The effects of reduced physical activity on the lipid profile in patients with high cardiovascular risk during covid-19 lockdown

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health problem. In Italy, to limit the infections, the government ordered lockdown from March 2020. This measure, designed to contain the virus, led to serious limitations on the daily life of the individuals it affected, and in particular in the limitation of physical exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of reduced physical activity on the lipid profile in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Methods: We enrolled 38 dyslipidemic patients, 56% male, with an age range of 44–62 years, considered to be at high cardiovascular risk. All patients were prescribed statin drug therapy (atorvastatin 40 mg) and a vigorous physical activity program four times a week, 1 h per session. In addition, a personalized Mediterranean diet was prescribed to all the patients. Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides were measured in patients at T0 before lockdown and at T1 during lockdown. Results: Data showed a significant increase (p < 0.01) in total cholesterol (+6,8%) and LDL (+15,8%). Furthermore, the analysis of the data revealed a reduction in HDL (−3%) and an increase in triglycerides (+3,2%), although both were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed that the reduction in physical activity during lockdown led to an increase in LDL levels, and therefore, in the risk of ischemic heart disease in dyslipidemic patients with high cardiovascular risk

Surgical correction of buried penis after traffic accident – a case report

BACKGROUND: Buried penis, most commonly seen in children, is particularly debilitating in adults, resulting in inability to void while standing and it also affects vaginal penetration. We report a case of buried penis due to a traffic accident, which caused dislocation of the fractured pubic bone that shifted inside and pulled the penis by its suspensory ligament. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of hidden penis while in the sitting position. He had suffered a pelvic fracture in a traffic accident four years previously, and his penis was covered with suprapubic fat when he was in a sitting position. He was unable to have sexual intercourse. We performed a penile lengthening procedure, including inverse V-Y-plasty of the dorsal skin of the penile root, suspensory desmotomy and fat removal, under general anesthesia. There was a good cosmetic result with satisfactory penile erection, which allowed successful sexual intercourse after surgery. CONCULSION: We performed penile elongation surgery with inverse V-Y-plasty of the dorsal skin of the penile root, suspensory desmotomy, and fat removal. Surgical treatment of buried penis achieves marked aesthetic and functional improvement, and benefits the majority of patients, resulting in satisfactory erection and successful sexual intercourse

Cardiopulmonary exercise test in athletes and coronary diseases|Test cardiopolmonare da sforzo negli atleti e nelle patologie coronariche

he cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is an important test to evaluate itness and endurance in athletes. Competitive sports represent the most extreme stress to which the body can be exposed. Differently from pathological conditions where the CPET is used to evaluate the limiting factor or to explore some speciic conditions such as dyspnea or exercise intolerance, in athletes it is designed to optimize peak performance and to personalized exercise prescriptions. For sport doctors a deeper understanding on which physiological limiting factors are involved during an exercise test is crucial. Physical ability of an athlete's body is determined by the quality of external breathing, cardiovascular functions and by features of metabolism related to the tissue breathing and transport of substrates. Physiological testing of athletes requires the correct description and evaluation of sports-speciic variables and speciic devices simulating the real sport of athletes have to be used. This short review will summarize the role of CPET in high it athletes, describing the main parameters used (V'O2max, LT) and their limits and the use of the CPET in some speciic conditions to rule out cardiovascular diseases

A Pilot Study on Italian Eventing Prospective Olympic Horse Riders Physiological, Anthropometrical, Functional and Asymmetry Assessment

The purpose of the study was to measure anthropometry, isometric force, balance, functional movement quality and asymmetries and peak oxygen uptake of prospective Rio 2016 Olympic Games Eventing horse riders (five males and two females: age 26-41 years, height 173.0 ±8.9 cm, weight 66.4 ±11.1 kg, BMI 22.0 ±1.8 kg·m-2, FEI ranking 33-409). Mean and maximal isometric of the hands were approximately 45 kg, and 50 kg, respectively. Total maximal isometric force of the lower limb resulted 372.6 kg for the extensor muscles, and approximately 58 kg for the adductor muscles. Mean composite functional movement score was 14.1, mean Bunkie score 3.4, Y-balance score 93.1 ± for the left side and 90.9 for the right one. V?O2peak values ranged between 2.4 and 4.2 l·min-1and 46.8 and 59.7 ml·kg-1·min-1. The oldest and more experienced athletes had a greater postural control on the anterior direction. The athletes with a superior FEI ranking had a greater postural control. Subjects had high maximal isometric strength of the hands and lower limbs, good physical functions parameters, balance and maximal aerobic power and few muscular strength and balance asymmetries

Inflammation, oxidative stress and gene expression: the postprandial approach in professional soccer players to reduce the risk of muscle injuries and early atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to muscle injuries and early atherosclerosis in athletes. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific opinion has acknowledged the hydroxytyrosol (3,4 dihydroxyphenylethanol [3,4-DHPEA or HT]) and derivatives, contained in extra virgin olive oil, typically used in Mediterranean diet may play a crucial role in the reduction of the inflammatory pathway. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of 25 g of phenols-rich extra virgin olive oil (p-EVOO) in professional soccer players.METHODS: The clinical study was a randomized, controlled trial to determine the acute effect in the postprandial time of 25g of p-EVOO. Twenty-two professional soccer players of an Italian Serie A team resulted eligible for the study. We evaluated plasma metabolites, oxidative stress biomarkers and gene expression of 8 genes related to oxidative stress and human inflammasome pathways, lasting two hours after p-EVOO administration.RESULTS: A significant reduction of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed (P<0.05), alongside a significant up-regulation of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1) (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the intake of 25 g of p-EVOO was able to modulate, in postprandial time, the antioxidant profile and the expression of inflammation and of the oxidative stress-related genes, such as SOD1, USF1 and CAT. We also observed a significant reduction of MDA and oxLDL, plasma metabolites of oxidative stress. Our data show that the postprandial intake of phenols and antioxidants can reduce the inflammatory pathway and oxidative stress and therefore the risk of muscle injuries and early atherosclerosis in professional soccer players. More studies on a larger population are necessary before definitive conclusions can be draw

Surgical and Functional Outcomes Following Buried Penis Repair With Limited Panniculectomy and Split-thickness Skin Graft

ObjectiveTo report surgical and functional outcomes of buried penis surgery.MethodsOutcomes following buried penis surgery at the University of Washington were assessed from June 1, 2005 to June 1, 2016. Patient demographic and surgical data were abstracted from a retrospective chart review. All patients were attempted to be contacted by phone for long-term follow-up. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate for association with any complication.ResultsA total of 42 men underwent buried penis repair surgery (mean short-term follow-up 8.1 months). There was an overall 33% 90-day complication rate (21 events). In univariate analysis, body mass index (BMI; P = .02) and no history of gastric bypass (P = .03) were significant predictors of any complication. In multivariate analysis, only BMI remained significant (odds ratio 1.1 for each increase in unit of BMI, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27). Twenty-seven patients were reached for long-term follow-up (mean 39 months). Patients reported improvements in every functional domain that was assessed. Of the patients, 85% reported they would undergo buried penis surgery again, 74% that surgery led to a positive change in their lives, and 85% that the surgery had remained a long-term success.ConclusionSurgical correction of buried penis with penile split-thickness skin graft and limited panniculectomy is well tolerated and results in functional, long-term improvements. BMI is associated with an increased likelihood of a complication following surgery