1. Neuromuscular component of muscle quality assessment in older adults : narrative reviewKatarina Puš, Boštjan Šimunič, 2024, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The concept of muscle quality encompasses both microand macroscopic aspects of muscle architecture and composition and has gained increasing attention with inclusion in the definition of sarcopenia, indicating the significance of muscle quality in evaluating muscle function and strength among older individuals. Muscle quality consists of two main components: neuromuscular and morphological and is often defined as the ratio between the two. The aim of this review is to present currently used methods for assessment of muscle quality with an emphasis on neuromuscular component in older adults. The most used methods for assessing morphological component are imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry and non-imaging bioimpedance analysis. In the neuromuscular component upper and lower body strength are assessed with different methods such as hand grip strength, isokinetic lower limb strength and isometric lower limb strength. Currently, there are three proposed muscle quality assessment methods for field or population studies: muscle quality index, ultrasound sarcopenia index and bioimpedancederived phase angle. Despite the exploration of muscle quality through various assessment methods, a consensus on the most appropriate and universally applicable approach has yet to be established. Ključne besede: ageing, skeletal muscle, ultrasound sarcopenia index, muscle quality index, phase angle Objavljeno v DiRROS: 13.05.2024; Ogledov: 372; Prenosov: 170 Celotno besedilo (347,88 KB) |
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3. Metabolic consequences of anabolic steroids, insulin, and growth hormone abuse in recreational bodybuilders : implications for the world anti-doping agency passportFilippo Giorgio Di Girolamo, Chiara Biasinutto, Alessandro Mangogna, Nicola Fiotti, Pierandrea Vinci, Rado Pišot, Filippo Mearelli, Boštjan Šimunič, Chiara Roni, Gianni Biolo, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background Hormonal doping in recreational sports is a public-health concern. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) promoted the creation of the Athlete Biological Passport, aiming to monitor athlete’s biological variables over time to facilitate indirect detection of doping. Detection tests for anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and growth hormone (GH) are available while insulin abuse cannot be revealed. We have determined in recreational bodybuilders the metabolic effects associated with different patterns of hormone abuse. All analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0 software (SPSS Chicago, IL). Results We have assessed plasma concentrations of selected metabolic markers and fatty acid content in erythrocyte membranes of 92 male bodybuilders and in 45 healthy controls. Hormonal abuse was identified by anonymous questionnaires. 43% (%) of recruited bodybuilders regularly abused hormones, i.e., anabolic androgenic steroids (95%) often associated with GH (30%) and/or insulin (38%). HDL-cholesterol was lower in insulin and/or GH abusers. Alanine (ALT) and aspartic (AST) transaminases were greater in hormone abusing bodybuilders than in non-doping bodybuilders and controls. Insulin doping was selectively associated with increased plasma ALT-to-AST ratio. In erythrocyte membranes, elongase activity (i.e., stearic-to-palmitic ratio) was lower in insulin and/or growth hormone doping, whereas increased Δ-9 desaturase activity (i.e., palmitoleic-to-palmitic ratio) was selectively associated with insulin doping. Conclusions In conclusion, our study demonstrates that insulin and GH abuse are characterized by multiple alterations of specific metabolic markers. Although further studies are needed to test whether longitudinal monitoring of selected metabolic marker such as muscle contraction time, HDL levels, ALT-AST ratio as well as the activities of selected enzymes (e.g. Δ-9 desaturase and elongase), could contribute to the detection of insulin and GH abuse in sport. Ključne besede: bodybuilders, doping, drug abuse, matabolism Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.04.2024; Ogledov: 479; Prenosov: 175 Celotno besedilo (1,38 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Retinal venular vessel diameters are smaller during ten days of bed restAdam Salon, Göktuğ Mert Çiftci, Damir Zubac, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Marco Vicenzo Narici, Per Morten Fredriksen, Benedicta Ngwenchi Nkeh-Chungag, Harald Sourij, Nandu Goswami, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Older individuals experience cardiovascular dysfunction during extended bedridden hospital or care home stays. Bed rest is also used as a model to simulate accelerated vascular deconditioning occurring during spacefight. This study investigates changes in retinal microcirculation during a tenday bed rest protocol. Ten healthy young males (22.9± 4.7 years; body mass index: 23.6± 2.5 kg·m–2) participated in a strictly controlled repeated-measures bed rest study lasting ten days. High-resolution images were obtained using a hand-held fundus camera at baseline, daily during the 10 days of bed rest, and 1 day after re-ambulation. Retinal vessel analysis was performed using a semi-automated software system to obtain metrics for retinal arteriolar and venular diameters, central retinal artery equivalent and central retinal vein equivalent, respectively. Data analysis employed a mixed linear model. At the end of the bed rest period, a signifcant decrease in retinal venular diameter was observed, indicated by a signifcantly lower central retinal vein equivalent (from 226.1 µm, CI 8.90, to 211.4 µm, CI 8.28, p= .026), while no signifcant changes in central retinal artery equivalent were noted. Prolonged bed rest confnement resulted in a signifcant (up to 6.5%) reduction in retinal venular diameter. These fndings suggest that the changes in retinal venular diameter during bedrest may be attributed to plasma volume losses and refect overall (cardio)-vascular deconditioning. Ključne besede: eyes, retinal venular vessel, venske žile, bed rest, gibalna neaktivnost Objavljeno v DiRROS: 23.11.2023; Ogledov: 1036; Prenosov: 324 Celotno besedilo (1,07 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Participation in youth sports influences sarcopenia parameters in older adultsKaja Teraž, Miloš Kalc, Boštjan Šimunič, Uroš Marušič, Primož Pori, Saša Pišot, Rado Pišot, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: 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. Ključne besede: muscles, muscle disorder, elderly, exercise, sedentarism Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.11.2023; Ogledov: 613; Prenosov: 1591 Celotno besedilo (1,04 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Functional characteristics and subjective disease perception in patients with COVID-19 two months after hospital dischargeKaja Teraž, Boštjan Šimunič, Manca Peskar, Uroš Marušič, Saša Pišot, Luka Šlosar, Mladen Gasparini, Rado Pišot, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction: Although early inpatient and post-hospital rehabilitation is recognized as necessary, not all COVID-19 patients have access to rehabilitation. There are no published reports in the literature that investigate the outcomes of patients who do not receive rehabilitation after COVID-19. Our aim was to evaluate possible improvements in determinate functional and psychological parameters in COVID19 patients two months after their hospital discharge. Methods: On both time points various motor, cognitive, and clinical measurements such as body composition, tensiomyography, blood pressure, spirometry, grip strength test, Timed Up and Go test, gait speed, 30-second chair-stand test, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment, were performed. Additionally, questionnaires such as the SARC-CalF test, Edmonton frail scale, International Physical Activity questionnaire andThe Mediterranean Lifestyle index were conducted to assess lifestyle characteristics. Results: A total of 39 patients (87.2% male; mean age of 59.1 ± 10.3 years), who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 at the Izola General Hospital (IGH), Slovenia between December 2020 and April 2021, were included. Patients were assessed at two time points (T1 and T2): T1 was taken after receiving a negative COVID-19 test and T2 was taken two months after T1. After two months of self-rehabilitation, we have detected a BMI increase (p < .001), fat free mass increase (p < .001), better Edmonton frail scale (p < .001), SARC-CalF score (p = .014) and MoCA score (p = .014). There were no detected changes in lifestyle habits nor in physical performance tests. Discussion: It is already known that COVID-19 has long-term negative consequences regardless of the stage of the disease. Our findings support the notion that patients cannot fully regain all their functions within a two-month period without receiving structured or supervised rehabilitation. Therefore, it is crucial to offer patients comprehensive and structured rehabilitation that incorporates clinical, cognitive, and motor exercises. Ključne besede: pandemics, coronavirus, functional improvement, hospital stay, health perception Objavljeno v DiRROS: 26.07.2023; Ogledov: 642; Prenosov: 331 Celotno besedilo (892,24 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Pathophysiological mechanisms of reduced physical activity : insights from the human step reduction model and animal analoguesFabio Sarto, Roberto Bottinelli, Martino V. Franchi, Simone Porcelli, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Marco Vicenzo Narici, 2023, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Physical inactivity represents a heavy burden for modern societies and is spreading worldwide, it is a recognised pandemic and is the fourth cause of global mortality. Not surprisingly, there is an increasing interest in longitudinal studies on the impact of reduced physical activity on different physiological systems. This narrative review focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms of step reduction (SR), an experimental paradigm that involves a sudden decrease in participants’ habitual daily steps to a lower level, mimicking the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Analogous animal models of reduced physical activity, namely the “wheel-lock” and the “cage reduction” models, which can provide the foundation for human studies, are also discussed. The empirical evidence obtained thus far shows that even brief periods of reduced physical activity can lead to substantial alterations in skeletal muscle health and metabolic function. In particular, decrements in lean/muscle mass, muscle function, muscle protein synthesis, cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function and insulin sensitivity, together with an increased fat mass and inflammation, have been observed. Exercise interventions seem particularly effective for counteracting these pathophysiological alterations induced by periods of reduced physical activity. A direct comparison of SR with other human models of unloading, such as bed rest and lower limb suspension/immobilisation, is presented. In addition, we propose a conceptual framework aiming to unravel the mechanisms of muscle atrophy and insulin resistance in the specific context of reduced ambulatory activity. Finally, methodological considerations, knowledge gaps and future directions for both animal and human models are also discussed in the review. Ključne besede: physical inactivity, cage reduction, insulin sensitivity, muscle atrophy Objavljeno v DiRROS: 29.06.2023; Ogledov: 694; Prenosov: 432 Celotno besedilo (6,91 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. The use of tensiomyography in older adults : a systematic reviewKatarina Puš, Armin Paravlić, Boštjan Šimunič, 2023, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction: Aging of skeletal muscles results in a cascade of events negatively affecting muscle mass, strength, and function, leading to reduced mobility, increased risk of falls, disability, and loss of independence. To date, different methods are used to assess muscle mechanical function, tensiomyography (TMG) being one of them. The aim of this review was twofold: to summarize the evidence-based usefulness of tensiomyography in older adults and to establish reference values for the main tensiomyography parameters in older adults. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and tensiomyography databases were searched from inception until 25 December 2022. Studies investigating older adults (aged 60+ years) that reported tensiomyographyderived parameters such as contraction time (Tc) and/or maximal displacement (Dm) were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: In total, eight studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Tensiomyography has been used on different groups of older adults, including asymptomatic, master athletes, patients with peripheral arterial disease, and patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis with a mean age of 71.5 ± 5.38 (55.7% male subjects). The most evaluated were leg muscles such as vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and biceps femoris (BF). The present review demonstrates that tensiomyography is used to assess neuromuscular function in asymptomatic and diseased older adults. When compared to asymptomatic individuals, power master athletes, knee osteoarthritis patients, and patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease have the shortest Tc in BF, VL, and GM muscles, respectively. On the other hand, endurance master athletes showed the longest Tc in all three evaluated muscles. Less mobile, nursing-home residents showed higher Dm in VL and BF, while lower Dm in GM than the asymptomatic group. The knee osteoarthritis group showed the largest Dm in BF and VL while having the smallest Dm in GM. Conclusion: Tensiomyography can serve as a valuable tool for assessing neuromuscular function in older adults. The method is sensitive to muscle composition, architecture, and (pre) atrophic changes of the skeletal muscles and might be responsive to muscle quality changes in aging and diseased populations. Ključne besede: sport, muscle function, elderly, neuromuscular function, normative values, TMG Objavljeno v DiRROS: 27.06.2023; Ogledov: 591; Prenosov: 354 Celotno besedilo (895,53 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Diagnostic accuracy of tensiomyography parameters for monitoring peripheral neuromuscular fatigueMiloš Kalc, Katarina Puš, Armin Paravlić, Jure Urbanc, Boštjan Šimunič, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The diagnostic accuracy of tensiomyography (TMG) parameters compared to the gold standard in neuromuscular fatigue evaluation using voluntary and electrically induced muscle activation is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of TMG parameters to detect individual changes after interventions that were designed to induce central or peripheral fatigue. Nineteen males (age: 32.2 ± 9.3 years) performed two interventions, consisting of maintaining 25% of maximal voluntary contraction (MViC25%) and a 30 s all-out cycling test (Wingate), respectively. TMG parameters, maximum voluntary contraction (PtMViC), voluntary activation (VA%) and electrically elicited double twitches (Dtw) were assessed on the knee extensors before (PRE), one minute (POST) and seven minutes after (POST7) the intervention. The diagnostic accuracy (AUC) of TMG parameters were evaluated in comparison to two criteria measures (PtMViC and Dtw). RM ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between the effects of intervention and time on VA% (p = 0.001) and Dtw (p < 0.001) but not for PtMViC (p = 0.420). AUC showed that TMG parameters had a good ability in detecting muscular fatigue assessed by Dtw but not by PtMViC. The results of the current study suggest that TMG parameters can be used to monitor peripheral neuromuscular fatigue. Ključne besede: tensiomyography, vastus lateralis, MVC, twitch Objavljeno v DiRROS: 13.06.2023; Ogledov: 667; Prenosov: 330 Celotno besedilo (2,78 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. Effects of COVID-19 on cognition and mood after hospitalization and at 2-month follow-upManca Peskar, Boštjan Šimunič, Luka Šlosar, Saša Pišot, Kaja Teraž, Mladen Gasparini, Rado Pišot, Uroš Marušič, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: A plethora of evidence links SARS-CoV-2 infection with concomitant cognitive dysfunction, which often persists weeks to months after the acute stages of illness and affects executive function, attention, memory, orientation, and movement control. It remains largely unclear which conditions or factors exacerbate the recovery. In a cohort of N=37 Slovenian patients (5 females, aged M = 58, SD = 10.7 years) that were hospitalized because of COVID-19, the cognitive function and mood states were assessed immediately after discharge and 2-months later to investigate the early post-COVID recovery changes. We assessed the global Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Simple and Choice Reaction Times, executive functions (Trail-Making Test – TMT-A and TMT-B), short-term memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test – AVLT), and visuospatial memory. We monitored depressive and anxiety symptoms and applied general self-efficacy and cognitive complaints questionnaires. Our results showed a global cognitive impairment (MoCA, Z = 332.5; p = 0.012), poorer performance on executive functions (TMT-A, Z = 188; p = 0.014; and TMT-B, Z = 185; p = 0.012), verbal memory (AVLT, F = 33.4; p < 0.001), and delayed recall (AVLT7, F = 17.1; p < 0.001), and higher depressive (Z = 145; p = 0.015) and anxiety (Z = 141; p = 0.003) symptoms after hospital discharge compared to 2-month follow-up, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 may transiently impair cognitive function and adversely affect the mood. No improvement in MoCA was observed in 40.5% of the patients at follow-up, indicating possible long-term effects of COVID-19 on global cognitive performance. Medical comorbidities (p = 0.035) significantly predicted the change in MoCA score over time, while fat mass (FM, p = 0.518), Mediterranean diet index (p = .0.944), and Florida Cognitive Activities Score (p = 0.927) did not. These results suggest that the patients’ medical comorbidities at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection could importantly contribute to the acute impairment of cognitive function and stress the importance of systemic implementation of countermeasures to limit the negative consequences on public health. Ključne besede: Coronavirus, recovery, acute respiratory sindrom, cognitive functions, cognitive impairment, MOCA, trail-making test Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.06.2023; Ogledov: 857; Prenosov: 398 Celotno besedilo (643,65 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |