Frontiers in Physiology

Background Sarcopenia represents a prevalent and clinically significant complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), featuring insidious onset and diagnostic complexity. Elucidating the underlying pathogenic factors of CKD-related sarcopenia and constructing reliable predictive models are critical to optimizing clinical prognosis and patient outcomes. Methods This study enrolled two independent …

Introduction Smoltification involves distinct morphological, physiological and behavioral changes in Atlantic salmon, yet skin barrier function has not been functionally assessed throughout this transition. Method We measured electrophysiological parameters at three life stages — parr, smolt, and post-smolt — to assess changes in skin permeability and transport capacity. Results Parr skin showed …

Pulmonary edema is excessive liquid accumulation in the alveolar air spaces and interstitium. This reduces gas exchange leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Clearance of pulmonary edema fluid relies on reabsorption into the alveolar interstitium and then either to the alveolar capillaries or to the lung lymphatics. How it reaches the lymphatics has been a puzzle since 1896. Our 2D model …

Objective We aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week high intensity interval Nordic walking (HII-NW) and strength training (ST) intervention compared to standard lifestyle (CG) on selected obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) biomarkers in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity. Methods This study adopted a quasi-randomized controlled design, in which the experimental groups received HII…

Striated muscles exhibit remarkable structural and functional specialization that enables precise control of force production, contractile kinetics, and energetic efficiency. Although vertebrate skeletal and cardiac muscles have been extensively studied, comparative analyses across animal phyla reveal that many molecular and biophysical principles governing muscle performance are deeply conserved…

Introduction The glenohumeral joint plays a key role in force generation during tennis strokes. Neuromuscular adaptations in this joint are critical for performance and injury prevention, particularly during rapid phases of movement. However, there is limited research on these adaptations in young female tennis players. Therefore, this study aimed to examine differences in glenohumeral neuromuscu…

East African and Norwegian endurance training systems have both produced world-class distance runners, despite substantial differences in how training is organized, regulated, and executed. East African training is commonly characterized by group-based execution, variable pacing, fartlek-style sessions, and internally regulated intensity, often within altitude-associated environments. In contrast…

Introduction Shao-Ma-Zhi-Jing Granules (SMZJ) is clinically used for Tourette syndrome (TS). This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of SMZJ on the immune system and gut microbiota of the 3,3’-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN)-induced TS rat model. Methods Immune-related indicators were detected by flow cytometry, western blotting, ELISA and qRT-PCR. Gut microbiota composition was analyz…

Objectives To identify the practical heart rate measurement windows by examining the impact of various heart rate ranges on changes in cardiac function in small animal models of health and disease under isoflurane anesthesia using cardiac ultrasonography. Methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were used to produce a model of post-myocardial infarction heart failure by left anterior descending artery li…

Epidemiological evidence demonstrates that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has evolved into one of the most widespread chronic liver disorders globally, posing a serious public health challenge. From a mechanistic perspective, the initiation of MASLD is predominantly fueled by multiple factors. Multiple pathological processes, including insulin resistance, oxidati…

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) significantly increases the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) through distinct pathogenic mechanisms. This study develops a machine learning (ML) model to improve AF prediction in patients with HCM and investigates electrophysiological abnormalities and non-traditional factors as preclinical predictors. The findings aim to inform early warning…

PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a mitochondrial serine/threonine kinase that orchestrates ubiquitin-dependent mitophagy together with the E3 ligase Parkin. Both physiological and pathological conditions rapidly recruit PINK1, and timely PINK1 degradation in healthy mitochondria determines whether it supports or harms the cell. Thus, the tight regulation of PINK1 balances its negative effects. In…

Purpose This study aimed to compare the effects of resistance training programs combining different load intensities with blood flow restriction (BFR), alongside a traditional high-load resistance training condition, on athletic performance in male tactical personnel. Methods Sixty healthy male tactical personnel with systematic resistance training experience were randomly assigned to four groups…

Background The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing in China. Previous studies link sarcopenia and visceral adiposity to GERD, but most models lack CT-based body composition data. This study aims to improve the identification of Reflux esophagitis (RE) by applying machine learning (ML) to third lumbar vertebra cross-sectional CT (L3-CT) images for quantitative …

The under-representation of women in clinical studies remains a major issue, recognized by researchers, patients, and legislators alike. In this review, we examine the key legislative documents that have shaped policies governing the exclusion and inclusion of women in clinical research over the past several decades, and their impact on seminal cardiovascular studies. We focus on early federal hu…

Background Acute injuries are common in rugby and threaten both player health and career longevity. Previous studies often focused on isolated risk factors, while limited research has comprehensively examined the interplay of physiological, environmental, and situational variables. Methods Study conducted A cohort study of 40 elite male players from the Tianjin Rugby Team was conducted, monitorin…

Accurate classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals plays a critical role in the automated diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. However, ECG recordings are often non-stationary and susceptible to various types of noise, which makes robust feature extraction challenging for many existing deep learning models. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a hierarchical pyramidal residual ne…

Background High-load resistance training (HL-RT) is commonly utilized to enhance performance in competitive table tennis athletes. Low-load blood flow restriction training (BFR-RT) has emerged as an alternative approach under lower mechanical loads. Considering the importance of explosive power and rapid movements in table tennis, it is essential to evaluate how BFR-RT compares with traditional H…

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing worldwide, underscoring the need for noninvasive, repeatable biomarkers for accurate clinical stratification. This review synthesizes recent advances in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for MASLD phenotyping, spanning attenuation-based metrics (e.g., controlled attenuation parameter, tissue attenuation imaging, ultrasound…

Background Squatting is essential for daily activities but may risk knee injury due to excessive loads. Tai Chi squatting (TCS), characterized by slow, controlled movements, is hypothesized to reduce joint load compared to standard squatting (SS), though biomechanical comparisons remain scarce. This study aimed to biomechanically compare TCS and SS, with a focus on knee joint kinematics, kinetics…