e) Plasma-targeted metabolomic analysis showed that, after eight weeks of BL-99 supplementation, the increases in DHA, adrenic acid, linoleic acid, and acetic acid and decreases in glycocholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid in the E group were significantly higher than those in the C group. (f) Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between Bifidobacterium animalis' abundance and SCFAs, PUFAs, and bile acids. (g) There was a significant correlation between the most significantly regulated metabolites and indicators related to sports performance and lipid metabolism. (4) Conclusions: Eight weeks of BL-99 supplementation combined with training may help to improve lipid metabolism and sports performance by increasing the abundance of Bifidobacterium, which can promote the generation of short-chain fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and inhibit the synthesis of bile acids.

Effects of carbohydrate drinks ingestion on executive function in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Carbohydrates are often used as boosters for endurance and high-intensity exercise. However, it is unclear whether carbohydrate drinks intake before or during exercise can affect specific domains of cognitive function, such as Executive Function (EF). Methods: Following the guidance of PRISMA 2020, we searched six major databases including PubMed, WOS, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus. Outcomes were presented in the form of Reaction Time (RT), Accuracy (ACC), and Scores (Score) for performing EF tests. Effect sizes were calculated from the test results of EF and expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs). After analyzing the overall results, we performed subgroup analyses based on the athletes' program characteristics. Results: After retrieving a total of 5,355 articles, ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified and included in this review. The overall results showed that the intake of carbohydrate drinks before or during exercise did not have a significant effect on the reduction of EF after exercise (ACC (-0.05 [-0.27, 0.18]); RT (-0.18 [-0.45, 0.09]); Score (0.24 [-0.20, 0.68])). The subgroup analyses based on open skill sports and close skill sports also showed invalid results, but the results of RT ended up with different preference (ACC of open skill sports athletes (-0.10 [-0.34, 0.14]); RT of open skill athletes (-0.27 [-0.60, 0.07]); RT of close skill athletes (0.29 [-0.24, 0.82])). Conclusion: The intake of 6-12% of single or mixed carbohydrates before or during exercise was not significantly effective in reducing the decline in EF after exercise. Our findings may have been influenced by the type of intervention, dose, mode of administration, or individual variability of the included subjects.

Effects of polyethylene microplastics on properties, enzyme activities, and the succession of microbial community in Mollisol: At the aggregate level.

Soil, as a heterogeneous body, is composed of different-sized aggregates. There is limited data available on the potential role of microplastics (MPs) in microbial properties at the soil aggregate level. In this study, changes in microbial construction and diversity in farmland bulk soil and aggregates induced by polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) were investigated at a dose of 0.5% (w/w) through 16s rDNA sequencing and enzyme activity measurements of different particle size aggregates in incubated soil. The presence of low-dose PE-MPs increased the proportion of >1 mm soil aggregates fraction, and decreased soil available nitrogen and available phosphorus in bulk soils. Furthermore, low-dose PE-MPs increased bacterial richness and diversity in 1-0.5 and < 0.25 mm fractions and decreased operational taxonomic unit, abundance-based coverage estimator, and Chao1 indices in bulk soil and >1 mm fractions. The levels of predicted functional genes taking part in the biodegradation and metabolism of exogenous substances also increased. At the phylum level, PE-MPs changed the proportion of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The variations in soil aggregate properties were significantly correlated with the bacterial communities' composition and diversity. This study deepens our perception of the soil microenvironment, microbial community composition, and diversity in response to PE-MPs.

Using energy expenditure to estimate the minute ventilation and inhaled load of air pollutants: a pilot survey in young Chinese adults.

Existing equations to estimate ventilation (VE) may not represent the Chinese population. The objective is to develop regression equations to predict the basal metabolic rate (BMR) for ventilation estimation. 80 participants underwent the incremental tests on a bicycle ergometer, wearing a fitted facial mask with an airflow sensor connected to the cardiopulmonary gas analyzer, where the energy expenditure, metabolic factors and VE were monitored simultaneously. Linear regression models were established between BMR and body weight, which were used to estimate energy expenditure and VE. Extrapolation of the regression model was evaluated by the five-fold cross-validation. And we also assessed the inhaled load of air pollutants in subgroups at the same exposure levels. Regression models for males and females were BMR (kJ/d) = 107.58 × weight (kg)-172.61 and BMR (kJ/d) = 105.61 × weight (kg)-26.94, respectively. The model showed good fitness between the measured and predicted VE. Differences between the measured and predicted VE of this model are smaller than that of other models. There were significant differences in inhaled load participants in the same exposure concentrations. The regression model showed that weight and BMR are highly correlated and can be used to estimate individual VE.

Assessing Physical Activity Levels among Chinese College Students by BMI, HR, and Multi-Sensor Activity Monitors.

We investigated the use of multi-sensor physical activity monitors, body mass index (BMI), and heart rate (HR) to measure energy expenditure (EE) of various physical activity levels among Chinese collegiate students, compared with portable indirect calorimetry. METHODS: In a laboratory experiment, 100 college students, 18-25 years old, wore the SenseWear Pro3 Armband™ (SWA; BodyMedia, Inc., Pittsburg, PA, USA) and performed 7 different physical activities. EE was measured by indirect calorimetry, while body motion and accelerations were measured with an SWA accelerometer. Special attention was paid to the analysis of unidirectional and three-directional accelerometer output. RESULTS: Seven physical activities were recorded and distinguished by SWA, and different physical activities demonstrated different data features. The mean values of acceleration ACz (longitudinal accel point, axis Z) and VM (vector magnitude) were significantly different (p = 0.000, p < 0.05) for different physical activities, whereas no significant difference was found in one single physical activity with varied speeds (p = 0.9486, p > 0.05). When all physical activities were included in a correlation regression analysis, a strong linear correlation between the EE and accelerometer reporting value was found. According to the correlation analysis, sex, BMI, HR, ACz, and VM were independent variables, and the EE algorithm model demonstrated a high correlation coefficient R2 value of 0.7. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive energy consumption model of physical activity based on multi-sensor physical activity monitors, BMI, and HR demonstrated high accuracy and can be applied to daily physical activity monitoring among Chinese collegiate students.

Association between Different Types of Exercise and Intake of Nutrients including Carbohydrate, Fat, Protein, and B Vitamins in Young Adults.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between different types of exercise and nutrient intake to provide a basis for promoting the overall health of young adults. METHODS: A total of 427 young adults (217 women) aged 21 to 35 were recruited. Participants self-reported time spent (min/week) in endurance exercise, resistance exercise, sports, walking, and other structured physical activity (PA). Nutrient intake was determined via telephone-administered 24 h recalls. RESULTS: Resistance exercise was positively associated with intake of protein, vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12 and the percentage of total calories from protein (PCT-PRO), and negatively associated with the percentage of total calories from carbohydrate (PCT-CHO) (p < 0.05). Time spent in aerobic exercise was positively associated with fiber, pectin, and vitamin B6 intake, and negatively associated with PCT-PRO (p < 0.05). Time spent exercising was negatively associated with fiber and pectin intake (p < 0.05). Time spent performing other structured PA was positively associated with pectin intake (p < 0.05). Participants' total exercise time was positively associated with intake of vitamins B2, B5, B12, and PCT-Fat, PCT-PRO, and negatively associated with PCT-CHO (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed an association between various exercise types and specific nutrients. It may be worthwhile to point out the negative association of exercise with CHO intake, which may need to be examined more closely in active young adults. In addition, the supplementation of B vitamins and pectin may be beneficial for their exercise performance and post-exercise recovery.

Near-infrared light triggered in situ release of CO for enhanced therapy of glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) features high biocompatibility and high spatiotemporal selectivity, showing a great potential in glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. However, its application was restricted by the poor therapeutic efficacy and side effect. RESULTS: In this study, a therapeutic nanoplatform (UCNPs@Ce6/3HBQ@CM) with combination of PDT and CO therapy was constructed, in which a photoCORM and a photosensitizer were loaded onto the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) functioning as photon transducer. Benefitting from NIR excitation and multicolor emission of UCNPs, the penetration depth of excitation light is enhanced and meanwhile simultaneous generation of CO and ROS in tumor site can be achieved. The as-prepared nanocomposite possessed an elevated therapeutic efficiency with the assistance of CO through influencing mitochondrial respiration and depleting ATP, accompanying with the reduced inflammatory responses. By wrapping a homologous cell membrane, the nanocomposite can target GBM and accumulate in the tumor site, affording a powerful tool for precise and efficient treatment of GBM. CONCLUSION: This therapeutic nanoplatform UCNPs@Ce6/3HBQ@CM, which combines PDT and CO therapy enables precise and efficient treatment of refractory glioblastoma.

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter modifies the association between physical activity and the risk of hypertension.

The trade-off between the potentially detrimental effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the benefits of physical activity (PA) is unclear. We aimed to explore the independent and interaction effects between long-term PM2.5 exposure and PA on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. A total of 8704 adults (≥45 years) without hypertension at baseline in a nationwide cohort of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were followed from 2011 to 2015. The participants were selected using a four-stage, stratified, and cluster sampling procedure. The annual PM2.5 concentrations at the residential address were estimated from a two-stage machine learning model with a 10 km × 10 km resolution. A standard questionnaire collected information on PA and potential confounders, and metabolic equivalents (MET·h/wk), which combined frequency, intensity, and duration information, were used to assess PA levels. We adopted mixed-effects regression models to explore the independent and interaction effects between long-term PM2.5 exposure and PA on BP and risk of hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by -0.84 mmHg (95% CI: -1.34, -0.34) per an IQR (interquartile range, 175.5 MET·h/wk) increase in PA, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by -0.42 mmHg (95% CI: -0.76, -0.07). Each IQR (36.1 µg/m3) increment in PM2.5 was associated with 0.48 mmHg (95% CI: -0.24, 1.20) in SBP and -0.02 mmHg (95% CI: -0.44, 0.39) in DBP. PM2.5 showed an elevated effect with risks of hypertension (odds ratio, OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.03), while PA showed the inverse result (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.99). Interaction analyses indicated PA maintained the beneficial effects on BP, but the negative association was attenuated, accompanied by the increase of PM2.5. PA decreased the BP and hypertension risks, while PM2.5 showed the opposite results. PM2.5 attenuated the beneficial effects of PA on BP and modified the association between PA and the risk of hypertension.

Comparison of the Effects of Different Forms of Nutrition Education on Adolescent Male Soccer Players.

The purpose of this study was to compare the educational effects on nutrition knowledge of two teaching methods targeting adolescent male soccer players through learning online from WeChat account articles (WeChat group) or taking classroom courses (classroom group). The study investigates whether such teaching methods can improve self-efficacy and nutrition knowledge for athletes. A total of 41 U15 (age 15) youth male soccer players, 21 in the classroom group and 20 in the WeChat group, participated in the experiment by receiving the same nutrition education separately for 12 weeks. An athlete nutrition KAP questionnaire and self-efficacy questionnaire were conducted before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention. As a result, the nutritional knowledge score and the total score of the athlete nutrition KAP questionnaire in the classroom group increased significantly and were notably higher than those in the WeChat group. Self-efficacy scores improved significantly in both groups. In conclusion, the study showed that the level of nutritional knowledge of U15 male soccer players was mediocre, and both forms of nutrition education can significantly improve the level of nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy of the players. In comparison, the educational effect of classroom teaching is significantly greater and more consistent than that of learning from WeChat public articles.

Plasma Metabolomics Reveals ß-Glucan Improves Muscle Strength and Exercise Capacity in Athletes.

The present study aimed to assess the changes in muscle strength and plasma metabolites in athletes with ß-glucan supplementation. A total of 29 athletes who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study (ChiCTR2200058091) and were randomly divided into a placebo group (n = 14) and ß-glucan group (n = 15). During the trial, the experimental group received ß-glucan supplementation (2 g/d ß-glucan) for 4 weeks and the control group received an equal dose of placebo supplementation (0 g/d ß-glucan), with both groups maintaining their regular diet and exercise habits during the trial. The athletes' exercise performance, muscle strength, and plasma metabolome changes were analyzed after 4 weeks of ß-glucan supplementation. The results showed a significant increase in mean grip strength (kg), right hand grip strength (kg), left triceps strength (kg), and upper limb muscle mass (kg) in the experimental group after the 4-week intervention compared to the preintervention period (p < 0.05). A comparison of the difference between the two groups after the intervention showed that there were significant differences between the control group and the experimental group in mean grip strength (kg) and right-hand grip strength (kg) (p < 0.05). Athletes in the experimental group showed significant improvements in 1 min double rocking jump (pcs), VO2max (ml/kg-min) (p < 0.05). The ß-glucan intake increased the creatine-related pathway metabolites in plasma. Overall, these results suggest that 4 weeks of ß-glucan supplementation can improve muscle strength in athletes, with the potential to increase aerobic endurance and enhance immune function, possibly by affecting creatine-related pathways.

The Effect of FIFA 11+ on the Isometric Strength and Running Ability of Young Soccer Players.

Soccer is the world's game, and keeping athletes healthy while playing the game has often been a focus of study. There is a high occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries reported in soccer. FIFA 11+ was developed as an intervention to help prevent such injuries. FIFA 11+ has previously been studied for its efficacy as an injury prevention program, but not for its effect on sports performance in an adolescent population. The purpose of this study was to look at the effect of implementing the FIFA 11+ intervention on strength, speed, and agility. Twenty youth soccer players were randomly divided into an intervention group (INT) and a control group (CON). The intervention lasted for eight weeks and performance assessments were completed pre- and post-intervention. Post-test INT knee flexor strength was significantly higher than pre-test scores (p < 0.05). INT also demonstrated significantly higher hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio (H/Q) after the intervention (p < 0.05), while the CON H/Q did not change significantly. 30-m sprint performance of both groups improved from pre- to post-test (p < 0.05). Shuttle run performance was significantly improved in post-test scores for INT players (p < 0.05), but did not change significantly for the CON players. It is suggested that implementing FIFA 11+ before training in young soccer players can lead to performance benefits as well as injury prevention benefits.

Colloid-facilitated mobilization of cadmium: Comparison of spring freeze-thaw event and autumn freeze-thaw event.

Freeze-thaw action has the potential to facilitate the mobilization of colloid-associated contaminants in soil. However, the differences in colloid-associated contaminants following autumn freeze-thaw (AFT) events and spring freeze-thaw (SFT) events remain unclear. In this study, the potential influence mechanisms of AFT and SFT on both the generation and migration of colloids and colloid-associated cadmium (Cd) in soil were explored. Higher aggregate stabilities were found in soils after AFT compared with after SFT. After SFT, lower Cd concentrations were found in soil aggregates of 0.25-0.50 mm and <0.106 mm and higher concentrations were found in 0.106-0.25 mm aggregates. Moreover, SFT generated higher amounts of colloidal Cd than AFT, while AFT increased the total Cd concentration in leachates. Additionally, compared with SFT, AFT led to higher Cd concentrations in dissolved and colloid-associated forms in leachates. These findings demonstrate that higher amounts of colloid and fewer loadings of Cd in colloids in Cd contaminated soil can be found after SFT events. Thus, to better understand the environmental risk of contaminants in areas subject to seasonal freeze-thaw cycles, the differences between freeze-thaw processes in spring and autumn should be considered.

Effects of Different Delivery Modes on Pelvic Floor Function in Parturients 6-8 Weeks after Delivery Using Transperineal Four-Dimensional Ultrasound.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of different delivery modes on pelvic floor function in parturients 6-8 weeks after delivery using transperineal four-dimensional ultrasound. Methods: Pelvic floor function 6-8 weeks after delivery in 40 vaginal delivery parturients between November 2018 and December 2020 was assessed by four-dimensional ultrasound, with 40 selective cesarean section delivery parturients as a control group. The imaging results of the two groups were compared. Results: The levels of clinical indexes such as UVJ-M, A r , A v , θ, D r , D v , and ARJ-VDv in the selective cesarean section group were significantly lower than those in the vaginal delivery group 6-8 weeks after delivery (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference in CV-VD was observed under Valsalva action and at rest between the two groups (P > 0.05). No significant difference in ARJ-VD was found at rest between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of pelvic organ prolapse in the selective cesarean section group (40.0%) was significantly lower than that in the vaginal delivery group (62.5%) (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the parameters of pelvic diaphragm hiatus at rest was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). The parameters of pelvic diaphragm hiatus under maximum Valsalva action in the vaginal delivery group were significantly higher than those in the selective cesarean section group (P < 0.05). Whether the patient was complicated with diabetes had no significant effect on the functional injury of pelvic floor muscle (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The pelvic floor function 6-8 weeks after delivery was significantly more affected in vaginal delivery than in selective cesarean section. Selective cesarean section had certain but limited protective effect on maternal pelvic floor tissue.