Purpose: The aim of this review was to examine the effects of various factors, including recovery time, conditioning activity, range of motion, gender, age, fiber type percentage, training ...experience, and supplement intake, on post-activation potentiation (PAP) and post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). After clarifying the differences between these two potentiation strategies, the review examines the physiological mechanisms underlying these processes and their relationship with the aforementioned factors. Methods: A literature search was conducted in multiple databases, using as keywords those factors, PAP and PAPE. Results: PAP/PAPE appears to benefit athletes, adults, and individuals with a higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers more. To increase performance, it is recommended to use an intensity greater than 80% of one repetition maximum and high volumes. For trained subjects, a recovery time of 3 to 10 minutes is beneficial, while its effectiveness for untrained subjects is still unclear. Potentiation is greater when the primer exercise has a wide range of motion and is similar to the verification test. Additionally, supplementation with caffeine or creatine also contributes to the magnitude of potentiation. Finally, although there is evidence suggesting a net potentiation, the balance between fatigue and potentiation remains complex and unclear. Conclusions: Each factor that interacts with PAP and PAPE should be evaluated individually to ensure the most appropriate conditioning activity for the athlete.
Aim
The aim of this study was to examine the opportunity to adopt, for the elderly, already validated function ability tests to better understand how to prevent falls and injuries and to better plan ...group fitness activities like ballroom dance classes (e.g., Valzer, Polka, Mazurka).
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Barthel Index (BI) were administered and the occurrence of falls during the previous 2 years was evaluated by anamnesis. One hundred and twenty-two elderly subjects living in Palermo city participated to the study. According to the anamnesis, subjects were divided into two groups: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). The EG consisted of 75 subjects attending classes of ballroom dancing (73.0 ± 5.6 years 26.1 ± 3.9 BMI), while the CG included 47 volunteers (74.3 ± 5.4 years, 26.8 ± 4.4 BMI). A threshold of 70 % for both scales (BBS-70 and BI-70 %) was set, according to the aims of the study. STATISTICA software was adopted to perform an unpaired
t
test. A
P
value lower than 0.05 was considered to be statistically relevant.
Results
The BI and BBS of CG were 76.7 ± 33.08 and 30.9 ± 14.9, respectively, while the BI and BBS of EG were 98.1 ± 6.9 and 50.5 ± 54. In EG the BBS-70 % showed 96.0 % of cases compared to 27.6 % of the CG. The BI showed a similar trend to BBS. In EG the BI-70 % showed 98.6 % of cases, while the BI-70 % of CG showed 70.2 % of cases. Moreover, only 36.0 % of EG reported falls previously, while CG reported 53.2 % of falls during the same period of time.
Conclusion
The BBS seems to be a valid and reliable tool able to be adopted also by professionals of the ballroom dancing sector (e.g., Valzer, Polka and Mazurka classes). Instructors may evaluate the functional ability of their attendees through BBS to easily obtain more information and better plan ballroom dance classes. Moreover, we highlight that these conclusions need to be supported by other studies with different cohorts and a larger population scale.
The aim of this study was to assess the fitness levels and possible deficits in physical performance in children with a diagnosis of childhood acute leukemia and lymphoma after 10 months of therapy ...ending through a specific test battery. A total of 58 subjects were enrolled in this study. The experimental group (EG) (7.55 ± 2.43 years; 41.8 ± 16.37 kg; 144.6 ± 10.21 cm) consisted of 18 children with diagnosed leukemia and lymphoma after completion of 10 months of therapy intervention and 40 healthy children who were enrolled in a control group (CG) (7.92 ± 1.78 years; 37.4 ± 12.37 kg; 140.6 ± 12.61 cm). A testing battery including the standing broad jump; the sit‐up test; the 4 × 10 m shuttle run test, and the hand grip strength test were administered to both groups. An unpaired t‐test was adopted to determine differences and the Pearson product moment was administered when appropriate. Results of the EG were generally lower when compared to the CG. Significant differences were identified for the standing broad jump (P < 0.05); 4 × 10 m shuttle run (P < 0.05); hand grip test DX (P < 0.05), and hand grip test SX (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the sit‐up tests. Pearson product moment correlation revealed a good interaction for all EG participants. Findings suggest that the proposed testing battery could be an appropriate tool to evaluate residual fitness levels in children with previous hematological malignancies. However, our results have to be confirmed with a larger number of participants with the same diagnosis of our EG.
The present study used a specific test battery comprising of validated field‐based fitness tests to gain a better understanding of physically related consequences of previous malignancies. Fitness tests are usually applied in sporting context. This is the first study which has adopted these field based tests to further help “survivors” improving their QoL. In our experience, the testing battery showed to be simple and fast to administer, to be highly versatile, to be inexpensive, and to be reliable.
Aims/Hypothesis
It is known that family history to type 2 diabetes induces anthropometric changes in various populations. Regular physical activity can induce adaptations in these subjects ...regularizing body composition and anthropometric parameters. The aim of this study is therefore to understand if family history to type 2 diabetes affects anaerobic performance in young male élite athletes.
Methods
Forty six young male élite athletes were tested. Thirty three without family history to type 2 diabetes (FH-) and thirteen with family history to type 2 diabetes (FH+). Anthropometric parameters, body composition, physiological parameters and athletic performance were assessed.
Results
Weight (
p
0,0050), BMI (
p
0,0019), waist circumference (p 0,0090), hips circumference (p 0,0490) and WHR (
p
0,0339) were different between the two groups, showing greater values for the FH + subjects. Body composition showed lower FM and higher FFM percentages for the FH + group compared to the FH-. Anaerobic performance tests showed differences between the groups highlighting that the FH + group had higher anaerobic performance values (Wingate test for FH + 512,77 ± 107,93 W
vs
Wingate test for FH- 447,94 ± 56,95 W).
Conclusions/Interpretation
The élite athletes with FH + showed better anaerobic performances and a higher body mass. At this stage we cannot generalise, but in a sample of athletes we tested, all who were with FH + showed both interesting and unexpected results; if confirmed, this evidence may represent a remarkable knowledge for fitness coaches and professionals who are daily dealing with track and field athletes and their performances.
Transplantation from haploidentical donors is widely used, with progressive reduction of cord blood (CB) as alternative donor. The paper by Matsuda and colleagues, the largest analysing the outcome ...in non‐remission acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) transplanted with haploidentical donor or CB, suggests that CB is still a viable option when considering allogeneic transplantation for advanced AML.
Commentary on: Matsuda et al. Comparison of transplant outcomes between haploidentical transplantation and single cord blood transplantation in non‐remission acute myeloid leukaemia: A nationwide retrospective study. Br J Haematol. 2023;201:106–113.
Purpose To investigate the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after a risk-adapted treatment strategy that was based on a positive positron emission ...tomography scan performed after two doxorubicin, vinblastine, vincristine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) cycles (PET2). Patients and Methods Patients with advanced-stage (IIB to IVB) HL were consecutively enrolled. After two ABVD cycles, PET2 was performed and centrally reviewed according to the Deauville five-point scale. Patients with a positive PET2 were randomly assigned to four cycles of escalated bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) followed by four cycles of standard BEACOPP with or without rituximab. Patients with a negative PET2 continued ABVD, and those with a large nodal mass at diagnosis (≥ 5 cm) in complete remission with a negative PET at the end of chemotherapy were randomly assigned to radiotherapy or no further treatment. The primary end point was 3-year PFS. Results Of 782 enrolled patients, 150 (19%) had a positive and 630 (81%) a negative PET2. The 3-year PFS of all patients was 82%. The 3-year PFS of those with a positive and negative PET2 was 60% and 87%, respectively ( P < .001). The 3-year PFS of patients with a positive PET2 assigned to BEACOPP with or without rituximab was 63% versus 57% ( P = .53). In 296 patients with both interim and post-ABVD-negative PET who had a large nodal mass at diagnosis, radiotherapy was randomly added after chemotherapy without a significant PFS improvement (97% v 93%, respectively; P = .29). The 3-year overall survival of all 782 patients was 97% (99% and 89% for PET2 negative and positive, respectively). Conclusion The PET-driven switch from ABVD to escalated BEACOPP is feasible and effective in high-risk patients with advanced-stage HL.
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare and complex genetic disease, with numerous implications on metabolic, endocrine, neuropsychomotor systems, and with behavioural and intellectual disorders. Rare ...disease patient registries are important scientific tools (1) to collect clinical and epidemiologic data, (2) to assess the clinical management including the diagnostic delay, (3) to improve patients' care and (4) to foster research to identify new therapeutic solutions. The European Union has recommended the implementation and use of registries and databases. The main aims of this paper are to describe the process of setting up the Italian PWS register, and to illustrate our preliminary results.
The Italian PWS registry was established in 2019 with the aims (1) to describe the natural history of the disease, (2) to determine clinical effectiveness of health care services, (3) to measure and monitor quality of care of patients. Information from six different variables are included and collected into this registry: demographics, diagnosis and genetics, patient status, therapy, quality of life and mortality.
A total of 165 patients (50.3% female vs 49.7% male) were included into Italian PWS registry in 2019-2020 period. Average age at genetic diagnosis was 4.6 years; 45.4% of patients was less than 17 years old aged, while the 54.6% was in adult age (> 18 years old). Sixty-one percent of subjects had interstitial deletion of the proximal long arm of paternal chromosome 15, while 36.4% had uniparental maternal disomy for chromosome 15. Three patients presented an imprinting centre defect and one had a de novo translocation involving chromosome 15. A positive methylation test was demonstrated in the remaining 11 individuals but the underlying genetic defect was not identified. Compulsive food-seeking and hyperphagia was present in 63.6% of patients (prevalently in adults); 54.5% of patients developed morbid obesity. Altered glucose metabolism was present in 33.3% of patients. Central hypothyroidism was reported in 20% of patients; 94.7% of children and adolescents and 13.3% of adult patients is undergoing GH treatment.
The analyses of these six variables allowed to highlight important clinical aspects and natural history of PWS useful to inform future actions to be taken by national health care services and health professionals.
High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) autograft is effective in high-risk lymphoma, particularly with the addition of rituximab; however, it is associated with risk of ...secondary malignancy. These issues have been addressed in a series of 1,347 patients with lymphoma treated with a high-dose sequential (HDS) program.
A total of 1,024 patients with B-cell lymphoma, 234 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 89 patients with T-cell lymphoma were treated with HDS between 1985 and 2005 at 11 Gruppo Italiano Terapie Innovative Linfomi centers. HDS was given as salvage treatment to 707 patients (52%); 655 patients (49%) received a modified HDS, with high-dose cytarabine and two consecutive PBPC harvests. Rituximab-supplemented HDS was given to 523 patients (39%).
At a median follow-up of 7 years, the median overall survival (OS) was 16.2 years; in B-cell lymphoma the OS was significantly superior with rituximab HDS compared to HDS alone. The cumulative incidence at 5 and 10 years of secondary myelodysplasia/acute leukemia (sMDS/AL) were 3.09% and 4.52%, respectively, that of solid tumors were 2.54% and 6.79%, respectively. Factors associated with sMDS/AL were male sex and use of the second harvest PBPC for the graft; factors found to be associated with solid tumor were advanced age, post-HDS radiotherapy, and rituximab addition to HDS. Despite the increased risk of solid tumors, rituximab addition to HDS was still associated with survival advantages.
This analysis has relevant implications for the design and use of intensive chemoimmunotherapy with autograft. In addition, it offers useful insights toward the understanding and prevention of tumor development.
To investigate the role of consolidation radiotherapy (cRT) in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) presenting at baseline with a large nodal mass (LNM) in complete metabolic response after ...doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy.
Advanced-stage (IIB-IVB) HL patients, enrolled in the HD 0607 trial (Clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT00795613), with both a negative PET after two (PET-2) and six (PET-6) ABVD cycles, who presented at baseline with an LNM, defined as a nodal mass with the largest diameter ≥ 5 cm, were prospectively randomly assigned to receive cRT over the LNM or no further treatment (NFT).
Among 296 randomly assigned patients, the largest diameter of LNM at baseline was 5-7 cm in 101 (34%; subgroup A) and 8-10 cm in 96 (32%; subgroup B), whereas classic bulky (diameter > 10 cm) was detected in 99 (33%; subgroup C). Two hundred eighty patients (88%) showed a postchemotherapy RM. The median dose of cRT was 30.6 Gy (range, 24-36 Gy). After a median follow-up of 5.9 years (range, 0.5-10 years), the 6-year progression-free survival rate of patients who underwent cRT or NFT was, respectively, 91% (95% CI, 84% to 99%) and 95% (95% CI, 89% to 100%;
= .62) in subgroup A; 98% (95% CI, 93% to 100%) and 90% (95% CI, 80% to 100%;
= .24) in subgroup B; 89% (95% CI, 81% to 98%) and 86% (95% CI, 77% to 96%;
= .53) in subgroup C (classic bulky).
cRT could be safely omitted in patients with HL presenting with an LNM and a negative PET-2 and PET-6 scan, irrespective from the LNM size detected at baseline.
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