An Updated View of the Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Sports Performance: A Detailed Review

Purpose of ReviewModulation of the host microbiota through probiotics has been shown to have beneficial effects on health in the growing body of research. Exercise increases the amount and diversity of beneficial microorganisms in the host microbiome. Although low- and moderate-intensity exercise has been shown to reduce physiological stress and improve immune function, high-intensity prolonged exercise can suppress immune function and reduce microbial diversity due to intestinal hypoperfusion. The effect of probiotic supplementation on sports performance is still being studied; however, questions remain regarding the mechanisms of action, strain used, and dose. In this review, the aim was to investigate the effects of probiotic supplements on exercise performance through modulation of gut microbiota and alleviation of GI symptoms, promotion of the immune system, bioavailability of nutrients, and aerobic metabolism.Recent FindingsProbiotic supplementation may improve sports performance by reducing the adverse effects of prolonged high-intensity exercise.SummaryAlthough probiotics have been reported to have positive effects on sports performance, information about the microbiome and nutrition of athletes has not been considered in most current studies. This may have limited the evaluation of the effects of probiotic supplementation on sports performance.Trakya UniversityThe figure and table produced by Miray Nur Aykut (first author) are original

Examination of trainers' daytime sleepinesslevels in terms of gender, physical activitylevel, and waist circumference

Yüksek LisansGiriş ve Amaç: Antrenörlerin gün içi uykululuk düzeylerinin, cinsiyet, fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ve bel çevresi açısından incelenmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmaya Bağcılar ilçesinde görev yapan 330 antrenörden ve en az 2 yıllık antrenörlük deneyimi olan yaş ortalamaları 34,37±4,91 yıl, boy uzunlukları 1,74±0,46 m, ağırlıkları 64,37±11,86 kg ve Vücut Kitle İndeksi (VKİ) 21,79±4,38 kg/m2, Bel Çevresi 73,26±11,66 cm, spor geçmişi 7,53±3,21 yıl ve antrenörlük geçmişi 3,88±2,86 yıl olan 173 kadın ve yaş ortalamaları 35,81±6,11 yıl, boy uzunlukları 1,82±0,47 m, ağırlıkları 76,96±12,88 kg ve VKİ 24,11±4,25 kg/m2, bel çevresi 81,58±12,69 cm, spor geçmişi 7,01±3,42 yıl ve antrenörlük geçmişi 4,66±4,19 yıl olan 157 erkek antrenöre kişisel bilgi formu, Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi (IPAQ), Epworth Uyku Anketi (EUA) ve vücut kompozisyonu içinde bel ölçümü uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmanın bulguları incelendiğinde kadınların erkeklere göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek uykuluk düzeyine sahip olduğu, toplam haftalık fiziksel aktivite göz önüne alındığında, bireylerin fiziksel aktivite düzeyi arttığında, uykuluk düzeylerinin anlamlı düzeyde azaldığı ve uykuluk düzeyi ile VKİ ve bel çevresi arasında ilişki olmadığı saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda, cinsiyet değişkeninin VKİ, bel çevresi, uykuluk düzeyi ve fiziksel aktivite düzeyini etkilediği söylenebilir. Antrenörlerin VKİ ve bel çevresi ölçümleri ile uykuluk düzeyi arasında ilişki olmadığı bulunmuştur. Bunun sebebi olarak, katılımcıların aktif sporun içinde yer alan antrenörlerden oluşması ve buna bağlı olarak normal VKİ değerlerine ve bel çevresine sahip olmasından kaynaklandığı söylenebilir. Ayrıca, fiziksel aktivite ile gün içi uykuluk düzeyi arasında bir ilişki olduğu, düşük düzeyli ilişkinin uykuluğu azalttığı, orta düzeyli fiziksel aktivitenin ise uykuluk düzeyini arttırdığı bulunmuştur. Buna göre, fiziksel aktivite düzeyinin arttıkça yorgunluğa ve gün için uykuya daha çok ihtiyaç ortaya çıkardığı söylenebilir.Background and Aim: The aim of the study was examination of coaches' daytime sleepiness levels in terms of gender, physical activity level, and waist circumference. Material and Methods: From 330 coaches working in the district of Bağcılar, with a minimum of 2 years of coaching experience, 173 women and 157 men were included in the study. The average ages for women were 34.37±4.91 years, with heights of 1.74±0.46 m, weights of 64.37±11.86 kg, Body Mass Index (BMI) of 21.79±4.38 kg/m2, waist circumference of 73.26±11.66 cm, sports experience of 7.53±3.21 years, and coaching experience of 3.88±2.86 years. For men, the average ages were 35.81±6.11 years, with heights of 1.82±0.47 m, weights of 76.96±12.88 kg, BMI of 24.11±4.25 kg/m2, waist circumference of 81.58±12.69 cm, sports experience of 7.01±3.42 years, and coaching experience of 4.66±4.19 years. Personal information forms, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and waist measurement within body composition were applied. Results: When the findings of the study are examined, it is observed that women have a significantly higher level of sleepiness compared to men. Considering the total weekly physical activity, it is found that as individuals' physical activity levels increase, their levels of sleepiness decrease significantly. Additionally, no relationship is found between sleepiness levels and BMI (Body Mass Index) or waist circumference. Conclusion: Based on the findings obtained from the study, it can be stated that the gender variable affects BMI, waist circumference, sleepiness level, and physical activity level. No relationship was found between coaches' BMI and waist circumference measurements and their level of sleepiness. This may be attributed to the participants being coaches actively involved in sports, resulting in normal BMI values and waist circumference. Additionally, a relationship was identified between physical activity and daytime sleepiness, indicating that low-level activity reduced sleepiness while moderate-level physical activity increased sleepiness. Consequently, it can be suggested that as the level of physical activity increases, the need for rest and daytime sleep also increases

Frequency and the effects of spondyloarthritis-spectrum disorders on the clinical course and management of Takayasu arteritis: an observational retrospective study

Objectives Extravascular findings of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) often share features with the spondyloarthritis (SpA) spectrum of disorders. However, the characteristics of this overlap and its effect on the vascular manifestations of TAK are not fully known. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the frequency of SpA-related features in TAK patients. Material and methods In this observational retrospective study, 350 patients with TAK classified according to ACR 1990 criteria, from 12 tertiary rheumatology clinics, were included and evaluated for the presence of axSpA, IBD, or psoriasis. Demographic, clinical features, angiographic involvement patterns, disease activity, and treatments of TAK patients with or without SpA were analyzed. Results Mean age was 45.5 +/- 13.6 years and mean follow-up period was 76.1 +/- 65.9 months. Among 350 patients, 31 (8.8%) had at least one additional disease from the SpA spectrum, 8 had IBD, 8 had psoriasis, and 20 had features of axSpA. In the TAK-SpA group, TAK had significantly earlier disease onset, compared to TAK-without-SpA (p = 0.041). SpA-related symptoms generally preceded TAK symptoms. Biological treatments, mostly for active vasculitis, were higher in the TAK-SpA group (70.9%) compared to TAK-without-SpA (27.9%) (p < 0.001). Vascular involvements were similar in both. Conclusion Our study confirmed that diseases in the SpA spectrum are not rare in TAK. Vascular symptoms appeared earlier in such patients, and more aggressive therapy with biological agents was required in the TAK-SpA group, suggesting an association between TAK and SpA spectrum. Key Points center dot The pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis is mediated by an MHC class I alelle (HLA-B*52), similar to spondyloarthritis-disorders. center dot Extravascular findings of Takayasu arteritis are in the spectrum of spondyloarthritis disease. center dot This frequent coexistence between Takayasu arteritis and spondyloarthritic disorders suggests a relationship rather than a coincidence

Prognostic Role of Tumor Percentage in Multiparametric MRI for Upgrade Prediction Before Radical Prostatectomy

Objective: To determine the parameters that can predict upgrade with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) findings before radical prostatectomy Materials and Methods: The study included 69 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) between January 2017-December 2020 and subsequently underwent RP. Patients were divided into two groups by comparing prostate biopsies and RP specimens as patients with upgrade (group 1) and patients without upgrade (group 2). Of the 69 patients, 26 were in group 1 and 43 in group 2. The images were evaluated by a single radiologist experienced in mpMRI using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System v2.1 scoring system. Biopsy and RP pathology specimens were evaluated by an experienced neuropathologist. Results: The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were higher in patients with upgraded pathology [8.60 (5.90-14.00) ng/dL vs. 7.70 (5.20-10.00) ng/dL, respectively; p=0.040]. The prostate volume [31.88 (23.40-51.48) vs. 48.06 (23.40-87.35); p=0.009] and PSA density [3.72 (2.17-5.62) vs. 5.75 (3.35-9.6), respectively; p=0.007] were lower in patients with upgraded pathology. The tumor percentage on mpMRI was not different between the groups [3.70 (1.80-16.20 Conclusions: Although the percentage of tumors on multiparametric mpMRI is an inadequate pattern to predict upgrade in PCa patients, prospective studie

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The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vitamin D deficiency is associated with various bone disorders such as osteoporosisbyaffectingbonemineralization. Currentinternationalguidelinesrecommend vitamin D supplementation in CKD as well as in the general population. However, the effect of various forms of vitamin D on bone health in CKD remains unclear. Few randomized controlled studies have evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers; however, the findings of these studies are heterogeneous. This review aimed to present comprehensive and current findings on the effects of native vitamin D supplementation on bone biomarkers and bone mineral density in CKD. We infered that native vitamin D treatment could improve some bone biomarkers, particularly in predialysis CKD patients with severe vitamin D deficiency. Our findings also draw attention to the fact that vitamin D is an important factor in treatment. However, it is essential to design better-quality and comprehensive controlled studies to obtain clear findings. © S. Demirel, M. Gürbüz, 2024

Real-world evaluation of nivolumab in patients with non-nasopharyngeal recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer: a retrospective multi-center study by the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

Objectives: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) represent a significant global health concern due to high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis for advanced or recurrent cases remains challenging. Nivolumab obtained approval for recurrent or metastatic HNC based on the Phase III CheckMate 141 trial. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world outcomes of nivolumab in patients with non-nasopharyngeal HNC. Design: In this multicenter retrospective study, we analyzed 124 patients with recurrent or metastatic non-nasopharyngeal HNC who received nivolumab in the second-line setting and beyond. Data were collected from 20 different cancer centers across Turkey. The effectiveness and safety of the treatment and survival outcomes were evaluated. Results: Nivolumab exhibited favorable clinical responses, yielding an objective response rate of 29.9% and a disease control rate of 55.7%. Safety assessments revealed a generally well-tolerated profile, with no instances of treatment discontinuation or mortality due to side effects. Survival analysis disclosed a median overall survival (OS) of 11.8 (95% CI 8.4–15.2) months. Multivariate analysis revealed that ECOG-PS ? 1 (HR: 1.64, p = 0.045), laryngeal location (HR: 0.531, p = 0.024), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 3.5 (HR: 1.97, p = 0.007) were independent predictors of OS. Conclusions: Nivolumab is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with recurrent or metastatic non-nasopharyngeal HNC in real-world settings. Further studies are needed on factors affecting response to treatment and survival outcomes. © The Author(s) 2024.Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAKOpen access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00FCrkiye (T\u00DCB\u0130TAK). The authors received no financial support for this article

Reducing Pain and Anxiety in the Blood Collection Unit: The Impact of the Child-Friendly Design

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the effect of a child-friendly design on the pain and anxiety levels during blood draw in children aged 1–3 years and the satisfaction levels of their parents toward the environment in which they receive health care services. Methods: The nonrandomized study was conducted with 158 children aged 1–3 years and their parents. Data were obtained with the “Personal Information Form,” “Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Scale,” “Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Anxiety Scale,” and “Parental Satisfaction Scale-VAS.” Data were collected from the control group before the design and from the intervention group after the design. Results: During the blood draw, the VAS Anxiety score of the children in the intervention group was 3.17 ± 1.44 and that of the control group was 7.00 ± 2.51 (t = 246.500, p < .001). The FLACC score was 3.94 ± 1.65 in the intervention group and 7.32 ± 2.51 in the control group (t = 915.000, p < .001). The mean satisfaction scores of the parents in the intervention group for the environment where they received health care were 10.00 ± 0.00, and those of the parents in the control group were 4.85 ± 1.68 (test = ?11.561, p < .001). Conclusion: The child-friendly design effectively reduced children’s pain and anxiety levels during blood draws and increased parents’ satisfaction with the environment in which health care was received. Practical Implications: Implementing a child-friendly design in blood collection units is recommended to alleviate the pain and anxiety associated with children’s blood draws, thereby enhancing parental satisfaction with the care provided. © 2024 Springer Publishing Company.Trakya Üniversitesi: 2021/136; Trakya ÜniversitesiFunding. This research was supported as a Social Responsibility Project by the Trakya University Scientific Research Project Unit (Project No: 2021/136)

Optimal control of quantum lambda systems with an occupancy cost?

We consider the problem of population transfer optimal control for a quantum Lambda system where the control couples pairwise only the lowest two energy levels to the highest level. The cost to be minimized expresses a compromise between minimizing the energy of the control and the average population in the highest level (occupancy), which is the one mostly subject to decay. Such a problem admits a group of symmetries, that is, a Lie group acting on the state space, which leaves dynamics, cost and initial and final conditions unchanged. By identifying a splitting of the tangent bundle into a vertical (tangent to the orbits) and horizontal (complementary) subspace at every point (a connection), we develop a symmetry reduction technique. In this setting, the problem reduces to a real problem on the sphere S2 for which we derive several properties and provide a practical method for the solution. We also describe an explicit numerical example. (c) 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Quercetin Attenuates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis in TNBS-Induced Colitis by Inhibiting the Glucose Regulatory Protein 78 Activation

Background: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are significantly influenced by apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Aims: To investigate the effects of quercetin on ER stress-mediated apoptosis in a trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced experimental IBD model. Study Design: In vivo animal experimental study.Methods: To demonstrate the effect of quercetin in an experimental colitis model, Control, TNBS, and TNBS+quercetin groups were created with 24 Wistar Albino rats. Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of 25 mg TNBS. In the TNBS+quercetin group, intragastrically 100 mg/kg quercetin was given for 7 days, immediately after colitis induction. In the TNBS-induced experimental IBD model, we evaluated the effects of quercetin on colonic epithelial cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, ER stress, the mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and the nuclear factor kappa B immunoreactivities, the levels of myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, the disease activity index with colonic histopathologic changes.Results: TNBS administration induced an elevated level of disease activity and oxidative stress indices, inflammation markers, and an increase in the immunoreactivities of nuclear factor kappa B and the mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase in the colon of the colitis group. Glucose regulatory protein 78, caspase-12 immunoreactivities, and epithelial cell apoptosis also were shown in the colon. However, quercetin improved TNBS-induced histopathological alterations, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and ER stress.Conclusion: This study suggests that quercetin has a regulatory effect on ER stress-mediated apoptosis, and thus may be beneficial in treating IBD.Trakya University Scientific Research Committee [2018/123]Funding: The study was supported by a grant provided by the Trakya University Scientific Research Committee (project number: 2018/123)

The prognostic factors in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of treatment sequencing

The prognosis of patients with advanced HCC can vary widely depending on factors such as the stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and treatment regimens. This study aimed to investigate survival outcomes and associated factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this retrospective study, data from 23 medical oncology clinics were analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) values were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Prognostic factors associated with survival which were identified in univariate analysis were subsequently evaluated in a multivariate Cox-regression survival analysis was conducted using the backward stepwise (Conditional LR) method to determine the independent predictors of PFS and OS. Of 280 patients, 131 received chemotherapy and 142 received sorafenib, 6 received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and 1 received nivolumab for first-line setting. The median follow-up time was 30.4 (95%CI 27.1–33.6) months. For-first line, median PFS was 3.1 (95%CI2.7–3.5) months, and it was significantly longer in patients who received sorafenib or atezolizumab-bevacizumab or nivolumab (PFS 5.8 (95%CI 4.2–7.5) than in those received chemotherapy (PFS 2.1 (95%CI 1.9–2.3) in the first-line setting (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender (HR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.53–4.94, p = 0.01), poor ECOG performance score (HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.10–3.21, p = 0.02), higher baseline AFP level (HR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.54–3.67, p < 0.001) and upfront sorafenib treatment (HR,0.38; 95% CI: 0.23–0.62, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with shorter PFS. The median OS was 13.2 (95%CI 11.1–15.2) months. It was significantly longer in patients who received sorafenib or atezolizumab-bevacizumab or nivolumab in the first-line setting followed by TKIs (sorafenib or regorafenib, OS 18.6 (95%CI 13.8–23.5)) compared to those who received chemotherapy (OS 10.3 (95%CI 6.6–14.1)) in the first-line setting. The multivariate analysis revealed that upfront chemotherapy treatment approach, male gender (HR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.07–2.94, p = 0.02), poor ECOG performance score (HR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.24–3.09, p = 0.004) and Child-Pugh score, presence of extrahepatic disease (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.09–2.18, p = 0.01), and higher baseline AFP value (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03–2.19, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Additionally, regarding of treatment sequence, upfront sorafenib followed by regorafenib showed a significantly lower risk of mortality (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.25–0.66, p < 0.001). Sorafenib followed by regorafenib treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality rather than upfront sorafenib followed by BSC group or upfront chemotherapy followed by TKIs. These findings underscore the importance of the optimal treatment sequences to improve survival in patients with advanced HCC. © 2024 Edizioni Scientifiche per l'Informazione su Farmaci e Terapia (Italian Society of Chemotherapy)