Psychological well-being and quality of life in visually impaired baseball players: An Italian national survey

Italian baseball played by visually impaired and blind athletes is an adapted team sport which maintains the peculiar fast-moving features of this popular sport. It is also a mixed team game played together with sighted subjects. Here, we performed a national survey aimed at assessing the differences in psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) between visually impaired baseball players from Italian teams and non-players using a structured online questionnaire. Forty-three visually impaired baseball players and thirty-four visually impaired sedentary individuals completed a structured self-report survey including the validated 18-item Italian versions of the PWB (PWB-18) scale and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire to assess the QoL. PWB-18 and SF-12 reference data from the Italian normally sighted population were also employed for comparison with the visually impaired baseball player group. Visually impaired baseball players reported better scores in all dimensions of the PWB-18 scale and significant higher scores in both physical and mental QoL evaluated by SF-12 than the non-player group. In addition, PWB-18 scale findings revealed significant differences between visually impaired baseball players and the reference normally sighted population consisting in lower scores for autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others and purpose in life dimensions. Conversely, the mean scores for PWB-18 personal growth and self-acceptance dimensions were not significantly different between the two groups. The SF-12 questionnaire results demonstrated a significantly higher physical score in visually impaired players compared with the reference population. Instead, the SF-12 mental score of visually impaired athletes tended to be lower, though this difference was not statistically significant. Collectively, our findings suggest that the practice of Italian baseball may have a positive impact on PWB and QoL of visually impaired individuals

Low back pain in healthy postmenopausal women and the effect of physical activity: A secondary analysis in a randomized trial.

Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain have consistently shown that this is a relevant health problem, with non-specific low back pain (LBP) being the most commonly reported in adult females. Conflicting data on the association between LBP symptoms and physical activity (PA) have been reported. Here, we investigated the prevalence of LBP and the effect of a 24-month non-specific PA intervention on changes in LBP prevalence in a series of Italian healthy postmenopausal women. We performed a secondary analysis in the frame of the DAMA trial, a factorial randomized intervention trial aimed to evaluate the ability of a 24-month intervention, based on moderate-intensity PA, and/or dietary modification, in reducing mammographic breast density in healthy postmenopausal women. The PA intervention included at least 1 hour/day of moderate PA and a more strenuous weekly activity, collective walks and theoretical group sessions. A self-administered pain questionnaire was administered at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The questionnaire was specifically structured to investigate the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain, the body localization, intensity and duration of the pain. Two hundred and ten women (102 randomized to PA intervention, 108 not receiving the PA intervention) filled out the questionnaires. At baseline LBP was present in 32.9% of the participants. Among women randomized to the PA intervention, LBP prevalence at follow up (21.6%) was lower than at baseline (33.3%) (p = 0.02), while in women who did not receive the PA intervention the LBP prevalence at baseline and follow up were 32.4% and 25.9%, respectively (p = 0.30). Overall, there was no significant between-group effect of PA intervention on LBP. Further studies are needed to understand the role of non-specific PA intervention, aimed to improve overall fitness, on LBP prevalence

Nitrogen and chlorophyll status determination in durum wheat as influenced by fertilization and soil management: Preliminary results.

Handheld chlorophyll meters as Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) have proven to be useful tools for rapid, no-destructive assessment of chlorophyll and nitrogen status in various crops. This method is used to diagnose the need of nitrogen fertilization to improve the efficiency of the agricultural system and to minimize nitrogen losses and deficiency. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of repeated conservative agriculture practices on the SPAD readings, leaves chlorophyll concentration and Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) relationships in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions. The experimental site is a part of a long-term-experiment established in 1994 and is still on-going where three tillage managements and three nitrogen fertilizer treatments were repeated in the same plots every year. We observed a linear relationship between the SPAD readings performed in the central and distal portion of the leaf (R2 = 0.96). In fertilized durum wheat, we found all positive exponential relationships between SPAD readings, chlorophyll leaves concentration (R2 = 0.85) and NNI (R2 = 0.89). In the unfertilized treatment, the SPAD has a good attitude to estimate leaves chlorophyll concentration (R2 = 0.74) and NNI (R2 = 0.77) only in crop grow a soil with relative high content of soil organic matter and nitrogen availability, as observed in the no tilled plots. The results show that the SPAD can be used for a correct assessment of chlorophyll and nitrogen status in durum wheat but also to evaluate indirectly the content of soil organic matter and nitrogen availability during different growth stages of the crop cycle

Dance to enhance the cognitive and physical abilities in elderly individuals

for measures preserving the independence and maintaining the quality of life in elderly individuals. Numerous researches have shown that regular and structured physical activity is associated with successful aging (Vogel et al., 2009). Physical activity appropriated for older adults should include a multicomponent exercise program of moderate aerobic activities, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises. In particular, the physical activity should be personalized and adapted to the specific needs of each subject. Structured specific program of Adapted Physical Activity can prevent and/or reduce the functional decline correlated with aging. Among the various physical activities, recent studies suggest that dancing is a type of physical activity that may allow elderly adults to improve their physical function, health and well-being, and to maintain cognitive function (Hui et al., 2009; Kattenstroth et al., 2010). We investigated the potential cognitive and physical benefits deriving from practice of Dance respect to Adapted Physical Activity participation and not practice of physical activity in leisure time, in 150 healthy elderly subjects (80 women and 70 men; mean age 68,4 ± 0,25). All participants were assessed with a battery of cognitive tests using Attention and Concentration Software by Erickson and underwent fitness tests as Tinetti test and sit and reach. Moreover, subjects filled out the SF-12 questionnaire to assess their quality of life and structured questionnaire to evaluate the participation in leisure cognitive activities (reading books or newspapers, doing crossword puzzles, etc.). Our results demonstrated that subjects practicing Dance or Adapted Physical Activity are statistically better in all proposed tests than the sedentary individuals. In particular, subjects who practice dance, show results significantly better in cognitive tests compared with Adapted Physical Activity. Dance, given its peculiar characteristics, results an effective physical activity in maintaining the cognitive and physical functions and an alternatively training feasible in elderly subjects. Increased self-esteem, social contact and psychophysical wellness significantly ameliorate the quality of life during aging

Efficacy of a specific program of adapted physical activity in breast cancer survivors: a 5-year single center experience in Florence

Physical activity has been proposed as a nonpharmacological intervention to improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women worldwide. Recently, earlier detection and advances in therapies have substantially improved the survival rate of breast cancer patients, many of which will have a normal life expectancy. However, cancer treatments can produce negative short- and/or long-term physical and psychological effects (i.e. shoulder and arm decresed mobility, pain, mood disturbance), which heavily contribute to the reduction of life quality. In previous study, we carefully described the exercise methodology of a planned and personalized program of adapted physical activity (APA) demonstrating its efficacy in reducing the shoulderarm complications and improving the quality of life in breast cancer survivors (1). In the present study, we evaluted a higher numbers of breast cancer survivors and a long-time follow up to verify the effectiveness of our protocol. For this pourpose, 140 breast cancer survivors (mean age 56.8±10.2) were recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence between February 2009 and November 2014. The women were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week physical activity. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion (ROM), and back flexibility (sit and reach test). All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. The evaluation of shoulderarm mobility and self-reported questionnaire data revealed a statistically significant improvement after completion of our specific exercise program. After one year from APA, participants were subjected again to this evaluation protocol. Moreover, to evaluate the APA long-term effects (i.e. physically active lifestyle and shoulder-arm disability), a structured questionnaire was administered to all participants

Role of physical activity program in the tertiary prevention of female breast cancer: a pilot study

Physical activity is recognised internationally as a key factor in breast cancer prevention that is worldwide the major cause of cancer incidence and mortality in women. It is likely that physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk via multiple interrelated biologic pathway that may involve adiposity, sex hormones, insulin resistence, adipokines and chronic inflammation (Recent Results Cancer Res, 2011). Although women diagnosed with breast cancer are living longer for treatment improvements, concerns about functional limitations, recurrence and survival remain paramount. Recent researches support the beneficial role that physical activity plays in reducing the risk for developing breast cancer and preventing or attenuating disease and treatment-related impairments (Methods Mol Biol, 2009). Post-diagnosis physical activity has been associated with improved quality of life and survivors should be encouraged to initiate and maintain a program of physical activity (Cancer Prev Res, 2011). However, actually it is not yet clear which duration, frequency and intensity of physical activities provide the benefits in primary or tertiary prevention; studies are also limited by incomplete reporting and methodological limitations (Cancer Treat Rev, 2010). We provided a physical activity program in breast cancer survivors (60 women; mean age 59,5 ± 9,8) recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence to investigate the role of physical activity on psychophysical wellness. The subjects were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week study period. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion, and back flexibility. All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. Our results demonstrated that an organized specific program of adapted physical activity may be an effective countermeasure to reduce the adverse effects after surgery and oncological therapy

Effects of a specific adapted exercise on chronic cancerrelated arm lymphedema: a pilot study

Secondary arm lymphedema (LE) is among the most dreaded chronic complications in cancer patients that occurs when axillary lymphatic drainage from the arm is interrupted because of axillary lymph node dissection and/or axillary radiation (Ikeda et al., 2014). LE is characterized by accumulation of protein-rich interstitial fluid in the arm, resulting in tissue swelling. Subsequent swelling can cause pain, discomfort, heaviness, distortion, and reduced mobility and function, thereby affecting quality of life. With increased survival rates there is greater emphasis on enhancing quality of life after treatments (Armer et al., 2003), but the secondary LE remains a problem even with modern treatment modalities. Many treatment options for lymphedema are available, but none offer a permanent reduction or elimination of arm swelling (McKenzie and Kalda, 2003). Recent researches support the positive effects deriving from the regular participation in structured adapted physical activity programs in preventing or attenuating cancer treatment-related impairments improving the quality of life (Mirandola et al., 2013). In this context, the aim of our study was to propose and evaluate a specific exercise, planned by an adapted exercise specialist, to reduce LE and improve strenght and mobility of the arm, as well as quality of life in cancers survivors. We recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center of Florence 20 cancer survivors with chronic moderate-severe arm lymphedema, divided randomly into 4 groups according to the different protocol for duration, frequency and intensity of proposed exercise. Outcome measures, included the arm circumference, ROM of arm and hand-wrist, strenght (hand grip test) and quality of life (ULL27 questionaire), were assessed at baseline, in itinere (1, 2 and 3 months) and post-intervention (6 months). Our preliminary results demonstrated that a structured exercise (10 repetitions x 3 with 1 minute break once a day for 3 times per week) improved shoulder function, reduced and managed LE cancer survivors

Effect of contrasting crop rotation systems on soil chemical and biochemical properties and plant root growth in organic farming: First results

Organic farming is claimed to improve soil fertility. Nonetheless, among organic practices, net C-inputs may largely vary in amount and composition and produce different soil conditions for microbial activity and plant-root system adaptation and development. In this study, we hypothesised that, in the regime of organic agriculture, soil chemical and biochemical properties can substantially differ under contrasting crop rotation systems and produce conditions of soil fertility to which the plant responds through diverse growth and production. The impact of 13 years of Alfalfa-Crop rotation (P-C) and Annual Crop rotation (A-C) was evaluated on the build up of soil organic carbon (SOC), active (light fraction organic matter, LFOM; water soluble organic carbon, WSOC) and humic fraction (fulvic acids carbon, FAC; humic acids carbon, HAC), soil biochemical properties (microbial biomass carbon, MBC; basal respiration, dBR; alkaline phosphatase AmP; arylsulfatase ArS; orto-diphenoloxidase, o-DPO) and the amount of available macro-nutrients (N, P, and S) at two different soil depths (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) before and after cultivation of wheat. We also studied the response of root morphology, physiology and yield of the plant-root system of wheat. Results showed that the level of soil fertility and plant-root system behaviour substantially differed under the two crop rotation systems investigated here. We observed high efficiency of the P-C soil in the build up of soil organic carbon, as it was 2.9 times higher than that measured in the A-C soil. With the exception of o-DPO, P-C soil always showed a higher level of AmP and ArS activity and an initial lower amount of available P and S. The P-C soil showed higher rootability and promoted thinner roots and higher root density. In the P-C soil conditions, the photosynthesis and yield of durum wheat were also favoured. Finally, cultivation of wheat caused an overall depletion of the accrued fertility of soil, mainly evident in the P-C soil, which maintained a residual higher level of all the chemical and biochemical properties tested