Effects of Icelandic yogurt consumption and resistance training in healthy untrained older males

Due to the important roles of resistance training and protein consumption in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, we assessed the efficacy of post-exercise Icelandic yogurt consumption on lean mass, strength, and skeletal muscle regulatory factors in healthy untrained older males. Thirty healthy untrained older males (age = 68 ± 4 yr) were randomly assigned to Icelandic yogurt (IR; n =15, 18 g of protein) or an iso-energetic placebo (PR; n =15, 0 g protein) immediately following resistance training (3x/week) for eight weeks. Before and after training, lean mass, strength, and skeletal muscle regulatory factors (insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], transforming growth factor-beta 1 [TGF-β1], growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF15], Activin A, myostatin [MST], and follistatin [FST]) were assessed. There were group x time interactions (p < 0.05) for body mass (IR: Δ 1, PR: Δ 0.7 kg), body mass index (IR: Δ 0.3, PR: Δ 0.2 kg∙m-2), lean mass (IR: Δ 1.3, PR: Δ 0.6 kg), bench press (IR: Δ 4, PR: 2.3 kg), leg press (IR: Δ 4.2, PR: Δ 2.5 kg), IGF-1 (IR: Δ 0.5, Δ PR: 0.1 ng∙mL-1), TGF-β (IR: Δ -0.2, PR: Δ -0.1 ng∙mL-1), GDF15 (IR: Δ -10.3, PR: Δ -4.8 pg∙mL-1), Activin A (IR: Δ -9.8, PR: Δ -2.9 pg∙mL-1), MST (IR: Δ -0.1, PR: Δ -0.04 ng∙mL-1), and FST (IR: Δ 0.09, PR: Δ 0.03 ng∙mL-1), with Icelandic yogurt consumption resulting in greater changes compared to placebo. The addition of Icelandic yogurt consumption to a resistance training program improved lean mass, strength, and altered skeletal muscle regulatory factors in healthy untrained older males compared to placebo. Therefore, Icelandic yogurt as a nutrient-dense source and cost-effective supplement enhances muscular gains mediated by resistance training and consequently may be used as a strategy for the prevention of sarcopenia

Effects of intermittent fasting combined with resistance training on body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the influence of intermittent fasting (IF) in combination with resistance training (RT) on body composition outcomes. Studies examining IF vs. non-IF diets in individuals performing RT, published up to February 2021, were identified through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and SCOPUS databases. Eight studies, including 221 participants were analyzed using a random-effects model to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results indicated that IF had a significant effect on body mass (WMD = -2.08 kg; 95% CI: -3.04, -1.13), fat mass (WMD = -1.36 kg; 95% CI: -1.94, -0.78), body mass index (WMD = -0.52 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.85, -0.19), and body fat percentage (WMD = -1.49%; 95% CI: -2.24, -0.74) relative to non-IF diets, without a significant effect for fat-free mass (WMD = -0.27 kg; 95% CI: -0.82, 0.28). The present systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates potentially beneficial effects of IF in combination with RT for reducing body mass and body fat relative to non-IF control diets, with similar preservation of fat-free mass

Ketogenic diets, physical activity, and body composition: A review

Obesity remains a serious relevant public health concern throughout the world despite related countermeasures being well understood (i.e., mainly physical activity and an adjusted diet). Among different nutritional approaches, there is a growing interest in ketogenic diets (KDs) to manipulate body mass (BM) and to enhance fat mass (FM) loss. KDs reduce the daily amount of carbohydrate intake drastically. This results in increased fatty acid utilization, leading to an increase in blood ketone bodies (KBs) (acetoacetate [AcAc], 3-β-hydroxybutyrate [BHB], and acetone), and therefore metabolic ketosis. For many years, nutritional intervention studies have focused on reducing dietary fat with little or conflicting positive results over the long-term. Moreover, current nutritional guidelines for athletes propose carbohydrate-based diets to augment muscular adaptations. This review discusses the physiological basis of KDs and their effects on BM reduction and body composition improvements in sedentary individuals combined with different types of exercise (resistance training [RT] or endurance training [ET]) in individuals with obesity and athletes. Ultimately, we discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of these nutritional interventions together with precautionary measures that should be observed in both individuals with obesity and athletic populations. A literature search from 1921 to April 2021 using MEDLINE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE, SCOPUS, and SPORTDISCUS databases were used to identify relevant studies. In summary, based on the current evidence, KDs are an efficient method to reduce BM and body fat in both individuals with obesity and athletes. However, these positive impacts are mainly because of the appetite suppressive effects of KDs, which can decrease daily calorie intake. Therefore, KDs do not have any superior benefits to non-KDs in BM and body fat loss in individuals with obesity and athletic populations in an isocaloric situation. In sedentary individuals with obesity, it seems that fat-free mass (FFM) changes appear to be as great, if not greater, than decreases following a low-fat diet (LFD). In terms of lean mass, it seems that following a KD can cause FFM loss in resistance-trained individuals. In contrast, the FFM-preserving effects of KDs are more efficient in endurance-trained compared to resistance-trained individuals

Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and Its Main Compounds

Berberis vulgaris is a well-known herb in Iran that is widely used as a medicinal plant and a food additive. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Barberry and its main compounds. This narrative review was conducted by searching keywords such as B. vulgaris, Barberry, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, medicinal herbs, plants, and extract, separately or combined in various databases, such as Web of Sciences, PubMed, and Scopus. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, just English language articles, which reported effective whole plants or herbal compounds, were included. 21 articles were reviewed in this study. In the in vivo models (mice, rats, and human cells) and in the in vitro models (some organ cells such as the spleen, kidney, blood, and brain), B. vulgaris and its main components showed anti-inflammatory effects in both models. The main mechanisms were the shift of cell immune response to Th2, T reg induction, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF, and IFN-γ), and stimulation of IL-4 and IL-10. The induction of apoptosis in APCs and other effector cells was another important mechanism. © 2019 Rasool Nasiri Kalmarzi et al

Multicenter US Clinical Trial With an Electric-Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) System in Adults: Final Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the MED-EL Electric-Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) System, for adults with residual low-frequency hearing and severe-to-profound hearing loss in the mid to high frequencies. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, repeated measures. SETTING: Multicenter, hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-three subjects implanted with PULSAR or SONATA cochlear implants with FLEX electrode arrays. INTERVENTION: Subjects were fit postoperatively with an audio processor, combining electric stimulation and acoustic amplification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Unaided thresholds were measured preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postactivation. Speech perception was assessed at these intervals using City University of New York sentences in noise and consonant-nucleus-consonant words in quiet. Subjective benefit was assessed at these intervals via the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale questionnaires. RESULTS: Sixty-seven of 73 subjects (92%) completed outcome measures for all study intervals. Of those 67 subjects, 79% experienced less than a 30 dB HL low-frequency pure-tone average (250-1000 Hz) shift, and 97% were able to use the acoustic unit at 12 months postactivation. In the EAS condition, 94% of subjects performed similarly to or better than their preoperative performance on City University of New York sentences in noise at 12 months postactivation, with 85% demonstrating improvement. Ninety-seven percent of subjects performed similarly or better on consonant-nucleus-consonant words in quiet, with 84% demonstrating improvement. CONCLUSION: The MED-EL EAS System is a safe and effective treatment option for adults with normal hearing to moderate sensorineural hearing loss in the low frequencies and severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in the high frequencies who do not benefit from traditional amplification

Unilateral cochlear implants for severe, profound, or moderate sloping to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss : a systematic review and consensus statements

IMPORTANCE Cochlear implants are a treatment option for individuals with severe, profound, or moderate sloping to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids; however, cochlear implantation in adults is still not routine. OBJECTIVE To develop consensus statements regarding the use of unilateral cochlear implants in adults with severe, profound, or moderate sloping to profound bilateral SNHL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study was a modified Delphi consensus process that was informed by a systematic review of the literature and clinical expertise. Searches were conducted in the following databases: (1) MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Ovid MEDLINE, (2) Embase, and (3) the Cochrane Library. Consensus statements on cochlear implantation were developed using the evidence identified. This consensus process was relevant for the use of unilateral cochlear implantation in adults with severe, profound, or moderate sloping to profound bilateral SNHL. The literature searches were conducted on July 18, 2018, and the 3-step Delphi consensus method took place over the subsequent 9-month period up to March 30, 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES A Delphi consensus panel of 30 international specialists voted on consensus statements about cochlear implantation, informed by an SR of the literature and clinical expertise. This vote resulted in 20 evidence-based consensus statements that are in line with clinical experience. A modified 3-step Delphi consensus method was used to vote on and refine the consensus statements. This method consisted of 2 rounds of email questionnaires and a face-to-face meeting of panel members at the final round. All consensus statements were reviewed, discussed, and finalized at the face-to-face meeting. RESULTS In total, 6492 articles were identified in the searches of the electronic databases. After removal of duplicate articles, 74 articles fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria and were used to create the 20 evidence-based consensus statements. These 20 consensus statements on the use of unilateral cochlear implantation in adults with SNHL were relevant to the following 7 key areas of interest: level of awareness of cochlear implantation (1 consensus statement); best practice clinical pathway from diagnosis to surgery (3 consensus statements); best practice guidelines for surgery (2 consensus statements); clinical effectiveness of cochlear implantation (4 consensus statements); factors associated with postimplantation outcomes (4 consensus statements); association between hearing loss and depression, cognition, and dementia (5 consensus statements); and cost implications of cochlear implantation (1 consensus statement). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These consensus statements represent the first step toward the development of international guidelines on best practices for cochlear implantation in adults with SNHL. Further research to develop consensus statements for unilateral cochlear implantation in children, bilateral cochlear implantation, combined electric-acoustic stimulation, unilateral cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness, and asymmetrical hearing loss in children and adults may be beneficial for optimizing hearing and quality of life for these patients