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- Impact of yoga training on heart rate variability and pilot performance: a randomized controlled trialPublication . Santos, Sara; Melo, Filipe; Fernandes, Orlando; Parraca, José AlbertoBackground Piloting military aircraft demands precise execution of maneuvers under high-stress conditions. Yoga has been proposed as a potential intervention to enhance stress management, operational performance, and flight safety in pilots. However, its effects on stress resilience and performance metrics need further investigation. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 18 pilots were randomly assigned to either a Yoga intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=8). Heart rate variability (HRV) measures were analyzed to evaluate physiological stress responses. Performance variables, including completion times for flight maneuvers and number of errors during emergency protocol, were also assessed before and after a 12-week intervention period. Results HRV analysis showed improvements in stress resilience, indicated by changes in heart rate variability (HRV) parameters such as standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF). The Wilcoxon rank test revealed significant results regarding performance variables within the Yoga group, particularly for the Touch & Go maneuver (p=0.016) and the emergency maneuver (p=0.039), with large effect sizes (0.9444 and 0.8333, respectively). While completion times were longer for the Yoga group, indicating a more careful approach, the number of errors significantly decreased (p=0.025, effect size=0.917), with a notable reduction observed in the Yoga group compared to controls. Conclusion Incorporating yoga into pilot training protocols holds promise for better executive/cognitive functions, enhancing stress management and operational performance, reducing the number of errors, and leading to increased flight safety. While yoga may lead to longer completion times for maneuvers, the significant reduction in errors and improvements in stress resilience highlight its potential benefits. However, careful consideration is needed to balance improved precision with operational efficiency.
- Targeting trypanothione synthetase and Trypanothione reductase: development of common inhibitors to tackle Trypanosomatid diseasePublication . Augusto, André; Costa, Inês; Conceição, Jaime; Cristiano, Maria de LurdesNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) encompass a range of disorders, including infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins, mainly affecting underprivileged individuals in developing countries. Among the NTDs, those caused by parasites belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family are particularly impacting and require attention, since the lack of financial incentives has led to constraints on the development of novel drugs to tackle them effectively. To circumvent the minor advances in drug discovery in this area, academic research emerges as a crucial player, namely through the identification and validation of new drug targets, thereby contributing to the development of more efficient, safe, and less expensive therapies against Trypanosomatidae infections. Noteworthy, this is a matter of utmost urgency since these diseases are endemic in countries with low socioeconomic standards. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the current paradigm of NTDs caused by parasites belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family, addressing the ongoing limitations and challenges associated to the current chemotherapy solutions for these diseases and discussing the opportunities unravelled by recent research that led to the identification of new biomolecular targets that are common to Trypanosomatidae parasites. Among these, the unique properties of Trypanothione Synthetase (TryS) and Trypanothione Reductase (TryR), two key protozoan enzymes that are essential for the survival of Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites, will be emphasised. In addition to a critical analysis of the latest advances in the discovery of novel molecules capable of inhibiting TryS and TryR, the possibility of dual targeting through a combination of TryS and TryR inhibitors will be addressed.