Metformin improves boar sperm quality via 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase-mediated energy metabolism in vitro

Article Sperm requires ATP to function. The study decided to see if metformin, which activates 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase, would improve sperm function, specifically in boars. They found that metformin treated sperm had improvement in “sperm motility parameters, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, p-AMPK, glucose uptake, and lactate efflux.” TL;DR Metformin (typically a diabetic medication) improves…

Dietary fiber intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama Study

Article The study followed 1,892 Japanese people aged 40-79 over the course of 14 years. 280 people over that time period developed diabetes type II. They found that those that had the highest fiber intake had about half the likelihood of developing (0.53) diabetes compared to those who had the lowest fiber intake. They found…

Potently neutralizing and protective human antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

Article The study looked at COVID-19 antigens, specifically the ones related to a “spike” antigen that interacts with ACE2 and helps to infect people. The antibodies specifically were made to prevent interaction of the spike and ACE2. The antibodies were  COV2-2196 and COV2-2130. They were found to act in a synergistic manner with one another. In…

Bicycle-related injuries in the emergency department: a comparison between E-bikes and conventional bicycles: a prospective observational study

Article The study looked at 78 e-bikers and 91 conventional bikers and looked at their injuries. They found that mechanism of injury and general severity was the same for both groups. However, two e-bikers had the most severe injury. They also found that alcohol was consumed twice as often for conventional bikers. TL;DR People who…

Obesity and mortality of COVID-19. Meta-analysis

Article This meta analysis looked at 14 papers out of 572 publications for analysis. They looked at characteristics of patients including ” age, gender, body mass index, severe comorbidities, respiratory support and the critical illness related mortality in COVID.” They found all the characteristics are associated with COVID-19 except for gender. TL;DR Obese people have a higher…

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses Do Not Predict COVID-19 Disease Severity

Article 967 subjects were tested for IgG antibodies against COVID-19. They multiple subgroups of suspected cases, healthy donors, patients with rheumatic disease, and patients positive for polymerase chain reaction. They found PCR and IgG were in agreement in 83% of samples.  The levels of IgG and IgM levels were measured and found to not associate with…

A Multifactorial Approach to Overuse Running Injuries: A 1-Year Prospective Study

Article The prospective study looked at 76 runners, males and females. They kept a running diary for 1 year and were monitored injuries during this time period.   They found injured males tended to be heavier, had greater weekly distances, and greater side to side acceleration. Injured females tended to be heavier, longer flight times, and…

Vitamin D insufficiency as a potential culprit in critical COVID-19 patients

Article They looked at the mean vitamin D serum level of 1,368 patients. The study found 634 patients with poor prognosis and 669 patients with good prognosis. Patients with a poor prognosis  had much lower serum levels of vitamin D than compared to those with good prognosis; this was statistically significant. TL;DR Patients with a…

Cardiopulmonary fitness but not muscular fitness associated with visceral adipose tissue mass

Article They took 99 overweight/obese participants were assessed for cardio and muscular fitness.  Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured with a CT scan and measured cardio and muscular fitness. They found that cardio fitness and not muscular fitness was associated with visceral adipose tissue decreased. However, age, cardio fitness, and muscular fitness were associated…

The effects of one session of roller massage on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: A randomized controlled trial

Article 36 men were asked to perform eccentric actions of the elbow flexors and placed into one of  3 recovery groups (roller, sham, control). They found a single session of roller massage applied on elbow flexors had no effect on recovery of MIVC, muscle swelling, ROM and DOMS. TL;DR Roller massages do not improve recovery