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@#The aim of this review was to document the recently reported prevalence and risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the last ten years. A scoping review of studies released between 2011 and 2021 was done. The main findings on selected studies’ prevalence and risk factors were summarised. Thirty-seven studies in total were chosen. The overall data on COPD prevalence was 1.3-36.7%, and the average incidence rate was 9.1%. The risk factors of COPD prevalence were identified as unchangeable risk factors (gender, age, family history of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and environmental temperature and humidity) and changeable risk factors (outdoor and indoor air pollution, cigarette smoking, occupational exposure, low education, low household income, obesity, underweight, physical inactivity, and cooking method). The highest changeable risk factors were cigarette smoking, indoor air pollution, and occupational exposure. In contrast, the lowest changeable risk factors were physical inactivity and cooking methods. Changeable risk factors significantly increase COPD risks. The COPD caused by household emissions from biofuel cooking in low-income rural areas deserves attention. Emphasis on healthy lifestyle interventions and economic and educational policies to reduce environmental impacts may prevent COPD.
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@#Aim and design: L-carnitine supplementation combined with exercise may enhance metabolic responses and improve exercise performance. Thus, this systematic review article aims to identify the effects of the L-carnitine supplement on biochemical markers, and exercise performance when combined with exercise. Data Sources: The articles are screened and reviewed based on titles, abstracts and keywords. Only peer-reviewed studies written in the English language, dated January 2000 to March 2021, were considered in this review. Review Methods: The PRISMA method is used for this study. PubMed, EBSCOHost, SpringerLINK, and Scopus databases were used to systematically search. Results: From a search 731 articles, 12 articles were identified related to effect of L-carnitine intake with exercises on biochemical markers and exercise performance. Studies showed that L-carnitine supplementation can be consumed daily during aerobic or anaerobic exercises by different population including patients. Its combination could improve serum lipid profiles, antioxidant properties, markers of metabolic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory, and exercise performance. Conclusion and Impact: This review provides information regarding the beneficial effects of L-carnitine supplement with recommended dosages and exercise prescriptions on overall body health in human.
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@#Introduction: Proper nutrition is important for the health and performance of athletes. However, a lack of knowledge might lead to negative attitude and poor dietary practices. This study aimed to determine the levels of nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among male gymnasium users in Jordan. Methods:A total of 138 male gymnasium users (21.1±2.8 years) from Jordan were recruited. Their height, weight, body mass index, and age were recorded. The KAP-Sports nutrition questionnaire that contains 25 questions regarding knowledge on basic sports nutrition, 12 questions regarding usual food choices and practices, and 20 questions on attitude towards nutrition and sports-enhancing diet were administrated. Descriptive and Pearson correlation analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: Majority of the participants had moderate knowledge on sports nutrition (77.6%), neutral attitude (84.7%), and fair dietary practice (67.4%). Mean score for knowledge, attitude and practice were 18.1±2.6, 58.8±6.2, and 29.7±3.6, respectively. There was significant, weak correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=0.18, p=0.048), as well as between knowledge and practice (r=0.20, p=0.018). Conclusion: Knowledge is important to affect positive attitude and good dietary practices. However, gymnasium users in Jordan did not have a high level of knowledge that could lead to their positive attitude and good dietary practices. Thus, sports nutrition education is recommended to ensure that adequate and correct knowledge are disseminated to gymnasium users.
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@#Introduction: This study investigated the combined effects of bee pollen and resistance training on aerobic capacity, muscular performance, antioxidant status, and bone metabolism markers among young men. Methods: Forty young men were randomly assigned into four groups: sedentary control (C), bee pollen supplementation (BP), resistance training (RT), and combined bee pollen supplementation and resistance training (BPRT) groups. Bee pollen was consumed by participants in BP and BPRT groups (1500 mg daily for eight weeks). Resistance training was performed thrice per week for eight weeks in RT and BPRT groups. Participants’ anthropometry, aerobic capacity, isokinetic muscular peak torque (strength), and average power were measured. Concentrations of serum total antioxidant status (TAS), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (1CTP) were determined. Results: After eight weeks of intervention, there was a significant decrease in 1CTP in BP group. In RT group, significant increases were observed in both muscular strength and power. In BPRT group, significant increases in both muscular strength and power, and a significant decrease in 1CTP were observed after 8 weeks. There were no significant changes in aerobic capacity, serum TAS, SOD, and ALP in all the study groups. Conclusion: Resistance training using dumbbells and elastic bands seemed to elicit beneficial effects on muscular strength and power, while bee pollen supplementation alone reduced the level of bone resorption marker. In addition, combining bee pollen with resistance training seemed to offer additive benefit in muscular strength and power.
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@#Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases is a field that is developing rapidly and attracting increasing attention. Studies exploring the effects of shockwave therapy on enthesopathy have resulted in equivocal findings. Therefore, the purpose of this review article is to collectively review and analyze published literature on the effects of shockwave therapy on enthesopathy in human studies. This is a literature review study however, systematic search was performed on Scopus, EBSCOhost (Medline, CINAHL, and Sport Discus), and Google Scholar databases. The search resulted in 112 articles, nine relevant articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis in this review. Shockwave therapy can be safe and effective to reduce pain, improve functions and activities as it accelerates the entheses healing. The exact mechanisms of shockwave therapy on enthesopathy are still debatable. Further investigation is needed to confirm and validate the findings of previous related studies.
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@#Introduction: This study investigated the effect of combined plant-based protein supplementation and resistance training on muscular strength, blood markers of protein catabolism, immune function, and bone metabolism in sedentary adult males. Methods: In this randomised, double-blinded study, 28 healthy males aged 19 – 29 years old were equally assigned into four groups: a combined plant-based protein with resistance training (PBPEX), plant-based protein alone (PBP), resistance training alone (EX) and control (C). Mode of resistance training was flat barbell press, machine shoulder press, wide grip lateral pull-down, seated cable row, barbell back squat, leg press and leg extension. The 8-week resistance training involved three sets of 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) at 4-6 repetition/set/mode per session, three sessions/week. Participants in PBPEX and PBP groups consumed a plant-based protein supplement consisted of 9.8 g soy and pea protein for seven days/week. Results: PBPEX showed significant increases (p<0.01) in the knee and shoulder flexion peak torque compared to EX groups, respectively. PBP showed a significantly higher level (p<0.05) of serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) compared to other groups. There were no changes in immune function and bone metabolism markers between pre- and post-exercise in all groups. Conclusions: These findings implied that a combination of plant-based protein supplementation and resistance training elicited greater beneficial effects on muscular strength than resistance training alone and plant-based protein supplementation alone. Therefore, combined plant-based protein with resistance training may be recommended in planning exercise and nutritional programme for sedentary male adults.
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Eurycoma longifolia Jack [ElJ] has been shown to elevate serum testosterone and increased muscle strength in humans. This study investigated the effects of Physta a standardized water extract of ElJ [400 mg/day for 6 weeks] on testosterone: epitestosterone [T:E] ratio, liver and renal functions in male recreational athletes. A total of 13 healthy male recreational athletes were recruited in this double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. The participants were required to consume either 400 mg of ElJ or placebo daily for 6 weeks in the first supplementation regimen. Following a 3 week wash-out period, the participants were requested to consume the other supplement for another 6 weeks. Mid-stream urine samples and blood samples were collected prior to and after 6 weeks of supplementation with either ElJ or placebo. The urine samples were subsequently analyzed for T:E ratio while the blood samples were analyzed for liver and renal functions. T:E ratio was not significantly different following 6 weeks supplementation of either ElJ or placebo compared with their respective baseline values. Similarly, there were no significant changes in both the liver and renal functions tests following the supplementation of ElJ. Supplementation of ElJ i.e. Physta at a dosage of 400 mg/day for 6 weeks did not affect the urinary T:E ratio and hence will not breach any doping policies of the International Olympic Committee for administration of exogenous testosterone or its precursor. In addition, the supplementation of ElJ at this dosage and duration was safe as it did adversely affect the liver and renal functions