The immunomodulary effects of systematic exercise in older adults and people with parkinsons disease

We sought to investigate whether regular balance training of moderate intensity (BT) has an effect on changes in selected cytokines, neurotrophic factors, CD200 and fractalkine in healthy older adults and participants with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Sixty-two subjects were divided into groups depending on experimental intervention: (1) group of people with PD participating in BT (PDBT), (2) group of healthy older people participating in BT (HBT), (3,4) control groups including healthy individuals (HNT) and people with PD (PDNT). Blood samples were collected twice: before and after 12 weeks of balance exercise (PDBT, HBT), or 12 weeks apart (PDNT, HNT). The study revealed significant increase of interleukin10 (PDBT, p = 0.026; HBT, p = 0.011), β-nerve growth factor (HBT, p = 0.002; PDBT, p = 0.016), transforming growth factor-β1 (PDBT, p = 0.018; HBT, p < 0.004), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (PDBT, p = 0.011; HBT, p < 0.001) and fractalkine (PDBT, p = 0.045; HBT, p < 0.003) concentration only in training groups. In PDBT, we have found a significant decrease of tumor necrosis factor alpha. No training effect on concentration of interleukin6, insulin-like growth factor 1 and CD200 was observed in both training and control groups. Regular training can modulate level of inflammatory markers and induce neuroprotective mechanism to reduce the inflammatory response

Systematic balance exercises influence cortical activation and serum BDNF levels in older adults

We sought to investigate whether systematic balance training modulates brain area activity responsible for postural control and influence brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA protein expression. Seventy-four older adults were randomly divided into three groups (mean age 65.34 ± 3.79 years, 30 females): Classic balance exercises (CBT), virtual reality balance exercises (VBT), and control (CON). Neuroimaging studies were performed at inclusion and after completion of the training or 12 weeks later (CON). Blood samples were obtained to measure BDNF expression. The study revealed significant interaction of sessions and groups: In the motor imagery (MI) condition for supplementary motor area (SMA) activity (Fat peak = 5.25, p < 0.05); in the action observation (AO) condition for left and right supramarginal gyrus/posterior insula (left: Fat peak = 6.48, p < 0.05; right: Fat peak = 6.92, p < 0.05); in the action observation together with motor imagery (AOMI) condition for the middle occipital gyrus (laterally)/area V5 (left: Fat peak = 6.26, p < 0.05; right: Fat peak = 8.37, p < 0.05), and in the cerebellum–inferior semilunar lobule/tonsil (Fat peak = 5.47, p < 0.05). After the training serum BDNF level has increased in CBT (p < 0.001) and in CBT compared to CON (p < 0.05). Systematic balance training may reverse the age-related cortical over-activations and appear to be a factor mediating neuroplasticity in older adults

Changes in the morphological, rheological, and biochemical blood indicators in triathletes

The aim of this study was to assess how the influence of intense physical effort changes the morphological, rheological, and biochemical blood indicators in triathletes. The study group comprised 10 triathletes aged 30-45 years, members of the Active Side of Life Association (Kraków, Poland). Venous blood was collected from the study participants twice, before and after the DiablakBeskid Extreme Triathlon 2016 (the Carpathians, Poland), and once from the control group for analysis of the selected blood indicators. Statistically significant changes were observed in the study group before and after the triathlon in morphological blood indicators, in the elongation index at the shear stress of 0.30 and 0.58 Pa, in levels of electrolytes, creatinine (mmol/l), serum protein parameters, and high-sensitivity troponin (ng/l). No such differences were reported for the remaining parameters. In turn, when comparing the study group before the triathlon with the control group, statistically significant differences were recorded in MCHC (g/dl), in the elongation index at the shear stress of 0.30 and 0.58 Pa, and Cl– (mmol/l) levels. No such differences were reported for the remaining parameters. Blood haematological and biochemical indicators in individuals that participate in triathlons characterize the actual range and direction of effort-related changes well and allow for the diagnosis of transient adaptive effects. Rheological parameters, involving the evaluation of erythrocyte deformability and aggregation, are useful for monitoring the particularly undesirable, short- and long-term effects of practicing extreme sports such as triathlons

Inhibitors of sodium-glucose transport protein 2: A new multidirectional therapeutic option for heart failure patients

Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain positive cardiovascular effects observed in studies with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The reduction in glucose reabsorption in proximal tubuli induced by SGLT2 inhibitors increases urinary glucose and sodium excretion resulting in increased osmotic diuresis and consequently in decreased plasma volume, followed by reduced preload. In addition, the hemodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibition were observed in both hyper and euglycemic patients. Due to the complex and multidirectional effects induced by SGLT2 inhibitors, this originally antidiabetic group of drugs has been successfully used to treat patients with heart failure as well as for subjects with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, their therapeutic potential seems to be even broader than the indications studied to date

Comparison of reorganized versus unaltered cardiology departments during the COVID-19 era: a subanalysis of the COV-HF-SIRIO 6 study

Background: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous cardiology departments were reorganized to provide care for COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions and in-hospital mortality in reorganized vs. unaltered cardiology departments. Methods: The present subanalysis is a multicenter retrospective COV-HF-SIRIO 6 study that includes all patients (n = 101,433) hospitalized in 24 cardiology departments in Poland between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020, with a focus on patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Results: Reduction of all-cause hospitalizations was 50.6% vs. 21.3% for reorganized vs. unaltered cardiology departments in 2020 vs. 2019, respectively (p &lt; 0.0001). Considering AHF alone respective reductions by 46.5% and 15.2% were registered (p &lt; 0.0001). A higher percentage of patients was brought in by ambulance to reorganized vs. unaltered cardiology departments (51.7% vs. 34.6%; p &lt; 0.0001) alongside with a lower rate of self-referrals (45.7% vs. 58.4%; p &lt; 0.0001). The rate of all-cause in-hospital mortality in AHF patients was higher in reorganized than unaltered cardiology departments (10.9% vs. 6.4%; p &lt; 0.0001). After the exclusion of patients with concomitant COVID-19, the mortality rates did not differ significantly (6.9% vs. 6.4%; p = 0.55). Conclusions: In cardiology departments reorganized to provide care for COVID-19 patients vs. unaltered ones, observed: i) a greater reduction in hospital admissions in 2020 vs. 2019; ii) higher rates of patients brought by ambulance and lower rates of self-referrals; and iii) higher all-cause in-hospital mortality for AHF due to COVID-19 related deaths

Upadki a sprawność fizyczna osób starszych w ocenie Senior Fitness Test

Introduction: Falls of the elderly are a challenge because they contribute to disability, decreased fitness, and lower quality of life. a low level of physical fitness is one of the factors that can increase the risk of falls.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess physical fitness using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and to determine the relationship between the incidence of falls and physical fitness of elderly people living in private care homes. An additional purpose was to assess whether the level of individuals’ physical fitness was related to their sex.Material and methods: a total of 71 patients participated in the study: 41 women with an average age of 82.9 ± 5.49 years and 30 men with the average age of 81.8 ± 6.80 years. On the basis of surveys and medical records, the participants were divided into two groups depending on whether they had fallen (group A) or had not fallen (group B) during the 12 months preceding the survey. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess the participants’ physical fitness.Results: People with a history of falls obtained worse scores in tests assessing individual components of physical fitness. In the group with a history of falls, men were characterised as having better aerobic endurance than women, while women demonstrated better upper body flexibility. In other tests, scores for both sexes were similar. The study showed a negative correlation between the measurements in tests assessing the upper and lower limb muscle strength, upper body flexibility and aerobic endurance, and the incidence of falls. There was no correlation between the incidence of falls and the flexibility of the lower body.Conclusions: Levels of all evaluated physical fitness parameters are significantly lower among the seniors who had experienced falls in comparison to their peers who had not experienced falls. Therefore, maintaining good physical fitness should become an important element of fall prevention. In light of the study, it seems reasonable to introduce prevention programmes that take differences between sexes into consideration. As a part of fall prevention, such programmes aimed at improving and maintaining good physical fitness among seniors should include flexibility and aerobic endurance training for men and strength training for women.Wstęp: Upadki seniorów stanowią wyzwanie dla współczesności, gdyż przyczyniają się do utraty sprawności, inwalidztwa i obniżenia jakości życia. Niski poziom sprawności fizycznej jest jednym z czynników zwiększających ryzyko upadków. Cel: Celem badań była ocena sprawności fizycznej z wykorzystaniem Senior Fitness Test (SFT) oraz próba określenia zależności pomiędzy występowaniem upadków, a sprawnością fizyczną osób starszych objętych opieką instytucjonalną prywatną. Celem dodatkowym była ocena czy stopień sprawności fizycznej badanych osób wykazuje związek z płcią. Materiał i metody: Do badań włączono 71 osób (41 kobiet, wiek 82,9 ± 5,49 i 30 mężczyzn, wiek 81,8 ± 6,80), które na podstawie ankiety i dokumentacji medycznej zostały podzielone na dwie grupy ze względu na występowanie upadków (grupa A) lub ich brak (grupa B) w okresie 12 miesięcy poprzedzających badanie. Do oceny sprawności fizycznej wykorzystano test Senior Fitness Test. Wyniki: Osoby z upadkami w wywiadzie uzyskiwały gorsze wyniki w testach oceniających poszczególne elementy sprawności fizycznej. W grupie osób z upadkami, mężczyzn charakteryzowała lepsza od kobiet wytrzymałość tlenowa, natomiast kobiety lepsza gibkość górnej części ciała. W pozostałych próbach wyniki obu płci były zbliżone. Przeprowadzone badania wykazały ujemną korelację. pomiędzy wynikami prób oceniających siłę mięśni, gibkość górnej części ciała oraz wytrzymałość tlenową a występowaniem upadków. Nie stwierdzono korelacji pomiędzy występowaniem upadków, a gibkością dolnej części ciała. Wnioski: Poziom wszystkich ocenianych parametrów sprawności fizycznej jest istotnie niższy u seniorów z upadkami w porównaniu do ich rówieśników, którzy nie doznają upadków. Zatem utrzymanie dobrej sprawności fizycznej powinno stać się ważnym elementem w prewencji upadków. W świetle przeprowadzonych badań uzasadnione wydaje się wprowadzanie programów profilaktycznych, z uwzględnieniem płci. W ramach profilaktyki upadków poprawa bądź utrzymanie dobrej sprawności fizycznej seniorów powinna uwzględniać trening gibkości i wytrzymałości tlenowej u mężczyzn, a u kobiet trening siły