The potential therapeutic effects of creatine supplementation on body composition and muscle function in cancer

Low muscle mass in individuals with cancer has a profound impact on quality of life and independence and is associated with greater treatment toxicity and poorer prognosis. Exercise interventions are regularly being investigated as a means to ameliorate treatment-related adverse effects, and nutritional/supplementation strategies to augment adaptations to exercise are highly valuable. Creatine (Cr) is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body that plays a critical role in energy provision during muscle contraction. Given the beneficial effects of Cr supplementation on lean body mass, strength, and physical function in a variety of clinical populations, there is therapeutic potential in individuals with cancer at heightened risk for muscle loss. Here, we provide an overview of Cr physiology, summarize the evidence on the use of Cr supplementation in various aging/clinical populations, explore mechanisms of action, and provide perspectives on the potential therapeutic role of Cr in the exercise oncology setting

Resistance exercise dosage in men with prostate cancer: Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

Purpose Resistance training (RT) improves an array of treatment-related adverse effects in men with prostate cancer, however, the minimal dosage required is unknown. We systematically reviewed the RT effects in prostate cancer patients to determine the minimal dosage regarding the exercise components (type, duration, volume, and intensity) on body composition, physical function, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Methods Using PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases were searched. Eligible randomised controlled trials examined prostate cancer patients undertaking resistance-based exercise programs during or following treatment. Meta-analysis was undertaken when more than 3 studies were included. Associations between mean differences and the exercise components were tested by univariate and multivariate meta-regression analysis. Results Twenty-four papers describing 22 trials and involving 1,888 prostate cancer patients were included. Exercise improved fat mass (-1% in body fat and -0.5 kg in fat mass), lean mass (+0.5 kg in lean and appendicular lean mass), functional capacity (i.e., chair rise, 400-m test, 6-m fast walk and stair climb tests) and fitness outcomes (i.e., VO2 peak and muscle strength) (P=0.040 - \u3c 0.001) with no change in BMI or PSA (P= .440 - .735). Meta-regression indicated no association between exercise type, RT duration, weekly volume and intensity and primary outcomes (P= .075 - .965). There was a significant association between RT intensity and chest press muscle strength (favouring moderate-intensity, P= .012), but not in other secondary outcomes. Conclusion In untrained older men with prostate cancer initiating an exercise program, lower volume at moderate-to-high intensity is as effective as higher volume RT for enhancing body composition, functional capacity and muscle strength in the short-term

Determining a quantum state by means of a single apparatus

The unknown state \hrho of a quantum system S is determined by letting it interact with an auxiliary system A, the initial state of which is known. A one-to-one mapping can thus be realized between the density matrix \hrho and the probabilities of occurrence of the eigenvalues of a single and factorized observable of S+A, so that \hrho can be determined by repeated measurements using a single apparatus. If S and A are spins, it suffices to measure simultaneously their $z$-components after a controlled interaction. The most robust setups are determined in this case, for an initially pure or a completely disordered state of A. They involve an Ising or anisotropic Heisenberg coupling and an external field.Comment: 5 pages revte

Reconstructing a pure state of a spin s through three Stern-Gerlach measurements: II

The density matrix of a spin s is fixed uniquely if the probabilities to obtain the value s upon measuring n.S are known for 4s(s+1) appropriately chosen directions n in space. These numbers are just the expectation values of the density operator in coherent spin states, and they can be determined in an experiment carried out with a Stern-Gerlach apparatus. Furthermore, the experimental data can be inverted providing thus a parametrization of the statistical operator by 4s(s+1) positive parameters

Generalized vortex-model for the inverse cascade of two-dimensional turbulence

We generalize Kirchhoff's point vortex model of two-dimensional fluid motion to a rotor model which exhibits an inverse cascade by the formation of rotor clusters. A rotor is composed of two vortices with like-signed circulations glued together by an overdamped spring. The model is motivated by a treatment of the vorticity equation representing the vorticity field as a superposition of vortices with elliptic Gaussian shapes of variable widths, augmented by a suitable forcing mechanism. The rotor model opens up the way to discuss the energy transport in the inverse cascade on the basis of dynamical systems theory.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figure

The Exercise and Sports Science Australia position statement: Exercise medicine in cancer management

Objectives: Since Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) first published its position statement on exercise guidelines for people with cancer, there has been exponential growth in research evaluating the role of exercise pre-, during and post-cancer treatment. Design and Methods: The purpose of this report is to use the current scientific evidence, alongside clinical experience and exercise science principles to update ESSA’s position statement on cancer-specific exercise prescription. Results: Reported in this position statement is a summary of the benefits accrued through exercise following a cancer diagnosis and the strengths and limitations of this evidence-base. An exercise prescription framework is then proposed to enable the application of cancer-specific considerations for individualisation, specificity, safety, feasibility and progression of exercise for all patients. Additional specific exercise prescription considerations are provided for the presence of haematological, musculoskeletal, systemic, cardiovascular, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and neurological disease- and treatment-related concerns, as well as presence of co-morbid chronic disease. Further, we also identify and discuss cancer-specific pragmatic issues and barriers requiring consideration for exercise prescription. Conclusions: While for the majority, multimodal, moderate to high intensity exercise will be appropriate, there is no set prescription and total weekly dosage that would be considered evidence-based for all cancer patients. Targeted exercise prescription, which includes the provision of behaviour change advice and support, is needed to ensure greatest benefit (as defined by the patient) in the short and longer term, with low risk of harm

Production of oriented nitrogen-vacancy color centers in synthetic diamond

The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV-) center in diamond is an attractive candidate for applications that range from magnetometry to quantum information processing. Here we show that only a fraction of the nitrogen (typically < 0.5 %) incorporated during homoepitaxial diamond growth by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is in the form of undecorated NV- centers. Furthermore, studies on CVD diamond grown on (110) oriented substrates show a near 100% preferential orientation of NV- centers along only the [111] and [-1-11] directions, rather than the four possible orientations. The results indicate that NV centers grow in as units, as the diamond is deposited, rather than by migration and association of their components. The NV unit of the NVH- is similarly preferentially oriented, but it is not possible to determine whether this defect was formed by H capture at a preferentially aligned NV center or as a complete unit. Reducing the number of NV orientations from 4 orientations to 2 orientations should lead to increased optically-detected magnetic resonance contrast and thus improved magnetic sensitivity in ensemble-based magnetometry.Comment: 13 Pages (inlcuding suplementary information), 4 figure

Networks of cosmological histories, crossing of the phantom divide line and potentials with cusps

We discuss the phenomenon of the smooth dynamical gravity induced crossing of the phantom divide line in a framework of simple cosmological models where it appears to occur rather naturally, provided the potential of the unique scalar field has some kind of cusp. The behavior of cosmological trajectories in the vicinity of the cusp is studied in some detail and a simple mechanical analogy is presented. The phenomenon of certain complementarity between the smoothness of the spacetime geometry and matter equations of motion is elucidated. We introduce a network of cosmological histories and qualitatively describe some of its properties

Recreational soccer as sport medicine for middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review

Background Strategies to prevent or attenuate the age-related decline in physical and physiological function and reduce chronic disease risk factors are of clinical importance. Objective To examine the health benefits of recreational soccer in middle-aged and older adults. Design Systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data sources All available records up until 9 June 2017 in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies All randomised trials with or without a control group (randomised controlled trials or randomised uncontrolled trials) and non-randomised controlled trials that used recreational soccer, which includes small-sided soccer games, as the sole or principal intervention, and reported relevant effects in untrained/sedentary, healthy or unhealthy adults aged 40 years and above were included. Results Five trials described in 13 articles were included, which scored 6–9 out of 12 points on the modified Delphi quality rating scale. The duration was from 12 to 52 weeks, with various frequencies, volumes and game formats performed both outdoors and indoors with men and women. The trials indicate that recreational soccer may result in improvement in cardiovascular function, body composition and functional ability, although no significant changes were observed in postural balance. Conclusion Recreational soccer should be considered an alternative exercise modality for untrained, healthy or unhealthy middle-aged and older adults of both sexes to maintain an active lifestyle and mitigate a wide array of physical and physiological age-related changes

What is the minimal dose for resistance exercise effectiveness in prostate cancer patients? Systematic review and meta-analysis on patient-reported outcomes

© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Active treatments for prostate cancer are well known to result in several adverse effects such as fatigue, depression and anxiety symptoms, impacting the overall quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing of a considerable proportion of patients. Resistance-based exercise interventions have shown positive effects to reduce or mitigate these treatment-related side effects. However, the minimal dosage required to derive these benefits is unknown. We systematically reviewed the resistance training effects in prostate cancer patients to determine the minimal dosage regarding the exercise components (mode, duration, volume and intensity) on fatigue, QoL, depression and anxiety. Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases were searched. Eligible randomised controlled trials examined prostate cancer patients undertaking resistance-based exercise programs during or following treatment. Meta-analysis was undertaken when more than three studies were included. Associations between resistance exercise components and its effects were tested by meta-regression analysis. Results: Eighteen trials involving 1112 men with prostate cancer were included. Resistance-based exercise programs resulted in significant effects on fatigue (effect size = −0.3, 95% CI: −0.4 to −0.2, P \u3c 0.001) and QoL (effect size = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.0 to 0.4, P = 0.018), with significant effects in specific questionnaires and domains of these outcomes. Resistance-based exercise effects on depression (effect size = −0.3, 95% CI: −0.7 to 0.0) and anxiety symptoms (effect size = −0.3, 95% CI: −0.5 to 0.0) were positive but not significant (P = 0.071 to 0.077). Meta-regression indicated no significant association between resistance exercise components with fatigue and QoL outcomes (P = 0.186–0.689). Conclusions: Low volume resistance exercise undertaken at a moderate-to-high intensity is sufficient to achieve significant fatigue and QoL benefits for men with prostate cancer and also mitigate depression and anxiety symptoms. A lower resistance exercise dosage than usually prescribed may help enhance adherence by reducing exercise barriers