The effect of leg dominance and landing height on ACL loading among female athletes

Female athletes are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A neuromuscular imbalance called leg dominance may provide a biomechanical explanation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the side-to-side lower limb differences in movement patterns, muscle forces and ACL forces during a single-leg drop-landing task from two different heights. We hypothesized that there will be significant differences in lower limb movement patterns (kinematics), muscle forces and ACL loading between the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Further, we hypothesized that significant differences between limbs will be present when participants land from a greater drop-landing height. Eight recreational female participants performed dominant and non-dominant single-leg drop landings from 30 to 60 cm. OpenSim software was used to develop participant-specific musculoskeletal models and to calculate muscle forces. We also predicted ACL loading using our previously established method. There were no significant differences between dominant and non-dominant leg landing except in ankle dorsiflexion and GMED muscle forces at peak GRF. Landing from a greater height resulted in significant differences among most kinetics and kinematics variables and ACL forces. Minimal differences in lower-limb muscle forces and ACL loading between the dominant and non-dominant legs during single-leg landing may suggest similar risk of injury across limbs in this cohort. Further research is required to confirm whether limb dominance may play an important role in the higher incidence of ACL injury in female athletes with larger and sport-specific cohorts.     

The effects of Achilles tendon compliance on triceps surae mechanics and energetics in walking

Achilles tendon (AT) compliance can affect the generation and transmission of triceps surae muscle forces, and thus has important biomechanical consequences for walking performance. However, the uniarticular soleus (SOL) and the biarticular (GAS) function differently during walking, with in vivo evidence suggesting that their associated fascicles and tendinous structures exhibit unique kinematics during walking. Given the strong association between muscle fiber length, velocity and force production, we conjectured that SOL and GAS mechanics and energetic behavior would respond differently to altered AT compliance. To test this, we characterized GAS and SOL muscle and tendon mechanics and energetics due to systematic changes in tendon compliance using musculoskeletal simulations of walking. Increased tendon compliance enlarged GAS and SOL tendon excursions, shortened fiber operation lengths and affected muscle excitation patterns. For both muscles, an optimal tendon compliance (tendon strains of approximately 5% with maximum isometric force) existed that minimized metabolic energy consumption. However, GAS muscle-tendon mechanics and energetics were significantly more sensitive to changes in tendon compliance than were those for SOL. In addition, GAS was not able to return stored tendon energy during push-off as effectively as SOL, particularly for larger values of tendon compliance. These fundamental differences between GAS and SOL sensitivity to altered tendon compliance seem to arise from the biarticular nature of GAS. These insights are potentially important for understanding the functional consequences of altered Achilles tendon compliance due to aging, injury, or disease.     

The influence of agonist premotor silence and the stretch-shortening cycle on contractile rate in active skeletal muscle

Agonist premotor silence (PMS), a brief period of relative quiescence in active skeletal muscle prior to phasic activation, was investigated in subjects performing maximal contractions. The frequency of occurrence and potential function of the silent period were examined for elbow flexions and extensions. PMS was evident for movements in both directions, indicating that the mechanism is not primarily limited to extensors as previously hypothesized. Flexions demonstrating PMS exhibited increased velocity and acceleration; however, kinematic facilitation was only evident on trials exhibiting the muscular stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). The SSC was present on trials lacking PMS, demonstrating that biceps and triceps silence are not the sole determinants of preparatory agonist lengthening for elbow flexions and extensions, respectively. Taken together, the data indicate that agonist PMS is a mechanism under apparent central control that acts concomitantly with mechanical factors to potentiate elbow flexor contractions.     

The effect of fatigued internal rotator and external rotator muscles of the shoulder on the shoulder position sense

The purpose of this study was to investigate which muscle group, the agonist or antagonist, contributes most to the shoulder position sense (SPS). The SPS was tested under 2 conditions: fatigued shoulder internal rotator (IR) muscles (pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi) and fatigued external rotator (ER) muscles (infraspinatus). In each condition, the SPS was measured before and after a fatiguing task involving the IR or ER muscles by repeating shoulder joint rotation. SPS was measured using a method in which subjects reproduced a memorized shoulder joint rotation angle. The position error values in all conditions (fatigued IR and ER muscles) and measurement periods (before- and after-fatigue task) were compared using 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures (IR/ER × before/after). Position error increased significantly after both fatigue tasks (before- vs. after-fatigue: IR muscle, 2.68° vs. 4.19°; ER muscle, 2.32° vs. 4.05°). In other words, SPS accuracy decreased when either the agonist or antagonist muscle was fatigued. This finding indicated that SPS may be affected by an integrated information of the afferent signals in the agonist and antagonist muscles.     

The effect of adapting speed,duration, and distance on the tactile motion aftereffect

We investigated the effect of adapting speed, duration, and distance on the frequency of occurrence, duration, and vividness of the tactile motion aftereffect (tMAE). Using a cylindrical drum with a patterned surface we adapted the glabrous surface of the right hand at two speeds (14 and 28 cm/s) and three durations (60, 120, and 240 s). Distance was explored in the interaction of adapting speed and duration. The results showed that the frequency of occurrence, duration, and vividness of the tMAE increased with adapting speed. There was also a positive relationship between adapting duration and the frequency of occurrence, but not the duration or vividness, of the illusion. Distance was only a factor when it came to the duration of the tMAE. Taken together, these results show the importance of adapting parameters, particularly speed, on the tMAE.     

The effect of thyroid hormones on the aerobic development of locomotor and cardiac muscles in the barnacle goose

The role of thyroid hormones in the development of the locomotor and cardiac muscles of the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) was investigated. From 2 weeks of age, goslings were treated with thyroxine, triiodothyronine, or methimazole (a thyroid inhibitor). Birds were killed at 6 weeks (n = 5) or 9 weeks (n = 4) and various locomotor and cardiac muscle masses recorded and tissue samples taken for analysis of citrate synthase activity. The effects of thyroxine and triiodothyronine were not significantly different from each other, except in the case of the iliofibularis at 9 weeks. The mass-specific citrate synthase activity of the iliofibularis, semimembranosus muscles and liver were significantly increased by thyroid hormone treatment. Cardiac muscle showed a significant hypertrophy at 9 weeks of age following treatment with thyroxine. Hypothyroidism induced by treatment with methimazole exhibited the greatest effect on the pectoralis muscle, reducing citrate synthase activity by 33%. Mass-specific citrate synthase activity of the pectoralis and pectoralis mass (% body wt.) were found to be highly correlated (r ² = 0.74) at 6 weeks of age. It is suggested that thyroid hormones may be involved in controlling the tissue-specific timing of the maturation of locomotor and cardiac muscles. Accepted: 16 September 1996     

The effect of starvation on the ultrastructure of the red and white myotomal muscles of the crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

Summary The effect of 16 weeks total starvation on the ultrastructure of the red and white myotomal muscles of the crucian carp (Carassius Carassius) has been investigated. In the white fibres the amount of myofibrillar material fell from 89.6% to 70.7% of the total fibre volume whilst in the red fibres the fall was from 72.2% to 70.3%. The sarcoplasmic reticulum appeared to have become swollen during starvation in both fibre types. In the white fibres the terminal cisternae of some triads seem to have fused. The volume of the red fibres occupied by mitochondria was reduced from 16.2 % to 5.9 %. The concentration of mitochondria in the white fibres was too low to detect any quantitative changes. A marked reduction in the amount of euchromatin material was observed in most white fibre nuclei and many red fibre nuclei. Many of the ultrastructural changes noted in the present study can be correlated with biochemical changes known to occur in the red and white myotomal muscles of fish during starvation. This work was supported by a grant from the Natural Environmental Research Council.     

The management of episiotomy technique and its effect on pelvic floor muscles during a malposition childbirth

Vaginal childbirth is the leading cause of pelvic floor muscles injury, which contributes to pelvic floor dysfunction, being enhanced by fetal malposition. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to verify the influence of mediolateral episiotomies in the mechanics of the pelvic floor with the fetus in occiput posterior position when compared to the occiput anterior position. Numerical simulations of vaginal deliveries, with and without episiotomy, are performed based on the Finite Element Method. The biomechanical model includes the pelvic floor muscles, a surface to delimit the anterior region of the birth canal and a fetus. Fetal malposition induces greater extension of the muscle compared to the normal position, leading to increases of stretch. The faster enlargement may be responsible for a prolonged second stage of labor. Regarding the force required to achieve delivery, the difference between the analyzed cases are 35 N, which might justify the increased need of surgical interventions. Furthermore, episiotomy is essential in reducing the damage to values near the ones obtained with normal position, making the fetal position irrelevant. These biomechanical models have become extremely useful tools to provide some understanding of pelvic floor function during delivery helping in the development of preventative strategies.     

The effect of fixed charge density and cartilage swelling on mechanics of knee joint cartilage during simulated gait

The effect of swelling of articular cartilage, caused by the fixed charge density (FCD) of proteoglycans, has not been demonstrated on knee joint mechanics during simulated walking before. In this study, the influence of the depth-wise variation of FCD was investigated on the internal collagen fibril strains and the mechanical response of the knee joint cartilage during gait using finite element (FE) analysis. The FCD distribution of tibial cartilage was implemented from sodium (²³Na) MRI into a 3-D FE-model of the knee joint (“Healthy model”). For comparison, models with decreased FCD values were created according to the decrease in FCD associated with the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) (“Early OA” and “Advanced OA” models). In addition, a model without FCD was created (“No FCD” model). The effect of FCD was studied with five different collagen fibril network moduli of cartilage. Using the reference fibril network moduli, the decrease in FCD from “Healthy model” to “Early OA” and “Advanced OA” models resulted in increased axial strains (by +2 and +6%) and decreased fibril strains (by −3 and −13%) throughout the stance, respectively, calculated as mean values through cartilage depth in the tibiofemoral contact regions. Correspondingly, compared to the “Healthy model”, the removal of the FCD altogether in “NoFCD model” resulted in increased mean axial strains by +16% and decreased mean fibril strains by −24%. This effect was amplified as the fibril network moduli were decreased by 80% from the reference. Then mean axial strains increased by +6, +19 and +49% and mean fibril strains decreased by −9, −20 and −32%, respectively. Our results suggest that the FCD in articular cartilage has influence on cartilage responses in the knee during walking. Furthermore, the FCD is suggested to have larger impact on cartilage function as the collagen network degenerates e.g. in OA.     

The effect of the menstrual cycle on collagen metabolism,growth hormones and strength in young physically active women

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle on strength, functioning of the GH/IGF-1 axis and collagen metabolism in physically active women. Twenty-four physically active and eumenorrheic women volunteered to participate in the study (body mass 60.3 ± 9.18 kg, age 21.8 ± 0.92 years). Blood samples were obtained between the 5th and 8th days (the follicular phase) and between the 19th and 22th days (the luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle to determine sex steroid concentrations (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P)). Also insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and collagen metabolism markers (synthesis (PICP) and breakdown (ICTP)) and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were measured. MVC was higher in the luteal phase 164.1 ± 34.77 [N m] (F(1.23) = 4.59; p = 0.043). The recorded collagen synthesis marker (PICP = 296.4 ± 35.61 [ng/ml]) was at the upper level of the reference range (30–300), with an insignificant decrease in the luteal phase (Z = 1.612; p = 0.107) and a significant increase in oestradiol concentration (Z = 4.286; p = 0.0001). The marker of collagen breakdown (ICTP = 4.16 ± 0.68 [μg/l]) was reduced by 6.8% in the same phase (Z = 1.764; p = 0.137). The variability of physical abilities (MVC) during the menstrual cycle showed that menstrual status should be taken into account in determination of the training loads. Increasing the load in the luteal phase seems to be favoured by a beneficial change in collagen metabolism (lower synthesis decrease, lower breakdown increase) observed in physically active women.     

The influence of touchdown conditions and contact phase technique on post-flight height in the straight handspring somersault vault

In vaulting the gymnast must generate sufficient linear and angular momentum during the approach and table contact in order to complete the rotational requirements in the post-flight phase. This study investigated the effects of touchdown conditions and contact technique on peak post-flight height of a straight handspring somersault vault. A planar seven-segment torque-driven computer simulation model of the contact phase in vaulting was evaluated by varying joint torque activation time histories to match three performances of a straight handspring somersault vault by an elite gymnast. The closest matching simulation was used as a starting point to optimise peak post-flight height of the mass centre for a straight handspring somersault. It was found that optimising either the touchdown conditions or the contact technique increased post-flight height by 0.1 m whereas optimising both together increased post-flight height by 0.4 m above that of a simulation matching the recorded performance. Thus touchdown technique and contact technique make similar contributions to post-flight height in the straight handspring somersault vault. Increasing touchdown velocity and angular momentum lead to additional post-flight height although there was a critical value of vertical touchdown velocity beyond which post-flight height decreased.     

The influence of steroids on vascular tension of isolated superficial veins of the nose and face during the estrous cycle of gilts

The arrangement of the superficial facial veins enables blood flow from the nasal cavity into the peripheral circulation by two pathways: through the frontal vein into the cavernous sinus and through the facial vein into the external jugular vein. The current study was designed to determine whether estradiol and progesterone affect the vascular tone of the superficial veins of the nose and face in cycling gilts (Sus scrofa f. domestica) and to analyze the immunolocalization of progesterone receptors and estradiol receptors in these veins. The influence of hormones on vascular tension differed depending on the type of vessel and the phase of the estrous cycle. Estradiol decreased vascular tension in the nasal vein during the follicular phase (P < 0.05) and increased tension in the frontal vein during the luteal phase (P < 0.05). Progesterone increased the vascular tension of the frontal vein (P < 0.05) and decreased the tension of the other veins (P < 0.05) in both phases of the cycle. Expression of estradiol receptor β but not of progesterone receptor was observed in the superficial veins of the nose and face. In conclusion, the effect of ovarian steroid hormones on the vascular tension of the superficial veins of the nose and face in female pigs as well as the reactivity of these veins to steroid boar pheromones can affect the blood supply from the nasal cavity to the venous cavernous sinus. We propose that the ovarian steroid hormones that modulate the vascular tension of the nasal and facial veins may also influence the action of boar pheromones absorbed into the nasal mucosa in gilts and may reach the brain via local destination transfer.     

流感病毒感染对小鼠肠道菌群的影响及桑叶的调节作用

【摘 要】 目的 探讨流感病毒对肠道菌群的影响以及桑叶提取物在治疗小鼠流感时对肠道菌群的调节作用。方法 将36只小鼠随机分为4组,正常对照组滴鼻生理盐水,其余以流感病毒鼠肺适应株FM1滴鼻3 d,建立流感小鼠模型后,正常对照组和病毒对照组灌胃生理盐水,另2组分别以高剂量(500 mg/kg)和低剂量(100 mg/kg)灌胃桑叶提取物,连续5 d。每天检测小鼠体重,并于病毒感染前、感染后及灌胃处理后3次无菌收集小鼠粪便,培养并计数小鼠粪便中肠杆菌、肠球菌、乳酸杆菌和双歧杆菌。结果 小鼠在感染病毒后体重明显降低,桑叶提取物治疗后体重降低的趋势有所减缓。小鼠肠道菌群在感染流感后有明显的变化,但桑叶提取物治疗后肠道菌群的恢复不明显。结论 流感病毒感染能引起小鼠肠道菌群的失调,桑叶不显示调节肠道菌群的效果,表明其对流感的治疗不通过调节肠道菌群平衡来发挥作用。     

The effect of isoflurane during reoxygenation on the sarcoplasmic reticulum and cellular injury in isolated ventricular myocytes

In contrast to pretreatment with isoflurane its benefit when applied during reperfusion in rat hearts was only modest. As cellular injury during reoxygenation is greatly determined by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium [Ca2+] handling we investigated the effect of isoflurane after simulated ischemia in rat ventricular myocytes. Hypoxic metabolic inhibition was induced by exposure to an acidic medium (pH: 6.3) containing deoxyglucose. Ambient pO2 was reduced to <15 mm Hg. After 30 min, cells were reoxygenated for 30 min with a glucose containing medium (pH: 7.4) in air (Air) or in the presence of isoflurane (Iso), or two SR blockers, i.e. either 3 microM ryanodine (Rya) or 10 microM of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). During inhibition, diastolic cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) increased and systolic cell shortening decreased. [Ca2+]i further increased in all groups towards the end of reoxygenation. However, [Ca2+]i in the Iso and the Rya group climbed twice as high as in the Air and the CPA group (P < 0.05). Hypercontracture occurred in 23% and 18% in the Iso and the Rya and in 10% and 9% in the Air and the CPA group, respectively (P < 0.05). Cell relengthening and shortening was impaired in Iso, Rya, and CPA treated cells (P < 0.05 vs. Air). Isoflurane given solely during reoxygenation appears to augment cellular injury. Its action seems to be blockade of SR Ca2+ release and Ca2+ efflux. SR Ca2+ overload induces spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations that cause hypercontracture. However, [Ca2+]i does not independently govern cellular systolic and diastolic dysfunction.     

The effect of training on endurance and the cardiovascular responses of individuals with paraplegia during dynamic exercise induced by functional electrical stimulation

Endurance for dynamic exercise, cardiac output, blood pressure, heart rate, ventilation, and oxygen consumption was measured in eight individuals with paraplegia at the end of 4-min bouts of exercise on a friction braked cycle ergometer. Movement of the subjects' legs was induced by electrically stimulating the quadriceps, gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles with a computer-controlled biphasic square--wave current at a frequency of 30 Hz. The friction braked cycle ergometer was pedalled at work rates which varied between 0 and 40 W. Measurements were repeated after 3 and 6 months to assess the affect of training. After 3 months of training it was found that endurance increased from 8 min at a work rate of 0 W to 30 min at a work rate of 40 W. Compared to the cardiovascular responses in non-paralyzed subjects, computerized cycle ergometry was found to be associated with higher relative stresses for a given level of absolute work. Mean blood pressure, for example, increased by over 30% during maximal work in individuals with paralysis compared to the typical response obtained for able-bodied subjects. Analysis of the data showed that instead of the 20-30% metabolic efficiency commonly reported for cycle ergometry, the calculated metabolic efficiency during computer-controlled cycle ergometry was only 3.6%.     

The effect of jasmonic acid on the accumulation of ABA,proline and spermidine and its influence on membrane injury under water deficit in two barley genotypes

Seedlings of two barley genotypes (‘Maresi’ and wild form of Hordeum spontaneum) were treated with jasmonic acid (JA 5 μM and 15 μM) for 24 h, and then subjected to water stress (PEG 6000 solution of − 1.5 MPa). JA caused an increase in the content of ABA but not in that of proline and spermidine in the two studied genotypes. The effect of the treatment did not depend on the applied JA concentration. The pre-stress treatment with JA changed plant response to water deficit with regard to membrane injury. Treatment with a lower JA concentration (5 μM) caused a substantial reduction of the stress-induced membrane damage in the both genotypes. A higher JA concentration (15 μM) caused the reduction of membrane injury only in H. spontaneum and was ineffective in ‘Maresi’. JA had no influence on the leaf water status in water-stressed plants. A possible role of JA in leaf ABA accumulation and alleviation of cell membrane injury under water deficit is discussed. The work was partly supported by the Polish Committee For Scientific Research, grant No 5 PO6A 036 18     

The effect of the Asp175Asn and Glu180Gly TPM1 mutations on actin-myosin interaction during the ATPase cycle

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), characterized by cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction, is a major cause of heart failure. HCM can result from mutations in the gene encoding cardiac α-tropomyosin (TM). To understand how the HCM-causing Asp175Asn and Glu180Gly mutations in α-tropomyosin affect on actin-myosin interaction during the ATPase cycle, we labeled the SH1 helix of myosin subfragment-1 and the actin subdomain-1 with the fluorescent probe N-iodoacetyl-N′-(5-sulfo-1-naphtylo)ethylenediamine. These proteins were incorporated into ghost muscle fibers and their conformational states were monitored during the ATPase cycle by measuring polarized fluorescence. For the first time, the effect of these α-tropomyosins on the mobility and rotation of subdomain-1 of actin and the SH1 helix of myosin subfragment-1 during the ATP hydrolysis cycle have been demonstrated directly by polarized fluorimetry. Wild-type α-tropomyosin increases the amplitude of the SH1 helix and subdomain-1 movements during the ATPase cycle, indicating the enhancement of the efficiency of the work of cross-bridges. Both mutant TMs increase the proportion of the strong-binding sub-states, with the effect of the Glu180Gly mutation being greater than that of Asp175Asn. It is suggested that the alteration in the concerted conformational changes of actomyosin is likely to provide the structural basis for the altered cardiac muscle contraction.     

The effect of altered sink-source relations on photosynthetic traits and matter transport during the phase of reproductive growth in the annual herb <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium album</Emphasis>

Annual plants transport a large portion of carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds from leaves to seeds during the phase of reproductive growth. This study aimed to clarify how reproductive growth affects photosynthetic traits in leaves and matter transport within the plant in the annual herb Chenopodium album L. Plants were grown in pots and either reproductive tissues or axillary leaves were removed at anthesis. Matter transport was evaluated as temporal changes in dry mass (as a substitute of carbohydrates) and nitrogen content of aboveground organs: leaves, axillary leaves, stems and reproductive tissues. Photosynthetic capacity (light-saturated photosynthetic rate under ambient CO₂ concentration), nitrogen, chlorophyll and soluble protein content were followed in the 20^th leaf that was mature at the start of the experiment. Removal of reproductive tissues resulted in accumulation of dry mass in leaves and axillary leaves, and accumulation of nitrogen in stem as nitrogen resorption from leaves and axillary leaves proceeded with time. Removal of axillary leaves proportionally reduced dry mass and nitrogen allocation to reproductive tissues, thus affecting the quantity but not quality of seeds. Removal treatments did not alter the time course of photosynthetic capacity, nitrogen, chlorophyll or soluble protein content during senescence in the 20^th leaf, but changed the photosynthetic capacity per unit of leaf nitrogen according to demand from reproductive tissues. Together, the results indicate that reproductive tissues affected carbon and nitrogen economy separately. The amount of carbon was adjusted in leaves through photosynthetic capacity and carbohydrate export from them, and the amount of nitrogen was adjusted by transport from stem to reproductive tissues. The plant’s ability to independently regulate carbon and nitrogen economy should be important in natural habitats where the plant carbon-nitrogen balance can easily be disturbed by external factors.