Enhancing Sleep Quality: The Impact of the "Repose Tao" Pillow with Taopatch Nanotechnology-A Pilot Study.

Background: Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disrupt normal sleep patterns and are among the most common clinical challenges faced today. An innovative device that employs nanotechnology to deliver beneficial effects on the human body is the Taopatch (Tao Technologies, Vedelago, Italy). This study aims to assess the effectiveness of such nanotechnology-based devices in improving sleep quality.

Effects of a Specific Proprioceptive Training Program on Injury Prevention and Stress in Basketball Players: A Pilot Study.

: Basketball carries a high risk of both chronic and acute musculoskeletal injuries, affecting various parts of the body. Additionally, stress is a critical factor that influences athletic performance, particularly in high-pressure sports like basketball. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a specific proprioceptive training protocol on professional basketball players.

Effects of different swimming styles on postural assessment in mid-level young swimmers.

It is well-known that swimming purposes to increase the tonic-postural control. Beyond its physiological advantages, swimming also offers an exclusive platform to explore the complex interplay between body biomechanics and posture. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the effects of main swimming styles on postural balance in young athletes.

SpiroTiger and KS Brief Stimulator: Specific Devices for Breathing and Well-Being in Post-COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Post-COVID-19 patients may develop impaired lung function, with reduced lung capacities and volumes, respiratory muscle weakness, and physical inactivity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a detailed protocol based on breathing training with two specifically designed respiratory devices (SpiroTiger and KS Brief Stimulator) in post-COVID-19 individuals.

Methods: Sixteen young volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups: experimental ( = 8) and control ( = 8).

Effects of Proprioceptive Insoles and Specific Core Training on Postural Stability for Preventing Injuries in Tennis.

Tennis is a complex sport based on unpredictability that requires adequate physical and psychological preparation to prevent injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week specific core stability training on postural stability in competitive adolescent tennis players, aged between 14 and 19 years old. Sixty-one participants were randomly allocated into two groups: experimental ( = 32) and control ( = 29) groups.

Short-Term Effects of Specific Sensorimotor Training on Postural Assessment in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study with a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

It is well-known that sensorimotor training aims to increase the performance of the sensorimotor system to maintain an upright position. Through the use of a randomized placebo-controlled trial, the specific aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of a specific session of sensorimotor training on postural balance, stability and coordination in healthy, recreationally active participants. Ninety subjects were randomly allocated into three groups: experimental ( = 30), placebo ( = 32) and control ( = 28).

Functional Properties of Meat in Athletes' Performance and Recovery.

Physical activity (PA) and sport play an essential role in promoting body development and maintaining optimal health status both in the short and long term. Despite the benefits, a long-lasting heavy training can promote several detrimental physiological changes, including transitory immune system malfunction, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, which manifest as exercise-induced muscle damages (EIMDs). Meat and derived products represent a very good source of bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Proposal for a Fitness Program in the School Setting during the COVID 19 Pandemic: Effects of an 8-Week CrossFit Program on Psychophysical Well-Being in Healthy Adolescents.

The Italian government promoted social distancing, in which the suspension of any social event, suspension of all activities practiced in gyms, sports centers and their closure was ordered. The social distancing in the school environment and the use of strategies to limit viral infection are not very compatible with group motor activity and team sports. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of a CrossFit program in order to mitigate the deficits in fitness caused by COVID-19 prevention measures and to evaluate the effects on self-efficacy in a group of young adolescents.

Thyroid Cancer and Circadian Clock Disruption.

Thyroid cancer (TC) represents the most common malignancy of the endocrine system, with an increased incidence across continents attributable to both improvement of diagnostic procedures and environmental factors. Among the modifiable risk factors, insulin resistance might influence the development of TC. A relationship between circadian clock machinery disfunction and TC has recently been proposed.

Use of Saliva in Alternative to Serum Sampling to Monitor Biomarkers Modifications in Professional Soccer Players.

We aimed to investigate the correlation between serum and salivary concentrations of steroid hormones and IgA, and the variation in concentrations of these biomarkers, across a soccer competitive season in a sample of players playing for an Italian major League team. Thirty-five elite male soccer players were recruited and assessed for salivary hormones (cortisol, testosterone, T/C‰ and DHEA-S) and IgA at three different time-points: (t) after the pre-season period and 16 official matches played; (t) after a winter break and three official matches played; (t) 2 days after the final match of the championship and 19 matches played. Players were also tested for blood biomarkers (ser-C, ser-T, ser-T/C‰, ser-IgA, ACTH) at two detection times (t and t).