Experimental evidence in mice models has demonstrated that a high regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RSG2) protein levels precede an insulin resistance state. In the same context, a diet rich in saturated fatty acids induces an increase in RGS2 protein expression, which has been associated with decreased basal metabolism in mice; however, the above has not yet been analyzed in humans. For this reason, in the present study, we examined the association between RGS2 expression and insulin resistance state. The incubation with palmitic acid (PA), which inhibits insulin-mediated Akt Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation, resulted in the increased RGS2 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial-CS (HUVEC-CS) cells. The RGS2 overexpression without PA was enough to inhibit insulin-mediated Akt Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation in HUVEC-CS cells. Remarkably, the platelet RGS2 expression levels were higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients than in healthy donors. Moreover, an unbiased principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that RGS2 expression level positively correlated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and negatively with age and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in T2DM patients. Furthermore, PCA showed that healthy subjects segregated from T2DM patients by having lower levels of HbA1c and RGS2. These results demonstrate that RGS2 overexpression leads to decreased insulin signaling in a human endothelial cell line and is associated with poorly controlled diabetes.

Obesity is thought to be associated with a reduced capacity to increase fat oxidation in response to physical exercise; however, scientific evidence supporting this paradigm remains scarce. This study aimed to determine the interrelationship of different submaximal exercise metabolic flexibility (Metflex) markers and define its association with body fatness on subjects with obesity. Twenty-one male subjects with obesity performed a graded-intensity exercise protocol (Test 1) during which cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and its corresponding exercise intensity (FATmax) were recorded. A week afterward, each subject performed a 60-min walk (treadmill) at FATmax (Test 2), and the resulting fat oxidation area under the curve (TFO) and maximum respiratory exchange ratio (RER_peak) were recorded. Blood lactate (LA_b) levels was measured during both exercise protocols. Linear regression analysis was used to study the interrelationship of exercise Metflex markers. Pearson’s correlation was used to evaluate all possible linear relationships between Metflex and anthropometric measurement, controlling for CRF). The MFO explained 38% and 46% of RER_peak and TFO’s associated variance (p < 0.01) while TFO and RER_peak were inversely related (R² = 0.54, p < 0.01). Body fatness positively correlated with MFO (r = 0.64, p < 0.01) and TFO (r = 0.63, p < 0.01) but inversely related with RER_peak (r = −0.67, p < 0.01). This study shows that MFO and RER_peak are valid indicators of TFO during steady-state exercise at FATmax. The fat oxidation capacity is directly associated with body fatness in males with obesity.

In sports, one of the social agents who can pressure an athlete for perfection in their performance is their coach. However, perfectionism has many potential negative consequences such as excessive concerns over even minor mistakes. The purpose of this study is to test a sequential model: the motivational context (i.e., task- and ego-involving climates generated by the coach and a coach’s support for autonomy) and the facets that determine the level of perfectionism exhibited as a trait (i.e., perceived coach pressure—a facet of socially prescribed perfectionism—and concerns over mistakes—a facet of self-oriented perfectionism). The sample included 317 athletes (133 boys and 184 girls) aged between 10 and 14 years, who answered a battery of questionnaires that evaluated an athlete’s perception of their motivational climate, their perception of support for autonomy, their perceived coach pressure and their concerns over mistakes. Using the structural equations model, the results showed that the task-involving climate was negatively correlated with perceived coach pressure, whereas the ego-involving climate and support for autonomy were positively correlated with perceived coach pressure and were positively correlated with concerns over mistakes. Finally, perceived coach pressure did not influence concerns over mistakes from the motivational context. This study highlights the importance of considering motivational contexts as important motivational elements of perfectionism in youth sports.

Background: Physical exercise (PE) has emerged as a promising intervention for depressive disorder (DD), yet its efficacy and optimal implementation remain under investigation. Objective: To thoroughly assess the effectiveness of supervised PE as a conventional intervention for adults with DD. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Ovid, Web of Science, and Scopus. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010–2025 involving adults with DD without other comorbidities under supervised exercise interventions were selected. Methodological rigor was ensured through two independent reviewers and adherence to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The influence of moderating variables [total work performed (workload) and the instrument used to evaluate DD (instrument)] was analyzed using meta-regression. The pooled effect size was estimated using both frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses. Results: From 15,542 screened records, 20 RCTs were selected. Workload and instrument account for 60% and 15% of the variance in the effect size, respectively. Both frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses showed that supervised PE reduces depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.54–1.11; I² = 76%, and 0.61; 95% CI: −0.06–0.95; I² = 51, respectively). Conclusions: PE could be a valuable complementary intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in adults with depression. PROSPERO (CRD420251121919).

No consensus exists on whether acute aerobic exercise alters the glomerular filtration rate in older adults. Objective: To assess the immediate effects of three aerobic exercise intensities on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in healthy, sedentary older adults. Methods: Eighteen healthy, sedentary older adults (ten men and eight women) voluntarily participated in this study. The participants underwent three standardized aerobic exercise tests (100%, 80%, and 60% of the maximal heart rate) on a bicycle ergometer. Blood samples were collected to determine cholesterol, triacylglycerols, glucose, serum creatinine (Cr), Cystatin C (CysC) concentrations, and eGFR. Results: eGFR and serum concentrations of Cr and CysC were not modified at any exercise intensity. There was a negative correlation between blood total cholesterol vs. eGFR (R = −0.512, R = −0.582, R = −0.531; p < 0.05) at rest, 60%, and 100% of the maximal heart rate, respectively. In addition, a negative correlation existed for age vs. eGFR at 60% of the maximal heart rate (R = −0.516; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Short-duration aerobic exercise of low, moderate, and vigorous intensity did not significantly affect eGFR and is considered safe for kidney function in healthy, sedentary older adults. However, regular monitoring of kidney function in older people engaged in moderate- and high-intensity exercise is advised.

Background: Vertical jump performance is a key determinant of volleyball success. Prior evaluations of complex training in youth have relied largely on frequentist statistics, which can be difficult to interpret in the small cohorts typical of youth sport. Objective: Apply Bayesian inference to evaluate vertical jump kinematics across short- and long-stretch-shortening-cycle modalities following a 9-week complex training program in adolescent female volleyball athletes. Methods: Eight athletes completed a periodized training protocol. Jump kinematics were assessed using a high-frequency force platform, and whole-body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Data were analyzed using Bayesian inference. Results: Bayesian analysis indicated consistent improvements across jump modalities, with Block Volleyball Jump, Countermovement Jump, and Spike Jump heights increasing by 14.4%, 14.4%, and 13.9% (BF₁₀ = 29.7, 27.2, and 126.9, respectively), with peak power increasing in parallel for all three jumps (BF₁₀ = 22.8, 23.1, and 37.6). Whole-body Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) detected no meaningful change in body mass (BF₁₀ = 0.34) or in muscle mass percentage (BF₁₀ = 1.56) over the intervention period. Conclusions: Complex training was associated with increases in jump height across modalities representing different points on the stretch-shortening-cycle continuum. Bayesian inference provided a complementary probabilistic basis for evaluating training-related change in a small cohort. No accompanying change in whole-body composition was detected by BIA; because muscle architecture was not assessed and the design was single-arm without a control group, the mechanism underlying the jump-height changes cannot be determined.