1. |
2. Effects of a 2-year exercise training on neuromuscular system health in older individuals with low muscle functionElena Monti, Sara Tagliaferri, Sandra Zampieri, Fabio Sarto, Giuseppe Sirago, Martino V. Franchi, Andrea Ticinesi, Yari Longobucco, Elisa Adorni, Marco Vicenzo Narici, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: skeletal muscles, C-terminal agrin fragment, neurofilament light chain, exercise interventions, sarcopenia, elderly Published in DiRROS: 15.12.2023; Views: 505; Downloads: 181
Full text (487,80 KB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Upregulation of sarcolemmal hemichannels and inflammatory transcripts with neuromuscular junction instability during lower limb unloading in humansGiuseppe Sirago, Julián Candia, Martino V. Franchi, Fabio Sarto, Elena Monti, Luana Toniolo, Carlo Reggiani, Emiliana Giacomello, Sandra Zampieri, Marco Vicenzo Narici, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: skeletal muscles, neuromuscular junction, sarcolemmal hemichannels, lower limb Published in DiRROS: 14.12.2023; Views: 478; Downloads: 199
Full text (4,79 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Participation in youth sports influences sarcopenia parameters in older adultsKaja Teraž, Miloš Kalc, Boštjan Šimunič, Uroš Marušič, Primož Pori, Saša Pišot, Rado Pišot, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Background The degree of deterioration in sarcopenia parameters may be affected by a person’s level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). Our study focused on examining the PA and SB of active older adults including those with and without history of sports in youth. Methods Forty-four participants (20 men and 24 women, mean age of total sample 76.1 ± 5.2 years) were included in analysis of PA, SB habits and sarcopenia parameters, determined by skeletal muscle index, hand-grip strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go tests (TUG). PA and SB were recorded with accelerometers. Our primary aim was to compare participants with (AH) or without a sport history in youth (NAH), in their sarcopenia parameters and PA and SB habits. Results When divided participants in two groups (AH and NAH) and adjusting for age, we have detected the differences for skeletal muscle index (p = 0.007) and hand-grip strength (p = 0.004) in favor of participants who were engaged in sports in youth. We did not find any differences in PA and SB habits between the AH and NAH groups. After adjusting for age, participants with a higher number of daily steps, longer moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) bouts, a higher number of MVPA bouts in a day and higher overall MVPA engagement achieved better results in hand-grip strength and TUG. Participants with lower SB had better TUG and gait speed results. Conclusions Our findings suggest that engaging in sports activities in youth can make a difference with sarcopenia parameters. Although we found no differences in PA and SB habits between participants with AH and NAH, participants with an athlete history performed better results in sarcopenia parameters. Keywords: muscles, muscle disorder, elderly, exercise, sedentarism Published in DiRROS: 10.11.2023; Views: 505; Downloads: 1548
Full text (1,04 MB) This document has many files! More... |
5. Decomposition of tensiomyogram and comparison with torque twitch responses after post-activation potentiationEnsar Abazović, Armin Paravlić, Damir Zubac, Erol Kovačević, Boštjan Šimunič, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of post-activation potentiation (PAP) after 5x5s maximal voluntary isometric contractions (activation stimulus, AS) on tensiomyography (TMG) and torque twitch contractile parameters of vastus lateralis (VL) and medialis (VM), respectively. Further, we validated the decomposition of TMG response to separate responses of three fiber types. Methods: 15 healthy individuals participated in this study (40% women; age 19±2.3 years). A decomposition of VL TMG response was done after optimal fitting of three exponential curves. Results: We found main effects in contraction time (Tc) for muscle, method and time. Furthermore, we found interactions between muscle*method, method*time and muscle*method*time. Compared to PRE AS, we found shorter TMG Tc in VL and VM during the first two minutes after AS. Torque Tc remained unchanged in VL, while it increased in VM within 30 seconds after AS. A decomposition of VL TMG response confirmed PAP effects being present only in decomposed type IIb muscle fibers. Conclusion: The TMG is a sensitive method to detect PAP effects with a sensor mounted directly above the muscle belly. After the decomposition of the TMG signal to three separate muscle fiber phenotypes, we provided a non-invasive insight in the contribution of each muscle fiber phenotype to the PAP of the whole muscle. Keywords: skeletal muscles, fast-twitch fibers, post-activation potentiation, decomposition, tensiomyography Published in DiRROS: 05.09.2022; Views: 1085; Downloads: 318
Full text (1,52 MB) This document has many files! More... |
6. Irisin attenuates muscle impairment during bed rest through muscle-adipose tissue crosstalkAndrea D'Amuri, Juana Maria Sanz, Stefano Lazzer, Rado Pišot, Boštjan Šimunič, Gianni Biolo, Giovanni Zuliani, Mladen Gasparini, Marco Vicenzo Narici, Bruno Grassi, Carlo Reggiani, Edoardo Dalla Nora, Angelina Passaro, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Simple Summary: Irisin is a known myokine secreted mainly by the muscle that is produced after physical activity. It induces browning in the adipose tissue with a consequent increase in mitochondrial oxidation of lipids and reduction of insulin resistance; thus, it has been hypothesized that irisin was the molecule mediating most of the beneficial effects related to exercise on adipose tissue and consequently on the whole organism. In our study we observed that extreme physical inactivity induces the loss of muscle mass and function, and an increase in the body adipose tissue as expected. However, of note, circulating irisin levels were increased secondary to enhanced irisin synthesis mainly from adipose tissue rather than muscle. In addition, subjects who produced more irisin had reduced muscle impairment. Therefore, our hypothesis is that there is negative feedback within the muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk, specifically not only does the muscle influence the adipose tissue through irisin during exercise, but also the adipose tissue protects the muscle during inactivity.Abstract: The detrimental effect of physical inactivity on muscle characteristics are well known. Irisin, an exercise-induced myokine cleaved from membrane protein fibronectin type III domain-containing protein-5 (FNDC5), mediates at least partially the metabolic benefits of exercise. This study aimed to assess the interplay between prolonged inactivity, circulating irisin, muscle performance, muscle fibers characteristics, as well as the FNDC5 gene expression (FNDC5ge) in muscle and adipose tissue among healthy subjects. Twenty-three healthy volunteers were tested before and after 14 days of Bed Rest, (BR). Post-BR circulating levels of irisin significantly increased, whereas body composition, muscle performance, and muscle fiber characteristics deteriorated. Among the subjects achieving the highest post-BR increase of irisin, the lowest reduction in maximal voluntary contraction and specific force of Fiber Slow/1, the highest increase of FNDC5ge in adipose tissue, and no variation of FNDC5ge in skeletal muscle were recorded. Subjects who had the highest FNDC5ge in adipose tissue but not in muscle tissue showed the highest circulating irisin levels and could better withstand the harmful effect of BR. Keywords: physical inactivity, bed rest, FNDC5 gene expression, myokines, sarcopenia, muscles fiber Published in DiRROS: 07.07.2022; Views: 953; Downloads: 524
Full text (798,63 KB) This document has many files! More... |
7. The muscle contractile properties in female soccer players : inter-limb comparison using tensiomyographyArmin Paravlić, Zoran Milanović, Ensar Abazović, Goran Vučković, Darjan Spudić, Živa Majcen Rošker, Maja Pajek, Janez Vodičar, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Objective: The present study aimed to: i) determine the contractile properties of the major lower limb muscles in female soccer players using tensiomyography; ii) investigate inter-limb differences; and iii) compare inter-limb differences between different selections and playing positions. Methods: A total of 52 female soccer players (A team; U19 and U17) were recruited. The vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), lateralis (GL) and tibialis anterior (TA) of both lower limbs were evaluated. Results: When the entire sample was assessed regardless of selection or playing position, there were significant inter-limb differences in all measured muscles except BF. Compared to the non-dominant limb, the dominant limb had higher delay time in VL (p=0.008), while showing lower values in VM (p=0.023), GL (p=0.043) and GM (p=0.006). Contraction time was lower in the RF of the dominant limb (p=0.005) and VM (p=0.047), while showing higher values in VL (p=0.036) and TA (p<0.001) as compared to the non-dominant limb. Conclusion: Given the differences found between the limbs in the whole sample studied, it is necessary to examine both limbs to gather a more in-depth understanding of underlying mechanisms related to neuromuscular functions in female soccer players. Level of evidence: Prognostic study, Level II. Keywords: asymmetries, neuromuscular functions, skeletal muscles, tensiomyography, Women' s football Published in DiRROS: 16.06.2022; Views: 775; Downloads: 365
Full text (1,24 MB) This document has many files! More... |
8. The aging muscle in experimental bed rest : ǂa ǂsystematic review and meta-analysisFilippo Giorgio Di Girolamo, Nicola Fiotti, Zoran Milanović, Roberta Situlin, Filippo Mearelli, Pierandrea Vinci, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Marco Vicenzo Narici, Gianni Biolo, 2021, review article Abstract: Background: Maintaining skeletal muscle mass and function in aging is crucial for preserving the quality of life and health. An experimental bed rest (BR) protocol is a suitable model to explore muscle decline on aging during inactivity. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was, therefore, to carry out an up-to-date evaluation of bed rest, with a specific focus on the magnitude of effects on muscle mass, strength, power, and functional capacity changes as well as the mechanisms, molecules, and pathways involved in muscle decay. Design: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Data sources: We used PubMed, Medline; Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane library, all of which were searched prior to April 23, 2020. A manual search was performed to cover bed rest experimental protocols using the following key terms, either singly or in combination: %Elderly Bed rest,% %Older Bed rest,% %Old Bed rest,% %Aging Bed rest,% %Aging Bed rest,% %Bed-rest,% and %Bedrest%. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: The inclusion criteria were divided into four sections: type of study, participants, interventions, and outcome measures. The primary outcome measures were: body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass, leg lean mass, cross-sectional area, knee extension power, cytokine pattern, IGF signaling biomarkers, FOXO signaling biomarkers, mitochondrial modulation biomarkers, and muscle protein kinetics biomarkers. Results: A total of 25 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, while 17 of them were included in the meta-analysis. In total, 118 healthy elderly volunteers underwent 5-, 7-, 10-, or 14-days of BR and provided a brief sketch on the possible mechanisms involved. In the very early phase of BR, important changes occurred in the skeletal muscle, with significant loss of performance associated with a lesser grade reduction of the total body and muscle mass. Meta-analysis of the effect of bed rest on total body mass was determined to be small but statistically significant (ES = %0.45, 95% CI: %0.72 to %0.19, P < 0.001). Moderate, statistically significant effects were observed for total lean body mass (ES = %0.67, 95% CI: %0.95 to %0.40, P < 0.001) after bed rest intervention. Overall, total lean body mass was decreased by 1.5 kg, while there was no relationship between bed rest duration and outcomes (Z = 0.423, p = 672). The meta-analyzed effect showed that bed rest produced large, statistically significant, effects (ES = %1.06, 95% CI: %1.37 to %0.75, P < 0.001) in terms of the knee extension power. Knee extension power was decreased by 14.65 N/s. In contrast, to other measures, meta-regression showed a significant relationship between bed rest duration and knee extension power (Z = 4.219, p < 0.001). Moderate, statistically significant, effects were observed after bed rest intervention for leg muscle mass in both old (ES = %0.68, 95% CI: %0.96 to %0.40, P < 0.001) and young (ES = %0.51, 95% CI: %0.80 to %0.22, P < 0.001) adults. However, the magnitude of change was higher in older (MD = %0.86 kg) compared to younger (MD = %0.24 kg) adults. Conclusion: Experimental BR is a suitable model to explore the detrimental effects of inactivity in young adults, old adults, and hospitalized people. Changes in muscle mass and function are the two most investigated variables, and they allow for a consistent trend in the BR-induced changes. Mechanisms underlying the greater loss of muscle mass and function in aging, following inactivity, need to be thoroughly investigated. Keywords: bed rest, aging, muscles, muscle physiopathology, muscle function Published in DiRROS: 26.08.2021; Views: 1858; Downloads: 1090
Full text (1,32 MB) This document has many files! More... |
9. A randomized crossover trial on the acute cardiovascular demands during flywheel exerciseDamir Zubac, Vladimir Ivančev, Zoran Valić, Rado Pišot, Cécil J. W. Meulenberg, Irhad Trozic, Nandu Goswami, Boštjan Šimunič, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: In a randomized crossover trial, we examined whether age plays a role in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) response during a vigorous flywheel exercise of varying load. We hypothesized that the magnitude of increase in the MAP during the flywheel exercise would increase in proportion to advancing age, thereby imposing a significant challenge to the cardiovascular system. A total of 30 participants of both sexes (age range from 20%55 y, 37% women) underwent a detailed medical examination, and their maximal oxygen uptake was determined. They performed a squat exercise (2 sets % 7 repetitions) on a flywheel ergometer at three randomly assigned moments of inertia set at 0.025, 0.05, and 0.075 kg m2, while the cardiovascular response was continuously recorded via a Task force monitor. Compared to the resting values, robust rises in the MAP were observed during all three flywheel loads, reaching the highest value of 179 % 4 mmHg (p = 0.001) during the highest load. In parallel, the cardiac index (cardiac output normalized by the body surface area) was two-fold greater during all the flywheel loads compared to rest, and at a high load, exclusively, the total peripheral resistance increased by 11% (p = 0.001). The rise in heart rate compensated for a load-dependent drop in the stroke index (stroke volume normalized by the body surface area). In our study population, no correlations were observed between the relative increase in the MAP and the participants% age for the three flywheel loads. The present findings suggest that the larger moments of inertia impose a substantial burden to the cardiovascular system, without apparent associated age-differences of the relative magnitude of MAP rise throughout the exercise. Keywords: yo-yo exercise, oxygen uptake, muscles loading, blood pressure, krvni tlak, flow mediate dilation Published in DiRROS: 05.07.2021; Views: 1256; Downloads: 1356
Full text (1,85 MB) This document has many files! More... |