Executive function and spatial abilities in physically active children: an explorative study.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity has consistently shown promise in improving cognitive functioning among children. However, there is a shortage of comprehensive studies that delve into these benefits across various cognitive domains. This preliminary investigation aimed to discern potential disparities in cognitive performance between active and sedentary children, with a specific focus on inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuo-spatial working memory abilities. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design encompassing 26 children (mean age 9.53 ± 2.20 years), categorized into two groups: Active and Sedentary. Executive functions were assessed using the NEPSY-II, while visuo-spatial working memory abilities were evaluated through the table version of the Radial Arm Maze (table-RAM) task. All outputs were analyzed with One-way ANOVAS or Kruskal-Wallis Tests to assess differences between Active and Sedentary children in both executive functioning and visuo-spatial working memory processes. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the Active group outperformed the sedentary group in inhibitory control (F1,23 = 4.99, p = 0.03*), cognitive flexibility (F1,23 = 5.77, p = 0.02*), spatial span (F1,23 = 4.40, p = 0.04*), and working memory errors (F1,23 = 8.59, p = 0.01**). Both spatial span and working memory errors are parameters closely associated with visuo-spatial working memory abilities. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these results offer evidence of a positive link between physical activity and cognitive functioning in children. This indicates the importance of promoting active behaviors, especially within educational environments.

Effects of exercise interventions on negative emotions, cognitive performance and drug craving in methamphetamine addiction.

Introduction: Methamphetamine is currently one of the most commonly used addictive substances with strong addiction and a high relapse rate. This systematic review aims to examine the effectiveness of physical activity in improving negative emotions, cognitive impairment, and drug craving in people with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Methods: A total of 17 studies out of 133 found from Embase and PubMed were identified, reporting results from 1836 participants from MUD populations. Original research using clearly described physical activity as interventions and reporting quantifiable outcomes of negative mood, cognitive function and drug craving level in people with MUD were eligible for inclusion. We included prospective studies, randomized controlled trials, or intervention studies, focusing on the neurological effects of physical activity on MUD. Results: Taken together, the available clinical evidence showed that physical activity-based interventions may be effective in managing MUD-related withdrawal symptoms. Discussion: Physical exercise may improve drug rehabilitation efficiency by improving negative emotions, cognitive behaviors, and drug cravings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024530359.

Does yoga improve sexual function? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Yoga practice can increase blood flow in the genital area, increase muscular strength, and improve body perception, which is related to sexual function. This study aimed to summarize the available evidence about the effects of yoga on sexual function in adults. METHODS: Systematic searches of five databases were conducted from inception to April 28, with the last update on September 28, 2023. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared yoga with nonintervention control groups on sexual function in adults. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2, and the GRADE approach, respectively. Summary effect size measures were calculated using a random-effects model estimation and are reported as standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Reporting followed the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Ten RCTs that comprised 730 adults (range mean age, 26.64-68.2 years; 680 [93.2 %] women) were included. For the primary outcome, yoga intervention was associated with a significant small improvement in sexual function (-0.31; -0.47 to -0.15, p = 0.0002), with some concerns about risk of bias in nine RCTs (90%) and low-certainty evidence. Subgroup analyses revealed that yoga interventions performed by women (-0.36; -0.52 to -0.21, p < 0.00001), healthy individuals (-0.38; -0.59 to -0.16, p = 0.0006), or middle-aged individuals (-0.44; -0.63 to -0.25, p < 00001) significantly improved sexual function compared with control groups. CONCLUSION: Yoga was associated with a small improvement in sexual function compared with nonintervention control groups in adults. However, high-quality, larger RCTs are required to draw more definitive conclusions.

Influence of physical exercise on negative emotions in college students: chain mediating role of sleep quality and self-rated health.

Background: Negative emotions in college students are a significant factor affecting mental health, with suicide behaviors caused by negative emotions showing an annual increasing trend. Existing studies suggest that physical exercise is essential to alleviate negative feelings, yet the intrinsic mechanisms by which it affects negative emotions have not been fully revealed. Objective: Negative emotions in college students represent a significant issue affecting mental health. This study investigates the relationship between physical exercise and negative emotions among college students, incorporating sleep quality and self-rated health (SRH) as mediators to analyze the pathway mechanism of how physical exercise affects students' negative emotions. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was utilized, employing online questionnaires for investigation. The scales included the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), resulting in the collection of 30,475 valid questionnaires, with a validity rate of 91%. Chain mediation tests and Bootstrap methods were applied for effect analysis. Results: The proportions of university students engaged in low, medium, and high levels of physical exercise were 77.6, 13.1, and 9.3%, respectively. The proportions of students experiencing "very severe" levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were 4.5, 10.9, and 3.6%, respectively. Physical exercise was significantly positively correlated with self-rated health (r = 0.194, p < 0.01), significantly negatively correlated with sleep quality (r = -0.035, p < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression (r = -0.03, p < 0.01; r = -0.058, p < 0.01; r = -0.055, p < 0.01). Sleep quality was significantly negatively correlated with self-rated health (r = -0.242, p < 0.01). Mediation effect testing indicated that sleep quality and self-rated health partially mediated the relationship between physical exercise and negative emotions, with total effect, total direct effect, and total indirect effect values of -1.702, -0.426, and - 1.277, respectively. Conclusion: College students primarily engage in low-intensity physical activity. Sleep quality and self-rated health mediate the impact of physical exercise on students' negative emotions. A certain level of physical activity can directly affect students' emotional states and indirectly influence their negative emotions via sleep and self-rated health. Regular engagement in physical activities primarily positively impacts emotional states by enhancing mood stability and overall emotional resilience.

Fat loss and muscle gain: The possible role of cortical glutamate in determining the efficacy of physical exercise.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is widely acknowledged for its health benefits, but its effectiveness in treating obesity remains contentious due to variability in response. Owing to the roles of glutamate in appetite regulation, food addiction, and impulsivity, this observational cohort-study evaluated medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) glutamate as a predictor of variability in exercise response, specifically in terms of fat loss and muscle gain. METHODS: Healthy non-exercising adult men (n = 21) underwent an 8-week supervised exercise program. Baseline glutamate levels in the mPFC were measured through magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For exercise-dependent changes in body composition (fat and muscle mass), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and blood metabolic biomarkers related to lipid and glucose metabolism, measurements were obtained through bioelectrical impedance and blood sample analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The exercise program resulted in significant improvements in body composition, including reductions in percentage body fat mass, body fat mass, and waist-to-hip ratio and an increase in mean muscle mass. Furthermore, BMR and metabolic indicators linked to glucose and lipids exhibited significant changes. Notably, lower baseline glutamate levels were associated with greater loss in percentage body fat mass (r = 0.482, p = 0.027), body fat mass (r = 0.441, p = 0.045), and increase in muscle mass (r = -0.409, p = 0.066, marginal) following the exercise program. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiology of obesity and emphasize the significance of glutamate in regulating body composition. The results also highlight cortical glutamate as a potential predictor of exercise-induced fat loss and muscle gain.

Physical exercise and college students' sense of meaning in life: Chain mediating effect test.

BACKGROUND: To explore the impact mechanism of physical exercise on the sense of meaning in life of college students, and analyze the chain mediating effect between self-concept and self-control. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 923 college students in China using the Physical Exercise Rating Scale (PARS-3), Life Meaning Scale, Self Concept Scale, and Self Control Scale. RESULTS: (1) Physical exercise, self-concept, self-control and sense of meaning in life are significantly related to each other; (2) Self-concept and self-control play a chain mediating role between physical exercise and college students' sense of meaning in life, with an effect value of 0.042, accounting for 5.48% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise can directly enhance the sense of meaning in life of college students, and can also indirectly enhance it not only through the mediating effect of self-concept and self-control, but also through the chain mediating effect of the two. These results provide theoretical reference for college students to improve their sense of life meaning and mental health education.

Unique Specific Jumping Test for Measuring Explosive Power in Young Basketball Players: Differences by Gender, Age, and Playing Positions.

When playing basketball, players are required to have high explosive power, which requires the ability to move in efficient, specific, and game-specific movement patterns that combine both horizontal and vertical abilities. Differences have been seen between young male and female basketball players in this measure. The aim of this study was to examine differences in players' unique movements by gender, age, and playing positions using a novel test for basketball players. This study included 232 young basketball players, male and female, from a range of Israeli leagues, who were divided into three categories: under-14, under-16, and under-18. Our findings showed that males presented better results than females in all age categories. Moreover, females in the under-18 category presented better results than those in the under-14 category, but not more than those in the under-16 category. Differences in playing positions were only examined between males and females in the under-18 category, where players begin to specialize in playing positions, and here, guards showed better results than forwards and centers. Our conclusions highlight the importance of including unique, sport-specific tests in talent identification and selection processes, as these tests can provide valuable information about a player's skill set and potential for success. The findings are presented in an achievement table of the expected physical fitness results by age and gender for the benefit of basketball coaches and strength and conditioning coaches when assessing their players.

Bodily Practices and Meanings Articulated in the Physical Exercise of Older Adults in Santiago de Chile Post-COVID-19.

This article presents the results of almost nine months of ethnographic research on the relationship between physical exercise and health in older people in the post-COVID-19 context. Via exploratory-descriptive qualitative research and the use of a convenient sample, I shed light on this relationship using the stories and life experiences of 40 older people (10 men and 30 women, including two women instructors for senior classes) who exercise regularly. The meanings they attributed to physical exercise during COVID-19 and after it are explained, emphasising first that there is no health in a context of not feeling safe; once there is a feeling of security, the most relevant meanings can be exposed in three directions. First, exercise produces a sense of identity linked to "being an athlete" and "belonging to a group". Second, exercising is valued as participating in something meaningful (the meanings range from self-realisation, independence, and autonomy to feelings of happiness). Finally, and linked to the sense of identity, those who train alone show more commitment and total hours spent in physical exercise and physical activity than those who train in groups. Even though older people are not a homogeneous group, they generally faced the pandemic as an ageist situation that affected their lives and how they saw sports and health. This article describes the strategies they used during COVID-19 related to exercise and well-being and those used once the pandemic restrictions were no longer present. The qualitative aspects that physical exercise brings to this population are highlighted. The research results give voice to older people, showing their heterogeneity and the meanings and practices that unite them. These inputs are rich material for studies on physical activity, older people, and well-being.

What exercise strategies are best for people with cognitive impairment and dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the types of exercise that are appropriate for people with dementia, as well as the intensity and frequency of exercise training that is appropriate for older patients to carry out. METHODS: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus databases were searched by computer to collect RCT studies that met the inclusion criteria of this article. The search time limit was until January 2024. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15.1 software. RESULTS: The results of our study showed that physical exercise improved patients' cognitive ability and walking ability, with aerobic and multicomponent training showing the best improvement, and that the number of training sessions should not be too high, with the experimental group showing the best results when the total number of interventions was less than 30. CONCLUSION: We recommend long-term exercise training for middle-aged and elderly patients with dementia or those who are predisposed to dementia. The type of training we recommend is multi-component training and aerobic training, and we recommend 2-3 sessions of exercise per week for about 60 min each.

Does Physical Exercise Modify the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease in Older Persons?

Physical exercise is well known for its benefits on brain health. However, the mechanisms through which these benefits occur remain discussed, especially in the context of cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. The present short review summarizes the findings of interventional studies that examined the effects of exercise training on the specific and non-specific biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Controlled exercise intervention studies published in the English language were selected if they assessed the effects of a physical exercise intervention of at least 2 weeks in middle-aged or older adults on one of the following biomarkers measured either in the brain, the cerebrospinal fluid or the blood: beta-amyloid, tau, neurofilament light chain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Overall, there was no strong evidence of significant effects of exercise interventions on any of the selected biomarkers. However, in specific populations, such as women with obesity, pre-diabetes, or depression, favorable changes in blood beta-amyloid concentrations were reported. Further benefits on cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid were also demonstrated in APOE-ε4 allele carriers with Alzheimer's disease. In conclusion, the current evidence suggests that physical exercise does not modulate the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease in the overall population of middle-aged and older adults. Nonetheless, some specific populations, such as women with metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease patients with APOE-ε4 genotype, seem to be favorably affected. Further studies, including long follow-ups, large sample sizes, and concomitantly assessing the effects of other factors such as sedentary behavior and diet, are required to bring further evidence to the field.

Interactions between physical exercise, associative memory, and genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.

The ε4 allele of the APOE gene heightens the risk of late onset Alzheimer's disease. ε4 carriers, may exhibit cognitive and neural changes early on. Given the known memory-enhancing effects of physical exercise, particularly through hippocampal plasticity via endocannabinoid signaling, here we aimed to test whether a single session of physical exercise may benefit memory and underlying neurophysiological processes in young ε3 carriers (ε3/ε4 heterozygotes, risk group) compared with a matched control group (homozygotes for ε3). Participants underwent fMRI while learning picture sequences, followed by cycling or rest before a memory test. Blood samples measured endocannabinoid levels. At the behavioral level, the risk group exhibited poorer associative memory performance, regardless of the exercising condition. At the brain level, the risk group showed increased medial temporal lobe activity during memory retrieval irrespective of exercise (suggesting neural compensatory effects even at baseline), whereas, in the control group, such increase was only detectable after physical exercise. Critically, an exercise-related endocannabinoid increase correlated with task-related hippocampal activation in the control group only. In conclusion, healthy young individuals carrying the ε4 allele may present suboptimal associative memory performance (when compared with homozygote ε3 carriers), together with reduced plasticity (and functional over-compensation) within medial temporal structures.

Impact of exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in survivors with post-treatment primary breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect of neurotoxic chemotherapy. Exercise activates neuromuscular function and may improve CIPN. We examined the association between exercise and CIPN symptoms in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: In a retrospective cross-sectional study, we included patients completing a survey assessing exercise exposure and neuropathy symptoms in a tertiary cancer center survivorship clinic. We evaluated exercise duration and intensity using a standardized questionnaire quantified in metabolic equivalent tasks (MET-h/wk). We defined exercisers as patients meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines' criteria. We used multivariable logistic regressions to examine the relationship between exercise and CIPN and if this differed as a function of chemotherapy regimen adjusting for age, gender, and race. RESULTS: We identified 5444 breast cancer survivors post-chemotherapy (median age 62 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 55, 71); median 4.7 years post-chemotherapy (IQR: 3.3, 7.6)) from 2017 to 2022. CIPN overall prevalence was 34% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%, 36%), 33% for non-taxane, and 37% for taxane-based chemotherapy. CIPN prevalence was 28% (95% CI: 26%, 30%) among exercisers and 38% (95% CI: 37%, 40%) among non-exercisers (difference 11%; 95% CI: 8%, 13%; p < 0.001). Compared to patients with low (<6 MET-h/wk) levels of exercise (42%), 11% fewer patients with moderate (6-20.24 MET-h/wk) to high (>20.25 MET-h/wk) levels of exercise reported CIPN. Exercise was associated with reduced prevalence of all CIPN symptoms regardless of chemotherapy type. CONCLUSION: CIPN may persist several years following chemotherapy among patients with breast cancer but is significantly reduced by exercise in a dose-dependent manner.

Exploring Temporal and Intensity Effects of Resistance Exercise on Inhibition: A Four-Arm Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Given the recognized benefits of resistance exercise on both physical and cognitive domains, elucidating how to maximize its benefit is pivotal. This study aims to evaluate these effects in terms of their timing and intensity on cognitive performance. Methods: This was a four-arm, crossover randomized controlled trial. Healthy college-aged male adults with recreational resistance training experience participated in this study. Participants completed three separate sessions of circuit barbell resistance exercises, including back squat, press, and deadlift. Each session corresponded to a different intensity level: 65% 1RM, 72% 1RM, and 78% 1RM. Each session consisted of 5 repetitions across 3 sets, with a 3-minute rest between exercises and sets. For the control condition, participants engaged in a reading activity for the same duration. The subjective exercise intensity was measured using the rating of perceived exertion and repetitions in reserve immediately after each set. The primary outcome was the temporal effect of acute resistance exercise on inhibition, measured by the Stroop color-word task. The secondary outcome was the effect of different intensities. Results: 30 out of 31 recruited participants were randomized, with 28 completing all experiment sessions. Using repeated measures correlation (rrm), a linear temporal effect was observed on accuracy-adjusted congruent reaction time: rrm = 0.114, p = 0.045, 95% CI [0.002, 0.223]. Participants responded 19.1 ms faster than the control condition approximately 10 minutes post-intervention. This advantage, however, gradually declined at a rate of 4.3 ms every 15 minutes between 10-55 minutes post-intervention. In contrast, no significant effects were detected for incongruent trials or the Stroop effect. When examining the linear relationship across exercise intensities, no significant correlations emerged for congruent trials. Conclusion: Resistance exercise demonstrates a temporal effect on cognitive performance, particularly in reaction speed for congruent trials, without significant changes in incongruent trials or the overall Stroop effect. The findings highlight the importance of timing in leveraging the cognitive benefits of acute resistance exercise, suggesting a window of enhanced cognitive performance following exercise. However, this study has a limitation regarding Type I error inflation, due to multiple measurements of cognitive performance being undertaken, suggesting caution in interpreting the observed temporal effects. Practically, scheduling crucial, cognitively demanding tasks within 10-60 minutes post-exercise may maximize benefits, as positive effects diminish after this period.

ACTIVE-FIT program: Assessment of sleep quality and its relationship with physical activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes sleep disturbances in up to 70 % of individuals. These problems are linked to fatigue, mood and cognitive performance, thereby affecting the quality of life in people with MS (PwMS). The frequent and debilitating side effects of sleep medications prompt the exploration of alternative therapies. Physical activity has shown benefits in improving sleep, reducing fatigue, and enhancing quality of life. Combined with a controlled exercise program tailored for PwMS, the study aims to analyze the impact of moderate physical exercise on sleep quality, cognitive function, quality of life, mood, and fatigue. METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort study was designed to assess the impact of a 12-week physical exercise program on patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Changes in sleep and activity parameters are evaluated using an actigraph and cognitive, quality of life, fatigue and mood changes are assessed through specific questionnaires before, during, and after the exercise program application. RESULTS: 23 patients completed the study (women = 84.6 %) Mean age was 37.2 years (SD 7.5). The mean EDSS score was 1.9, and 80.8 % were diagnosed within the last six years. Significant improvements were noted in sleep efficiency between baseline and final measurements (χ2 = 27.5; p.adj = 0.004), sleep latency (χ2 = 275; p.adj = 0.000), sleep duration (χ2 = 251; p.adj = 0.001) and in the number of awakenings (χ2 = 269.5; p.adj = 0.000), with a decreased in total time in bed from 8.5 h to 7.35 h post-intervention. Regarding activity variables, an increase in caloric expenditure and an increase in the time participants engaged in light activity were observed. We found significant improvements in fatigue, quality of life and mood. Concerning neuropsychological exploration results, improvements were observed in all studied parameters, with statistically significant improvement in Verbal SRT (χ2 = 43; p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Our study showed a positive impact of a 12-week physical exercise program on sleep performance, cognition and mood in PwMS. The observed improvements underscore the potential of tailored exercise interventions in promoting a more comprehensive and holistic care paradigm for PwMS.

Oxidative Stress in Military Missions-Impact and Management Strategies: A Narrative Analysis.

This narrative review comprehensively examines the impact of oxidative stress on military personnel, highlighting the crucial role of physical exercise and tailored diets, particularly the ketogenic diet, in minimizing this stress. Through a meticulous analysis of the recent literature, the study emphasizes how regular physical exercise not only enhances cardiovascular, cognitive, and musculoskeletal health but is also essential in neutralizing the effects of oxidative stress, thereby improving endurance and performance during long-term missions. Furthermore, the implementation of the ketogenic diet provides an efficient and consistent energy source through ketone bodies, tailored to the specific energy requirements of military activities, and significantly contributes to the reduction in reactive oxygen species production, thus protecting against cellular deterioration under extreme stress. The study also underlines the importance of integrating advanced technologies, such as wearable devices and smart sensors that allow for the precise and real-time monitoring of oxidative stress and physiological responses, thus facilitating the customization of training and nutritional regimes. Observations from this review emphasize significant variability among individuals in responses to oxidative stress, highlighting the need for a personalized approach in formulating intervention strategies. It is crucial to develop and implement well-monitored, personalized supplementation protocols to ensure that each member of the military personnel receives a regimen tailored to their specific needs, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of measures to combat oxidative stress. This analysis makes a valuable contribution to the specialized literature, proposing a detailed framework for addressing oxidative stress in the armed forces and opening new directions for future research with the aim of optimizing clinical practices and improving the health and performance of military personnel under stress and specific challenges of the military field.

Non-Linear Association of Exercise with Animal Protein Consumption among U.S. Adults.

Supply chain disruptions, human and animal health concerns, and environmental impacts of livestock production have spurred renewed attention to animal protein consumption in the U.S. Prior research has sought to better understand animal protein consumption by assessing demographic and socioeconomic determinants. However, physical exercise represents a behavioral determinant of consumption that is societally important and, thus far, has not been considered in empirical assessments. Our objective was to quantify the association of exercise with the consumption of total protein, beef, pork, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy among U.S. adults. We analyzed 24 h dietary recall and physical activity data from adults in the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The association of exercise with protein consumption (total and disaggregated animal protein) was assessed using ordinary least squares and multivariate Tobit regression. Non-linear associations of exercise with total protein consumption were found, with the magnitude of association highest at 121-180 min per day of exercise. Non-linear associations were also found with animal protein consumption, which differed in sign and magnitude across protein sources. The magnitudes of association, paired with a sizable share of the study sample engaged in exercise, suggest a substantial influence of exercise on protein consumption habits in the U.S.

Physical exercise and chicken egg white supplementation increase muscle mass of stable COPD patients.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly exhibit muscle atrophy and dysfunction due to a reduction in muscle mass; and protein supplements such as chicken egg whites have been reported to improve muscle mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of physical exercise and egg white supplementation on the muscle mass of COPD patients. An experimental study was conducted among stable COPD patients at Universitas Sumatra Utara Hospital Medan, Indonesia, between August and October 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, control and interventional groups, with each patient subjected to a pre- and post-muscle mass assessment. All the patients performed respiratory endurance and upper extremity muscle strength training three times/week for a total of 12 weeks. In addition, the patients in the intervention group were also given egg white supplementation (10 eggs/day) during the period of intervention in addition to the physical training. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to identify the significance of the difference between pre- and post-intervention and between the control and intervention groups, respectively. A total of 38 COPD patients were included in the study, 19 from each group. Our data suggested no significant difference in muscle mass of the patients in the control group before and after 12 weeks of physical exercise (pre-intervention 27.37±4.54% and post-intervention 27.68±4.5% with p=0.174). However, there was a significant muscle mass increment of patients in the intervention group upon 12 weeks of physical training and egg white supplementation (pre-intervention 27.18±4.15%, post-intervention 29.95±3.76%, p<0.001). A significant difference in muscle mass was observed between patients in the control and the intervention groups (p=0.046) after the intervention. The study highlights that physical exercise in combination with egg white supplementation may serve as potential and effective non-pharmacological treatment for muscle mass restoration in COPD patients as compared to physical exercise alone.

Exploring the Effect of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Individuals with Obesity: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obesity is a major global health concern linked to cognitive impairment and neurological disorders. Circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial for neuronal growth and survival, plays a vital role in brain function and plasticity. Notably, obese individuals tend to exhibit lower BDNF levels, potentially contributing to cognitive decline. Physical exercise offers health benefits, including improved circulating BDNF levels and cognitive function, but the specific impacts of acute versus regular exercise on circulating BDNF levels in obesity are unclear. Understanding this can guide interventions to enhance brain health and counter potential cognitive decline in obese individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of acute and regular physical exercise on circulating BDNF in individuals with obesity. The target population comprised individuals classified as overweight or obese, encompassing both acute and chronic protocols involving all training methods. A comprehensive search was conducted across computerized databases, including PubMed, Academic Search Complete, and Web of Science, in August 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Initially, 98 studies were identified, from which 16 studies, comprising 23 trials, met the selection criteria. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for both acute (I2 = 80.4%) and long-term effects (I2 = 88.7%), but low risk of bias for the included studies. A single session of exercise increased circulating BDNF levels among obese patients compared to the control group (ES = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.19 to 2.30, p = 0.021). However, with extended periods of physical exercise, there was no significant increase in circulating BDNF levels when compared to the control group (ES = 0.49, 95% CI = -0.08 to 1.06, p = 0.089). These findings highlight the need to consider exercise duration and type when studying neurobiological responses in obesity and exercise research. The study's results have implications for exercise prescription in obesity management and highlight the need for tailored interventions to optimize neurotrophic responses. Future research should focus on elucidating the adaptive mechanisms and exploring novel strategies to enhance BDNF modulation through exercise in this population. However, further research is needed considering limitations such as the potential age-related confounding effects due to diverse participant ages, lack of sex-specific analyses, and insufficient exploration of how specific exercise parameters (e.g., duration, intensity, type) impact circulating BDNF.

How Does Physical Exercise Improve the Subjective Well-Being of the Chinese Adult Population? A Moderated Mediation Model.

Based on the 2017 data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS), the conditional process analysis method was used to explore the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being, as well as the mediating effect of social capital and the moderating effect of Internet use. This study found that the effect of physical exercise on subjective well-being includes both direct effects and indirect effects. Physical exercise directly and positively affects SWB and partially affects SWB through social networks as a mediating variable. Additionally, Internet use can moderate the direct effect of physical exercise on SWB and the mediating effect of social networks on the relationship between the two. As the frequency of Internet use increases, the link between physical exercise and social capital weakens, resulting in a decreased promotion effect on SWB. The results of this study further reveal the internal mechanism linking physical exercise and the improvement of SWB, which is of great significance for enhancing the accessibility of physical exercise facilities and promoting a healthy online lifestyle, ultimately leading to improved well-being among residents.