Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants

BACKGROUND

Several reviews have examined the health benefits of participation in specific sports, such as baseball, cricket, cross-country skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, football, golf, judo, rugby, running and swimming. However, new primary studies on the topic have recently been published, and the respective meta-analytic evidence needs to be updated.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review, summarise and appraise evidence on physical health benefits of participation in different recreational sports.

METHODS

Searches for journal articles were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SpoLit, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science. We included longitudinal and intervention studies investigating physical health outcomes associated with participation in a given sport among generally healthy adults without disability.

RESULTS

A total of 136 papers from 76 studies conducted among 2.6 million participants were included in the review. Our meta-analyses of available evidence found that: (1) cycling reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 16% (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 0.89), all-cause mortality by 21% (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.84), cancer mortality by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96) and cardiovascular mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86); (2) football has favourable effects on body composition, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular function at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone strength (p < 0.050); (3) handball has favourable effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.050); (4) running reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.85), cancer mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality by 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.94) and improves body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.010); and (5) swimming reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and improves body composition and blood lipids (p < 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

A range of physical health benefits are associated with participation in recreational cycling, football, handball, running and swimming. More studies are needed to enable meta-analyses of health benefits of participation in other sports. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021234839.

Prevalence of HLA B27 in Patients Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) in Diyarbakır, Southeastern Region of Turkey

AIM

The research to be conducted on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Diyarbakır between 2019-2021 is to contribute to the understanding of the prevalence and effect of this genetic marker in the local population. As a researcher working on HLA-B27 and AS, our focus is to research the following. HLA-B27 Prevalence: To determine the prevalence of HLA-B27 in patients diagnosed with AS during the specified period in Diyarbakır. This information can provide insight into the genetic factors associated with the disease in the local population. Disease Severity: Investigate the relationship between HLA-B27 positivity and severity of AS symptoms. To examine factors such as disease progression, pain levels, functional impairment, and quality of life in HLA-B27 positive patients compared to HLA-B27 negative patients. By Genetic Associations: To enable the discovery of potential genetic relationships between HLA-B27 and other genetic markers known to be associated with AS. To investigate whether there are any specific genetic variants associated with HLA-B27 that contribute to disease susceptibility or severity. Researchers: We recommend considering the following approaches to generate knowledge on this topic globally: Literature Review: Conducting a comprehensive review of the available scientific literature on HLA-B27 and AS. It is to describe relevant studies conducted globally and summarize their findings to provide a broader understanding of the subject. Collaboration and Data Sharing: To encourage cooperation with researchers from other regions or countries doing similar studies on HLA-B27 and ASs. By sharing our data and collaborating on analysis, we can improve the global perspective and generalizability of your findings. International Conferences and Journals: Presenting our research findings at international conferences focusing on rheumatology, genetics or related fields. To disseminate our findings globally is to submit your research articles to reputable journals specializing in AS or genetic studies. Online Platforms: Using online platforms such as Researchgate.net, academia.edu or social media networks to share our research findings, connect with other researchers in the field and participate in discussions on a global scale. By using these fields, it is possible to contribute to the global knowledge and understanding of the relationship between HLA-B27 and AS. It is also to obtain insights from studies carried out in other regions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

198 (104 male and 94 female) patients who applied to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic with AS symptoms between 2019-2021 and were referred to Dicle University Medical Biology and Genetics Department for evaluation. HLA-B27 positivity was included in our study as a case group. As the control group, 50 people (25 males, 25 females) were selected among the unrelated people who applied to our laboratory to be a bone marrow donor. In both groups, DNA isolation was performed from peripheral blood using the salt precipitation method. Rotar Gene Q device was used for real-time PCR analysis. As a statistical method in analysis; The prevalences of the variables of interest were calculated. The lower and upper limits of 95% were determined as the confidence interval. According to the presence of HLA 27 positivity, the mean of ESR, CRP, and age variables were compared. Mann-Whitney U test was used due to the small number of subjects. Also, correlations between ESR and CRP were calculated. Spearman rho correlation statistics were used as a statistical method. Analyzed.

RESULT

Radiological examinations and laboratory tests were performed on 198 patients with suspicion AS and 50 healthy control group of 248 subjects. The prevalence of those with a definite diagnosis of AS was calculated as statistical analysis recalculated 20.16 (95% CI: 0.76-0.9552). The prevalence of HLA-B27 in 50 patients diagnosed with AS as a result of radiological examinations and laboratory tests was calculated as 92%.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first study covering the province of Diyarbakır in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, which we think will contribute to the literature in the evaluation of HLA-B27 positivity in AS patients. The prevalence of HLA-B27 in our region is higher than the prevalence in Turkey.

P08-09 The promotion of walking through nudging. Evaluation of the app „Time2Walk“

Background

Walking is an appropriate mode to increase or maintain the physical activity behavior. However, physically inactive adults often need support in order to increase their physical activity level. The aim of the presentation is to inform about the nudging framework within the app Time2Walk, the recruitment of the study participants for both time points, and the development of the walking behavior over time.

Methods

The study participants were recruited via social media, press releases, advertising material and personal contacts. A pre-post single group study design was applied using an online questionnaire before and after the intervention.

The intervention refers to a not so distant dystopian future where the city Graz (Austria) suffers from pollution, traffic chaos as well as climate change. Via regular walking as well as visiting places such as parks or other points of interest the users of the app were rewarded with tokens and could contribute to reversing the pollution. Four different types of behavioral nudges were applied during the use of Time2Walk in order to motivate people to walk more: awareness-raising (information about health and traffic related effects), social (information about guided walking tours), rewarding (token-based rewards), and stabilizing (daily walking targets) nudges.The app was developed as a central hub for conveying the nudges and for raising the players' awareness. By means of Wilcoxon-tests, changes in behavior categories were investigated.

Results

Three hundred and forty seven people registered and 145 (42%) filled in the first questionnaire: 65% women, mean age 32 years (SD ±11) and 57% > high-school certificate. Of those, 31 (21%) filled in the the questionnaire a second time. Based on the stages of the Transtheoretical Model as well as on subjective assessment of the weekly walking behavior participants significantly raised their frequency of walking (20% increased walking from 4 or less days/week to ≥ 5 days/week).

Conclusions

Different interdisciplinary expertise is essential for the development of the app-prototype including the nudging framework. Despite push-notifications, reminders through the newsletter and social media the response rate was low. In general, the nudging framework was successful in the increase of the perceived walking behavior.

Protective Effects of Carvacrol Against Methotrexate-induced Liver Toxicity in Rats

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether carvacrol (CAR) pretreatment reduces the severity of methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

METHODS

A total of 24 rats were equally divided into three groups : group I, control ; group II, MTX-treated ; and group III, CAR+MTX-treated. On Day 1 group III received a one-time intraperitoneal dose of CAR (73 mg/kg), and on Day 2 both groups II and III received a single dose of intraperitoneal MTX (20 mg/kg). The rats were then sacrificed so to harvest blood and liver tissue samples to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Histological specimens were examined via light microscopy.

RESULTS

Levels of MDA, ALT, AST and ALP in rat liver tissue samples were significantly higher in the MTX-treated group relative to the control group. However, TAS was significantly reduced in the MTX-treated group when compared to controls. Pretreating rats with CAR counteracted the effect of MTX exposure as MDA was significantly decreased and TAS was elevated in liver tissues when contrasted with the MTX-treated group. Furthermore, histological examination demonstrated significant liver injury in the MTX-treated group versus the CAR+MTX group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment with CAR markedly diminished liver damage induced by MTX. Therefore, CAR administration preceding MTX treatment might be a promising therapeutic modality to prevent and/or lessen the extent of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and cortisol in young women with primary fibromyalgia: the potential roles of depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in the occurrence of hypocortisolism

OBJECTIVES

To investigate abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and cortisol concentrations in young women with primary fibromyalgia (FM); and to determine whether depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance affect these hormones.

METHODS

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and cortisol concentrations in 63 women with FM were compared with those in 38 matched healthy controls; all subjects aged <35 years. The depression rate was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and patients with high and low BDI scores were compared. Additionally, patients were divided according to sleep disturbance and fatigue and compared both with healthy controls and within the group.

RESULTS

No significant differences in FSH, LH, oestradiol, prolactin, and progesterone levels were found between patients with FM and controls, but cortisol levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (p<0.05). Cortisol levels in patients with high BDI scores, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were significantly lower than in controls (p<0.05). Correlation between cortisol levels and number of tender points in all patients was significant (r = -0.32, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Despite low cortisol concentrations in young women with FM, there is no abnormality in HPG axis hormones. Because fatigue, depression rate, sleep disturbance, and mean age of patients affect cortisol levels, these variables should be taken into account in future investigations.

Sex and thyroid hormone status in women with rheumatoid arthritis: are there any effects of menopausal state and disease activity on these hormones?

There has been considerable interest in the role of hormones in the aetiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to investigate sex and thyroid hormone conditions according to menopausal state and disease activation in RA women. Fifty-four women with RA were included in the study. Age-matched 28 women with low back pain were used as controls. Sex and thyroid hormones were evaluated in all patients, which included the measurement of estradiol (E2), progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total (T) and free (F) triiodothyronine (T3) and (T) and (F) thyroxine (T4). The RA patients were subdivided according to their pre-menopausal and post-menopausal status and their disease activation conditions. Mean age was 45.68 (+/-12.5) in women (aged 22-70) with RA and 42.39 (+/-12.45) in controls (aged 22-62). There were no significant differences in sex hormones, but there were statistically significant higher levels of TT3 and TT4 in whole women with RA compared to controls. Lower concentrations of FSH were detected in active RA patients. There were statistically lower concentrations of LH and higher concentrations of TT3 and TT4 in pre-menopausal RA women, while lower concentrations of FSH were detected in post-menopausal RA women. TT3 and FT3 levels of pre-menopausal RA women were significantly higher than post-menopausal RA women. There were no significant differences for all other hormones studied. In conclusion, sex and thyroid hormones have been influenced in women with RA. Reproductive and menopausal conditions should be taken into consideration when sex and thyroid hormones studies are carried out in RA women.