1. Myotonometric assessment of achilles tendon and gastrocnemius stiffness in recreationally active young adults : reliability, impact of sex, and links to linear sprintMatic Sašek, Petra Brnelić, Žiga Kozinc, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: This study examined the relationship between passive Achilles tendon (AT) and gastrocnemius (GAS) stiffness, measured by myotonometry, and 40-m sprint performance across acceleration and maximal velocity phases, while accounting for sex differences. Twenty-one student athletes (10 males, 11 females) underwent bilateral passive stiffness assessments of the AT and GAS using MyotonPRO, followed by 40-m sprint testing with 10, 20, 30, and 40 m splits. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). Sex differences were examined with independent t-tests. Partial correlations controlling for sex were used to assess associations between passive stiffness and sprint performance. Passive stiffness and sprint variables demonstrated excellent within-session reliability (ICC = 0.95–0.99; CV < 5%). Males showed significantly greater passive GAS stiffness bilaterally (p = 0.006–0.049) and faster sprint times at 30 m (p = 0.040) and 40 m (p < 0.001), while passive AT stiffness did not differ significantly between sexes. Partial correlations indicated that greater passive AT stiffness in both legs was associated with faster sprint times at 10 m (r = -0.46 and -0.58, p = 0.008 and 0.043) and 20 m (r = -0.49 and -0.58, p = 0.008 and 0.029). No associations were observed at 30 m or 40 m, nor between passive GAS stiffness and sprint performance. Myotonometry provides reliable measures of AT and GAS stiffness. Greater passive AT stiffness is associated with faster acceleration sprint performance independent of sex.
Ključne besede: stiffness, muscle, tendon, sprint
Objavljeno v RUP: 06.04.2026; Ogledov: 232; Prenosov: 9
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2. Targeting skeletal muscle melatonin-MT2 signaling to attenuate the obesity-cancer axis : a metabolic perspectiveMihaela Jurdana, Lovro Žiberna, 2026, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Obesity and metabolic syndrome promote malignancies through chronic inflammation and sustained activation of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling. Skeletal muscle is central to this tumor-promoting milieu because it governs insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, lipid oxidation, and endocrine crosstalk. This narrative review explores whether melatonin signaling in skeletal muscle, particularly via melatonin receptor 2 (MT2), represents a modifiable node within the obesity–cancer axis. Experimental evidence indicates that melatonin activates MT2-linked Gi/o and calcium-sensitive pathways converging on phosphoinositide 3-kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K–Akt), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II–adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase–peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (CaMKII–AMPK–PGC-1α) signaling. These pathways enhance insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, and lipid partitioning while reducing myosteatosis and cellular stress. By improving muscle quality, melatonin may lower systemic insulin and IGF-1 drive and inflammatory adipokine tone that fuel tumor-promoting PI3K–Akt–mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. However, human evidence remains limited and timing-dependent. Melatonin exposure in the fed state or near carbohydrate intake may worsen glycemia, particularly in carriers of melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) risk alleles. Chronobiology-informed, genotype-guided trials with detailed muscle phenotyping and cancer-relevant endpoints are warranted.
Ključne besede: melatonin, melatonin receptor 1, melatonin receptor 2, melatonin receptor 1A gene, melatonin receptor 1B gene, skeletal muscle, insulin resistance, myosteatosis, sarcopenic obesity, myokines, obesity-related cancer
Objavljeno v RUP: 26.03.2026; Ogledov: 340; Prenosov: 21
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3. High prevalence of probable sarcopenia and its associations with nutrition, cognitive, and physical function in hospitalized patients with Alzheimer’s clinical syndrome : a cross-sectional studyVesna Simič, Nina Mohorko, Polona Rus Prelog, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Background: Probable sarcopenia, indicated by low handgrip strength, is a prevalent condition among hospitalized older adults and may reflect broader functional and nutritional decline. Methods: We examined differences in nutritional, functional, and cognitive status between Alzheimer’s clinical syndrome (ACS) patients with probable sarcopenia and those without sarcopenia. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 194 hospitalized older adults with ACS. Probable sarcopenia was defined using European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) handgrip strength thresholds. Results: Patients with probable sarcopenia (n = 137) had significantly lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), albumin, hemoglobin, and gait speed compared to those without. After age and sex adjustment, MMSE (p = 0.023), GNRI (p = 0.002), hemoglobin (p = 0.022), albumin (p = 0.003), and gait speed (p < 0.001) remained significantly different. In the sex- and age-adjusted multivariable model (adjusted R2 = 0.442), higher nutritional risk (β = 0.26, p = < 0.001), lower MMSE scores (β = 0.17, p = 0.029), polypharmacy (β = −4.20, p = 0.002), and slower gait speed (β = 4.12, p = 0.010) were associated with reduced handgrip strength. In the multivariable binary logistic regression model (adjusted for age and sex), moderate or high nutritional risk and slow gait speed emerged as independent predictors of probable sarcopenia, with OR 5.14 (95% CI 1.34–19.75; p = 0.017) and OR 3.13 (95% CI 1.30–7.52; p = 0.011), respectively. Conclusions: Probable sarcopenia in hospitalized older adults with ACS is highly prevalent and is associated with higher nutritional risk, poorer cognitive and physical function, and polypharmacy; its early recognition may help to guide more targeted nutritional and functional interventions.
Ključne besede: sarcopenia, muscle strength, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive function, gait speed, nutrition risk
Objavljeno v RUP: 25.01.2026; Ogledov: 477; Prenosov: 2
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4. Effects of different lifting strategies during resistance training on lower body function in untrained adult women : a comparison between 6-weeks of 10% velocity loss and standard resistance trainingMatic Sašek, Hana Golob, Nejc Šarabon, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Introduction: This study investigated whether velocity-based resistance training provides additional benefits to lower limb performance compared to standard exercise execution. Methods: Twenty untrained adult women (37–55 years) were randomly assigned to two resistance training groups to perform resistance training with three sets of four lower body exercises per week for 6 weeks. The number of repetitions and lifting velocity differed between the groups. One group performed lower body exercises with maximal intent and a 10% velocity loss threshold termination (VB10%; n = 10), while the other group performed 10 repetitions at a standard 1:2 s concentric:eccentric tempo (STD; n = 10). The number of repetitions was recorded during the sessions. Before and after the intervention, power, muscular endurance and dynamic stability of the lower limbs were assessed using the mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and power (MPP) at 70% one-repetition maximum in the squat and deadlift, the Y-balance test (YBT) and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (STS), respectively. A two-way analysis of variance was used to assess the effects of time, group, and their interaction. Results: The difference between 10 repetitions in the STD and repetitions in the VB10% was assessed using a one-sample t-test. Both groups significantly improved MPP, MPV, YBT and STS [mean difference (MD) ≥5.4%; effect size (ES) ≥0.6]. Although 2.5–2.7 less repetitions were performed in VB10%, the improvements in MPP and MPV were slightly greater (ES ≥ 1.2 vs. ≥ 0.8). Conversely, STS and YBT improved more in STD (ES ≥ 0.4 vs. ≥ 1.0). Discussion: Regardless of the lifting method used, the training intervention improved lower limb power, muscular endurance and dynamic stability, indicating that resistance training is an effective strategy for enhancing these capacities in untrained adult women. Using 10% threshold may be a more time-efficient strategy for improving lower-limb power in this population and could represent a promising approach for mitigating early declines in power over time.
Ključne besede: adult women, dynapenia, muscle performance, power, powerpenia, resistance training, strength, velocity loss
Objavljeno v RUP: 14.01.2026; Ogledov: 574; Prenosov: 7
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5. The impact of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophyNevena Markov, Matevž Arčon, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Female reproductive hormones such as progesterone and estrogen play an important role in the body as they orchestrate functions of numerous cells including skeletal muscle cells. Onset of menses marks the beginning of reproductive life, whereas menopause marks its cessation. We distinguish three phases of the 28-day menstrual cycle namely follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. The follicular phase is characterised by marked increases in estrogen, which triggers ovulation. During this phase, estrogen peaks, whereas progesterone levels are low. Following ovulation, the luteal phase commences marked by high progesterone levels and reduced estrogen. Indeed, these periodic fluctuations in reproductive hormones may affect rates of muscle protein synthesis and hence hinder sought adaptations such as skeletal muscle hypertrophy in female athletes. With the introduction of hormonal contraceptives, female athletes were able to have ameliorate the negative effects of the menstrual cycle by reducing menstrual cramping and bleeding. Hormonal contraceptives are constituted of a single or multiple synthetic hormones namely estrogen and progestin. Nevertheless, the impact of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophy remains elusive. In this review, we aim to present the potential implications of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
Ključne besede: hormonal contraceptives, estrogen, progesterone, muscle hypertrophy, menstrual cycle, resistance training
Objavljeno v RUP: 07.01.2026; Ogledov: 489; Prenosov: 16
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6. Circular RNAs and their emerging roles in muscular immune-related diseasesFelicita Urzi, Anja Srpčič, Katja Lakota, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently emerged as a highly stable and versatile class of non-coding RNAs that play critical roles in gene regulation, yet their involvement in immune-mediated muscle disorders remains largely underexplored. This review synthesizes how circRNAs influence key processes in both skeletal muscle and immune cells, from myogenesis, regeneration, and muscle stem cell function to inflammatory signaling and muscle wasting. Our aim was to identify circRNA insights across muscle immune-mediated diseases. However, we found no idiopathic inflammatory myopathy-focused circRNA studies, only a limited body of work in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and predominantly peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based evidence in myasthenia gravis. These gaps highlight clear priorities: subtype-resolved circRNA atlases for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy; paired muscle–biofluid and cell-type–resolved profiling (including infiltrating immune populations); rigorous in vivo functional validation beyond correlative expression; fuller mechanistic delineation beyond miRNA competition (e.g., RNA binding protein interactions, translation, epigenetic regulation); and longitudinal cohorts linking circRNA dynamics to disease activity and treatment response. We particularly noted lack of in-depth studies addressing the interplay between muscle and immune cells in these conditions. Furthermore, we examine pioneering efforts to engineer circRNAs as therapeutic agents, capable of either neutralizing pathogenic pathways that drive muscle atrophy or restoring dystrophin expression in genetic disease models. Finally, we outline future directions for circRNA profiling in patient tissues and biofluids, rigorous functional validation in vivo, and the development of circRNA-based diagnostics. This positions circRNAs at the forefront of next-generation strategies for understanding and combating immune-related muscular disorders.
Ključne besede: circular RNA, skeletal muscle, immune cells, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis
Objavljeno v RUP: 18.11.2025; Ogledov: 619; Prenosov: 3
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7. The usefulness of a body shape index in assessing muscle function and strength in older adults hemodialysis patients : aBojan Knap, Boštjan Žvanut, Lucija Brezočnik, Mihaela Jurdana, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Objective: This study investigates the relationship between a new anthropometric measure, the Body Shape Index (ABSI), and body composition and biochemical parameters in hemodialysis patients and, for the first time, the correlation between ABSI and muscle strength and function in these patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 80 patients who were regularly treated in the hemodialysis unit of a single medical center of the University Hospital of Ljubljana, Slovenia. General anthropometric parameters body mass index (BMI) and ABSI=(WC/(BMI2/3x height½) as well as body composition data (fat mass FM, fat-free mass FFM, fat-free mass index FFMI, skeletal muscle index SMI) were determined in 25 women (aged 74.5 ± 7.5 years) and 55 men (aged 70.1 ± 6.6 years) with overweight (25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Muscle strength was determined using a hand grip strength test, while muscle performance was assessed using the sit-to-stand test. Results: ABSI was significantly negatively associated with muscle strength, functional tests and SMI only in men. Based on the median ABSI value (0.090273 m11/6·kg−2/3 in women and 0.090893 m11/6·kg−2/3 in men), women with a higher ABSI had a significantly higher glucose concentration than those with a lower ABSI. Men with a lower ABSI obtained significantly better results in the hand grip test, sit-to-stand test and waist circumference (WC). In conclusion, our findings suggest an inverse association between ABSI and muscle strength and function in male hemodialysis patients, indicating that higher ABSI may reflect poorer physical condition in this population. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the clinical significance of this relationship.
Ključne besede: hemodialysis, muscle strenght, sarcopenia
Objavljeno v RUP: 10.11.2025; Ogledov: 620; Prenosov: 7
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8. Radiation-induced impairment of skeletal muscle regenerationMaja Čemažar, Mihaela Jurdana, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Background. Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment for various cancers, but often causes collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue, including skeletal muscle. Ionizing radiation leads to oxidative stress and inflammation, which impairs the regenerative capacity of muscle tissue. Irradiation reduces the number and functionality of satellite cells and disrupts the tightly regulated processes of myogenesis and tissue remodelling. In addition, irradiation alters the muscle microenvironment by promoting fibrosis and vascular damage, which further impedes effective regenera-tion. Cytokine signalling pathways are also dysregulated following irradiation, contributing to impaired activation and differentiation of satellite cells. Conclusions. There is evidence that factors such as melatonin and growth factors can improve muscle regenera-tion. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the impairment of muscle regeneration after radiotherapy is crucial for the development of targeted strategies to mitigate side effects and improve patients’ qual-ity of life. Overall, the preservation and restoration of muscle function in irradiated tissue remains a critical challenge that requires multidisciplinary approaches
Ključne besede: skeletal muscle, radiotherapy, muscle regeneration, melatonine
Objavljeno v RUP: 11.09.2025; Ogledov: 702; Prenosov: 1
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9. Sport-specific shoulder rotator adaptations : strength, range of motion, and asymmetries in female volleyball and handball athletesManca Lenart, Žiga Kozinc, Urška Čeklić, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: This study aimed to compare isometric strength, range of motion (RoM), and strength ratios of shoulder internal and external rotators between female volleyball and hand ball players Twenty-five volleyball players (age = 21.8 ± 4.8 years, height = 178.5 ± 7.1 cm, mass = 69.3 ± 7.7 kg) and twenty-four handball players (age = 19.5 ± 2.9 years, height = 169.7 ± 6.4 cm, mass = 67.6 ± 8.4 kg), all competing in the Slovenian 1st national league, participated. Maximal isometric strength and passive RoM of internal and external rotation were measured bilaterally using a handheld dynamometer and goniometer, respectively. A significant group × side interaction was observed for internal rotation RoM (F = 5.41; p = 0.024; η2 = 0.10), with volleyball players showing lower RoM on the dominant side (p = 0.001; d = 0.89), but this was not the case for handball players (p = 0.304). External rotation strength also showed a significant interaction (F = 9.34; p = 0.004; η2 = 0.17); volleyball players were stronger in the non-dominant arm (p = 0.033), while handball players were stronger in the dominant arm (p = 0.041). The external-to-internal rotation strength ratio was significantly lower on the dominant side in volleyball players compared to handball players (p = 0.047; d = 0.59). Findings suggest sport-specific adaptations and asymmetries in shoulder function, emphasizing the need for sport-specific and individually tailored injury prevention strategies. Volleyball players, in particular, may benefit from targeted strengthening of external rotators and flexibility training to address imbalances.
Ključne besede: isometric testing, joint asymmetry, injury prevention, overhead athletes, muscle balance
Objavljeno v RUP: 31.07.2025; Ogledov: 1155; Prenosov: 34
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10. "Lifting more" is associated with lower risks of depression in university studentsKang Ai, Kimberley Curtin, Kaja Kastelic, Cain Clark, Si-Tong Chen, Chi Xinli, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: college students, depression, mental health, muscle strengthening activity
Objavljeno v RUP: 09.11.2021; Ogledov: 2636; Prenosov: 27
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