A heads up on concussions: are there sex-related differences?

Head injuries are a major concern for physicians in athletes of all ages. Specifically, sports-related concussions are becoming an all-too-common injury among female athletes. The incidence of concussions among female athletes has likely increased over the past few decades because of an increase in sports participation afforded by Title IX. It would be useful for physicians to have general knowledge of concussions and their potential sex-related differences. This review article summarizes the current body of research concerning sex-related differences in concussion epidemiology and outcomes. A literature search was performed using PubMed and included all articles published from 1993 to present, with a predominant focus on research conducted over the past fifteen years. Additional articles were found using the bibliography from articles found through the PubMed search. Several articles have compared incidence, severity of neurological deficit, constellation of symptoms, and length of recovery post-concussion in males and females. However, the literature does not unanimously support a significant sex-related difference in concussions. Lack of consensus in the literature can be attributed to differences between patient populations, different tools used to study concussions, including subjective or objective measures, and differences in mechanisms of injury. We conclude that concussions are a serious injury in both male and female athletes, and physicians should have a very high index of suspicion regardless of sex, because there currently is not sufficient consensus in the literature to institute sex-related changes to concussion management. Current research may suggest a sex-related difference pertaining to sports-related concussions, but further evaluation is needed on this topic.     

有益于脑健康的运动及方案

世界各国都将面临人口老龄化的危险,随之而来的困惑就是脑疾病的增多,脑健康问题已得到全世界的广泛关注和重视。运动预防、治疗脑疾病的作用主要体现在对神经元的变化和对心脑血管及免疫力的作用上。本文主要针对有益于脑健康运动作出适当建议和方案。     

The effect of astaxanthin supplementation on performance and fat oxidation during a 40 km cycling time trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate whether supplementation with 12 mg?day^?1 astaxanthin for 7 days can improve exercise performance and metabolism during a 40 km cycling time trial.DesignA randomised, double-blind, crossover design was employed.MethodsTwelve recreationally trained male cyclists (VO_2peak: 56.5 ± 5.5  mL?kg^?1?min^?1, W_max: 346.8 ± 38.4  W) were recruited. Prior to each experimental trial, participants were supplemented with either 12 mg?day^?1 astaxanthin or an appearance-matched placebo for 7 days (separated by 14 days of washout). On day 7 of supplementation, participants completed a 40 km cycling time trial on a cycle ergometer, with indices of exercise metabolism measured throughout.ResultsTime to complete the 40 km cycling time trial was improved by 1.2 ± 1.7% following astaxanthin supplementation, from 70.76 ± 3.93 min in the placebo condition to 69.90 ± 3.78 min in the astaxanthin condition (mean improvement = 51 ± 71 s, p = 0.029, g = 0.21). Whole-body fat oxidation rates were also greater (+0.09 ± 0.13 g?min^?1, p = 0.044, g = 0.52), and the respiratory exchange ratio lower (?0.03 ± 0.04, p = 0.024, g = 0.60) between 39–40 km in the astaxanthin condition.ConclusionsSupplementation with 12 mg?day^?1 astaxanthin for 7 days provided an ergogenic benefit to 40 km cycling time trial performance in recreationally trained male cyclists and enhanced whole-body fat oxidation rates in the final stages of this endurance-type performance event.