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. The circadian clock machinery comprises a set of rhythmically expressed genes responsible for circadian rhythms. Perturbation of this system contributes to the development of pathological states such as cancer. Several clock genes have been found deregulated upon thyroid nodule malignant transformation. The molecular mechanisms linking circadian clock disruption and TC are still unknown but could include insulin resistance. Circadian misalignment occurring during shift work, jet lag, high fat food intake, is associated with increased insulin resistance. This metabolic alteration, in turn, is associated with a well-known risk factor for TC i.e., hyperthyrotropinemia, which could also be induced by sleep disturbances. In this review, we describe the mechanisms controlling the circadian clock function and its involvement in the cell cycle, stemness and cancer. Moreover, we discuss the evidence supporting the link between circadian clockwork disruption and TC development/progression, highlighting its potential implications for TC prevention, diagnosis and therapy.

Diabetes is a chronic disease. Some complications can be prevented, their effects can be slowed down. Sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity and consequently the predisposition to diabetes II. The article aimed to demonstrate the positive and negative effects of exercise on active and sedentary diabetics and on pathophysiology, evaluating the effects after 3 and 6 months. The study involved 90 participants, both male and female, with type II diabetes, aged 45, divided into two groups: Group A (n=50, sedentary) and Group B (n=40, active). We evaluated anthropometric parameters, blood chemistry values, which are fundamental for the transversal evaluation of the results. In group A improvements were less noticeable than group B. The most improved parameter is blood sugar, Glycemic values and BMI. Cholesterol and Hb1Ac decreased but more slowly than previous parameters. The expectations of the study were, not only in recognizing the therapeutic and preventive powers of exercise, but above all in choosing to program a motor protocol after a team work between diabetologist, sports doctor and kinesiologist and/ or personal trainer. Physical activity is an additional therapy to insulin.

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 (n = 30), placebo (n = 32) and control (n = 28). The experimental group performed a 5 min warm-up, with the sensorimotor training consisting of 60-min specific sensorimotor exercises; the control group was not allowed to perform any sensorimotor training; the placebo group observed a video clip of an individual belonging to the experimental group performing the sensorimotor training accurately. All participants were seen three times per week for 4 weeks. Before and after the entire training, all groups of participants undertook stabilometric parameter assessment. The intervention-mediated sensorimotor training confirmed significant enhancement in the proprioceptive system. Significant improvement in the motor and/or sensory function was observed in the experimental and placebo groups. In conclusion, our findings suggest that specific sensorimotor training performed 3 days per week for 4 weeks could improve postural balance, stability and coordination in healthy individuals.

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 (n = 32) and control (n = 29) groups. The first group wore proprioceptive insoles 8 h a day and performed a detailed training 3 times a week for 8 weeks; the second group only received proprioceptive insoles to wear 8 h a day for 8 weeks. The postural stability parameters (center-of-pressure length, center-of-pressure velocity, and 95% confidence ellipse sway area) included three assessment times: baseline (T₀), intermediate test (T₁), post-test (T₂), and retention test (T₃). Data analysis showed a significant improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group, indicating a large effect size in center-of-pressure length, ellipse sway area, and center-of-pressure velocity at T₂ and T₃ (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that a specific and detailed core stability training plays a significant role in improving balance and postural stability in young tennis players, especially in terms of preventing the risk of injury.

Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by heightened emotional reactivity and increased exposure to stress, particularly in high-contact sports such as rugby. Maladaptive anger expression can negatively affect young athletes’ psychological well-being, behavior, and performance. Mental imagery may support emotional regulation by enabling athletes to rehearse adaptive cognitive and emotional responses. This study examined the effectiveness of a personalized mental imagery training program on imagery ability, resilience, and anger expression in adolescent rugby players and investigated whether resilience mediated the relationship between mental imagery and anger expression. Methods: A total of 120 male adolescent rugby players (mean age = 16.9 ± 2.01 years) were assigned to an experimental group (n = 62) or a time-matched educational control group (n = 58). Results: Mixed-design analyses of variance revealed significant Group × Time interactions for imagery ability, resilience, and anger expression, with medium-to-large effect sizes. Compared with the control group, the experimental group demonstrated greater improvements in imagery vividness and resilience, along with a significant reduction in maladaptive anger expression. Mediation analyses showed that resilience significantly mediated the relationship between mental imagery and anger expression, with full mediation for static imagery and partial mediation for dynamic imagery. Conclusions: Personalized mental imagery training effectively enhances emotional regulation in adolescent rugby players, primarily by strengthening resilience. Imagery-based interventions represent a feasible and effective approach to promoting adaptive emotional regulation and psychological well-being in high-contact youth sports.

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 (n = 8) and control (n = 8). The experimental group performed breathing training for 12 min two times a week for 9 months (from August 2023 to May 2024). Spirometric and baropodometric measurements were recorded every 3 months to evaluate the effects of the protocol. Results. Data analysis showed significant improvements in the forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow indices, and postural parameters in the experimental group. Conclusions. In conclusion, based on the study findings, the specific breathing training protocol developed for post-COVID-19 patients has proven to be effective and significantly impacted the quality of breathing functions and the postural system.