Physical Exercise as an Effective Antiaging Intervention

Physical exercise has been well demonstrated as an effective antiaging intervention. Although exercise certainly cannot reverse the aging process, it does attenuate many of its deleterious systemic and cellular effects. This special issue contains a set of selected papers that represent the broad spectrum in which physical exercise can contribute to a healthy aging. As documented in this issue an active lifestyle represents a powerful tool that may be described as a polypill to prevent and/or treat many conditions and diseases. The topics discussed herein include muscle fiber and muscle functioning, protein intake and sarcopenia, cognitive analysis, study of the perception of the instructors, and association of different biomarkers with physical performance..

Analysis of the effect of cognitive stimulation program in older adults with normal cognition: randomized clinical trial

Fundamento. Los programas de estimulación cognitiva en adultos mayores persiguen mejorías cognitivas y emocionales. Existen escasos programas adaptados por niveles cognitivos y ocupacionales en mayores sin deterioro cognitivo. El objetivo fue analizar la efectividad de una intervención de estimulación cognitiva adaptada a dos niveles cognitivos en adultos mayores sobre la cognición y el estado de ánimo. Material y métodos. Ensayo clínico aleatorizado (CONSORT) en un centro de salud, que incluyó 201 participantes = 65 años (101 intervención y 100 control) evaluados tras la intervención, a los seis meses y al año. Los instrumentos de evaluación fueron el mini-examen cognoscitivo (MEC), la escala de ansiedad abreviada de Goldberg y la escala de depresión geriátrica de Yesavage (GDS-15). La intervención se efectuó mediante un programa de estimulación cognitiva de dos niveles cognitivos según MEC (nivel alto: 32-35; nivel bajo: 28-31) con diez sesiones de 45 minutos. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante t-Student. Resultados. La diferencia de las medias de puntuación MEC entre los grupos control e intervención fue estadísticamente significativa en las tres valoraciones; estas diferencias se observaron independientemente del sexo, edad, nivel cognitivo, y estado de ánimo. Al año se incrementó 1, 48 puntos la puntuación MEC en el grupo de nivel alto y 2, 03 en el de nivel bajo. Las puntuaciones MEC no variaron según ansiedad y depresión en ninguna de las valoraciones. Conclusiones. El programa de estimulación cognitiva, adaptado por niveles cognitivos, muestra beneficios cognitivos en personas mayores sin deterioro cognitivo que viven en la comunidad, independientemente del sexo, edad y nivel educativo. Background. Cognitive stimulation programs in older adults seek cognitive and emotional improvements. The literature makes no reference to programs adapted according to cognitive and occupational levels in older adults with no cognitive impairment. The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of level-adapted cognitive stimulation intervention in older adults in terms of cognition and mood. Methods. Randomized clinical trial (CONSORT) at a health center, which included 201 participants >= 65 years (101 intervention and 100 control) evaluated immediately after the intervention, then at six months and finally at one year. The assessment instruments were the cognitive mini-exam (CME), the abbreviated Goldberg anxiety scale and the Yesavage geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). The intervention was carried out through a cognitive stimulation program with two cognitive levels according to CME (high: 32-35; low: 28-31) with ten sessions of 45 minutes. Statistical analysis was performed by Student''s t-test. Results. The difference observed in the averages between control and intervention groups was statistically significant in the three assessments; these differences were observed regardless of gender, age, cognitive level, and mood. One year after the intervention, CME score reached an increase of 1.48 points in the in the high level group and 2.03 points in the low level. However, no significant differences in CME score were observed in any of the assessments for anxiety or depression. Conclusion. A cognitive stimulation program, cognitive level-adapted, has shown cognitive benefits in older adults without cognitive impairment living in the community, regardless of sex, age and educational level

Multi-dimensional entanglement generation with multi-core optical fibers

Trends in photonic quantum information follow closely the technical progress in classical optics and telecommunications. In this regard, advances in multiplexing optical communications channels have also been pursued for the generation of multi-dimensional quantum states (qudits), since their use is advantageous for several quantum information tasks. One current path leading in this direction is through the use of space-division multiplexing multi-core optical fibers, which provides a new platform for efficiently controlling path-encoded qudit states. Here we report on a parametric down-conversion source of entangled qudits that is fully based on (and therefore compatible with) state-of-the-art multi-core fiber technology. The source design uses modern multi-core fiber beam splitters to prepare the pump laser beam as well as measure the generated entangled state, achieving high spectral brightness while providing a stable architecture. In addition, it can be readily used with any core geometry, which is crucial since widespread standards for multi-core fibers in telecommunications have yet to be established. Our source represents an important step towards the compatibility of quantum communications with the next-generation optical networks.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Cortical and trabecular bone at the radius and tibia in male and female adolescents with Down syndrome:a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) study

Abstract Summary We aimed to describe the structure and strength of the tibia and radius of adolescents with Down syndrome. We observed that despite higher levels of volumetric bone mineral density in determined skeletal sites, they are at higher risk of developing osteoporotic fractures in the future due to their lower bone strength indexes. Introduction The aims of the study were to describe the cortical and trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), bone mineral content (BMC), area, and bone strength in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and to compare them with adolescents without disabilities. Methods Thirty adolescents (11 girls) with DS and 28 without disabilities (10 girls) participated in the study. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography measurements were taken at proximal and distal sites of the tibia and radius. Values of total, trabecular, and cortical BMC; vBMD; and area were obtained of each scan. Cortical thickness and endosteal and periosteal circumferences were also measured, and different bone strength indexes were calculated. Student's t tests were applied between groups. Results The DS group showed greater vBMD at distal radius, BMC at proximal radius, and total and cortical vBMD at proximal tibia. The non-DS group showed higher total and trabecular area at the distal radius and total, cortical, and trabecular BMC and area at distal tibia. Higher values of periosteal and endosteal circumference and bone strength were also found in non-DS group. Conclusions From these results, it can be believed that even with higher vBMD in determined skeletal sites, adolescents with DS are at higher risk of suffering bone fractures due to an increased fragility by lower resistance to load bending or torsion

Is Bone Tissue Really Affected by Swimming? A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Swimming, a sport practiced in hypogravity, has sometimes been associated with decreased bone mass. AIM: This systematic review aims to summarize and update present knowledge about the effects of swimming on bone mass, structure and metabolism in order to ascertain the effects of this sport on bone tissue. METHODS: A literature search was conducted up to April 2013. A total of 64 studies focusing on swimmers bone mass, structure and metabolism met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. RESULTS: It has been generally observed that swimmers present lower bone mineral density than athletes who practise high impact sports and similar values when compared to sedentary controls. However, swimmers have a higher bone turnover than controls resulting in a different structure which in turn results in higher resistance to fracture indexes. Nevertheless, swimming may become highly beneficial regarding bone mass in later stages of life. CONCLUSION: Swimming does not seem to negatively affect bone mass, although it may not be one of the best sports to be practised in order to increase this parameter, due to the hypogravity and lack of impact characteristic of this sport. Most of the studies included in this review showed similar bone mineral density values in swimmers and sedentary controls. However, swimmers present a higher bone turnover than sedentary controls that may result in a stronger structure and consequently in a stronger bone

Swimming and bone: Is low bone mass due to hypogravity alone or does other physical activity influence it?

Swimming during adolescence has shown neutral or even negative effects on bone mass. Nevertheless, it is still unknown if these effects are due to swimming or to other factors, such as sedentary behaviors. INTRODUCTION: Three objectives were described (1) to measure objective physical activity (PA) additional to swimming performed by adolescent swimmers (SWI) and compare it to that performed by normo-active controls (CG), (2) to describe the relationship between objectively measured PA and bone mass, and (3) to compare bone mass of swimmers that meet the World Health Organization PA guidelines (active) WHO and those that do not (inactive). METHODS: A total of 71 SWI (33 females) and 41 CG (17 females) wore an accelerometer for at least 4 days. PA was expressed as the amount of time (minutes/day) in each intensity [sedentary/light/moderate or vigorous (VPA), and the sum of moderate and vigorous (MVPA)]. Using the cutoff points proposed by Vanhelst et al. SWI were classified as active or inactive according to whether they reached 60 min of weight-bearing MVPA per day or not. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and bone strength values were calculated with peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Differences in PA intensities were calculated between SWI and CG. The relation of VPA to bone mass was studied in the SWI. RESULTS: Male-SWI spend less time in VPA and MVPA than male-GC, which partly explains the lower BMD values in SWI than CG. CONCLUSION: Swimming may displace weight-bearing VPA with serious implications on bone health

Bone strength index at Tibia and standing broad jump in adolescent swimmers

Measurement of broad jump is a simple, economical and non-invasive test that provides valuable information on muscular strength and power in youth lower limbs,and has been shown to be related to bone health..

Effect of whole-body vibration training on bone mass in adolescents with and without Down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Summary: Whole-body vibration training (WBV) attracts great interest as osteoporosis prevention strategy. Twenty-six adolescents with and without Down syndrome (DS) (13 DS//12–18 years) performed 20 weeks of WBV. The results indicate that WBV seems to provoke a lesser response in adolescents with DS than in those without DS. Introduction: This study aims to observe the differences between adolescents with and without DS in the effects of 20 weeks of WBV training, on bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD). Methods: Twenty-six adolescents (13 DS//12–18 years) were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before and after the intervention (3/week, 10 repetitions (30–60 s) and 1-min rest, frequency 25–30 Hz and peak-to-peak displacement of 2 mm (peak acceleration 2.5–3.6 g)). Both, an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis designed to assess the effects on bone mass and a per-protocol analysis, designed to compare poor and high compliers, were performed. Results: The ITT analysis revealed significant increases in all BMC and BMD parameters (dz = 0.66 to 1.64//all p < 0.05) in the non-DS group, whilst DS group improved whole-body, subtotal (whole-body less head), upper limbs (ULIMBS), pelvis, lower limbs (LLIMBS) and spine BMC (dz = 0.75 to 1.76//all p < 0.05) and subtotal, pelvis, LLIMBS and spine BMD (dz = 0.73 to 1.28//all p < 0.05). Significantly greater increases were evident in the absolute and percent changes of the non-DS group over DS group (d = 0.88 to 3.85//all p < 0.05). ULIMBS BMD showed a tendency towards an interaction (f = 0.41 and p = 0.086) with higher increase for non-DS group. When a per-protocol analysis was considered, high-complier adolescents had 8.1 versus 5.3 % of gains in the spine BMC over poor-complier adolescents (d = 0.93//p < 0.05). Conclusions: Twenty weeks of WBV training may improve BMC and BMD in clinically relevant skeletal sites in both groups. Nevertheless, this type of training seems to provoke a lesser response in adolescents with DS than in those without DS