No effect of menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive use on endurance performance in rowers

The aim of this study was to examine whether variables commonly used in aerobic exercise testing are influenced by menstrual cycle phases and use of oral contraceptive (OC) in female rowers. Twenty-four eumenorrheic female rowers distinguished on the basis of both menstrual status and athleticism participated in this study and were divided into competitive cyclic athletes (n = 8), recreationally trained cyclic athletes (n = 7), and recreationally trained athletes taking OC pills (ROC; n = 9). Rowers performed 2 incremental tests to voluntary exhaustion on a rowing ergometer during 2 different phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular phase (FP) and the luteal phase (LP). The study variables were power output (Pa), heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), minute ventilation (VE), the mean respiratory exchange ratio, and ventilatory equivalents of O2 (VE/VO2)) and CO2 (VE/VCO2), which were measured at maximal and at the aerobic-anaerobic transition intensities. In addition, maximal blood lactate (La) values after the test were obtained. When comparing Pa, &OV0312;o2, HR, and La values, no significant differences (p > 0.05) between FP and LP at maximal load and at threshold intensity were found in all 3 groups of the rowers studied. However, we observed higher values (p < 0.05) for VE/VCO2 at both intensities in LP compared with FP in the ROC group. In conclusion, sport-specific endurance performance was not influenced by the phase of the normal menstrual cycle and the synthetic menstrual cycle of the OC users in the rowers studied. Therefore, normally menstruating female rowers and female rowers taking OC pills should not be concerned about the timing of their menstrual cycle with regard to optimized sport-specific endurance performance.     

Calcaneus length determines running economy: implications for endurance running performance in modern humans and Neandertals

The endurance running (ER) hypothesis suggests that distance running played an important role in the evolution of the genus Homo. Most researchers have focused on ER performance in modern humans, or on reconstructing ER performance in Homo erectus, however, few studies have examined ER capabilities in other members of the genus Homo. Here, we examine skeletal correlates of ER performance in modern humans in order to evaluate the energetics of running in Neandertals and early Homo sapiens. Recent research suggests that running economy (the energy cost of running at a given speed) is strongly related to the length of the Achilles tendon moment arm. Shorter moment arms allow for greater storage and release of elastic strain energy, reducing energy costs. Here, we show that a skeletal correlate of Achilles tendon moment arm length, the length of the calcaneal tuber, does not correlate with walking economy, but correlates significantly with running economy and explains a high proportion of the variance (80%) in cost between individuals. Neandertals had relatively longer calcaneal tubers than modern humans, which would have increased their energy costs of running. Calcaneal tuber lengths in early H. sapiens do not significantly differ from those of extant modern humans, suggesting Neandertal ER economy was reduced relative to contemporaneous anatomically modern humans. Endurance running is generally thought to be beneficial for gaining access to meat in hot environments, where hominins could have used pursuit hunting to run prey taxa into hyperthermia. We hypothesize that ER performance may have been reduced in Neandertals because they lived in cold climates.     

Development of surface swabbing procedures for a cleaning validation program in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility

Validation of direct surface swabbing procedure in conjuction with total organic carbon (TOC) analysis is described for a biopharmaceutical product manufacturing operation. The swabbing technique was found to be very effective in reliably detecting very low levels of residuals for diverse process streams (limit of detection of approximately 0.5microg/cm(2)). However, contaminant recovery was significantly dependent on both the type of contaminant and the processing surface. This study serves as a guide for designing effective cleaning validation protocols based on direct surface swabbing techniques. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The circadian rhythm of core temperature: origin and some implications for exercise performance

This review first examines reliable and convenient ways of measuring core temperature for studying the circadian rhythm, concluding that measurements of rectal and gut temperature fulfil these requirements, but that insulated axilla temperature does not. The origin of the circadian rhythm of core temperature is mainly due to circadian changes in the rate of loss of heat through the extremities, mediated by vasodilatation of the cutaneous vasculature. Difficulties arise when the rhythm of core temperature is used as a marker of the body clock, since it is also affected by the sleep-wake cycle. This masking effect can be overcome directly by constant routines and indirectly by “purification” methods, several of which are described. Evidence supports the value of purification methods to act as a substitute when constant routines cannot be performed. Since many of the mechanisms that rise to the circadian rhythm of core temperature are the same as those that occur during thermoregulation in exercise, there is an interaction between the two. This interaction is manifest in the initial response to spontaneous activity and to mild exercise, body temperature rising more quickly and thermoregulatory reflexes being recruited less quickly around the trough and rising phase of the resting temperature rhythm, in comparison with the peak and falling phase. There are also implications for athletes, who need to exercise maximally and with minimal risk of muscle injury or heat exhaustion in a variety of ambient temperatures and at different times of the day. Understanding the circadian rhythm of core temperature may reduce potential hazards due to the time of day when exercise is performed.     

Potential for strength and endurance training to amplify endurance performance

The impact of adding heavy-resistance training to increase leg-muscle strength was studied in eight cycling- and running-trained subjects who were already at a steady-state level of performance. Strength training was performed 3 days/wk for 10 wk, whereas endurance training remained constant during this phase. After 10 wk, leg strength was increased by an average of 30%, but thigh girth and biopsied vastus lateralis muscle fiber areas (fast and slow twitch) and citrate synthase activities were unchanged. Maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) was also unchanged by heavy-resistance training during cycling (55 ml.kg-1.min-1) and treadmill running (60 ml.kg-1.min-1); however, short-term endurance (4-8 min) was increased by 11 and 13% (P less than 0.05) during cycling and running, respectively. Long-term cycling to exhaustion at 80% VO2max increased from 71 to 85 min (P less than 0.05) after the addition of strength training, whereas long-term running (10 km times) results were inconclusive. These data do not demonstrate any negative performance effects of adding heavy-resistance training to ongoing endurance-training regimens. They indicate that certain types of endurance performance, particularly those requiring fast-twitch fiber recruitment, can be improved by strength-training supplementation.     

Arterial compliance of rowers: implications for combined aerobic and strength training on arterial elasticity

Regular endurance exercise increases central arterial compliance, whereas resistance training decreases it. It is not known how the vasculature adapts to a combination of endurance and resistance training. Rowing is unique, because its training encompasses endurance- and strength-training components. We used a cross-sectional study design to determine arterial compliance of 15 healthy, habitual rowers [50 +/- 9 (SD) yr, 11 men and 4 women] and 15 sedentary controls (52 +/- 8 yr, 10 men and 5 women). Rowers had been training 5.4 +/- 1.2 days/wk for 5.7 +/- 4.0 yr. The two groups were matched for age, body composition, blood pressure, and metabolic risk factors. Central arterial compliance (simultaneous ultrasound and applanation tonometry on the common carotid artery) was higher (P < 0.001) and carotid beta-stiffness index was lower (P < 0.001) in rowers than in sedentary controls. There were no group differences for measures of peripheral (femoral) arterial stiffness. The higher central arterial compliance in rowers was associated with a greater cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity, as estimated during a Valsalva maneuver (r = 0.54, P < 0.005). In conclusion, regular rowing exercise in middle-aged and older adults is associated with a favorable effect on the elastic properties of the central arteries. Our results suggest that simultaneously performed endurance training may negate the stiffening effects of strength training.     

The anaerobic endurance of elite soccer players improved after a high-intensity training intervention in the 8-week conditioning program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in anaerobic endurance in elite First-league soccer players throughout 2 consecutive seasons, in 2 phases, with and without high-intensity situational drills. Eighteen soccer players were tested before and after the 8-week summer conditioning and again in the next season. The measured variables included 300-yard shuttle run test, maximal heart rate, and maximal blood lactate at the end of the test. During the first phase of the study, the traditional sprint training was performed only 2 x weeks and consisted of 15 bouts of straight-line sprinting. In the second year the 4 x 4 min drills at an intensity of 90-95% of HRmax, separated by periods of 3-minute technical drills at 55-65% of HRmax were introduced. Statistical significance was set at P 相似文献   

Development and validation of a high performance liquid chromatography assay for 17alpha-methyltestosterone in fish feed

17alpha-Methyltestosterone (MT) is used to manipulate the gender of a variety of fish species. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) internal standard method for the determination of 17alpha-methyltestosterone in fish feed using 3beta-methoxy-17beta-hydroxyandrost-5-en-7-one as internal standard (IS) has been developed. The method has been validated for the quantitation of MT in fish feed using 245 nm UV absorbance as the parent wavelength and 255 nm as a qualifier wavelength. The method was validated in the concentration range of 15.0-120 mg/kg of 17alpha-methyltestosterone in fish feed. Method was also found to be suitable for other feeds.     

Seasonal changes in performance and free testosterone: cortisol ratio of elite female rowers

The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal behaviour of the plasma free testosterone: cortisol ratio (FTCR) and to relate hormonal changes to daily training volume and performance parameters on a rowing ergometer in elite female rowers. During 9 months of training preceding the 1988 Olympic Games the resting values of the FTCR in six elite female rowers were regularly (ten times) studied. Daily training volume was analysed in terms of rowed distance (l _rowad) and time (t). In addition, two performance parameters, the power at 4.0 mmol·l^–1 lactate concentration in the blood and the maximal power, were determined by a test on a rowing ergometer. The results indicated that the mean FTCR test value did not differ significantly from the level of the initial test or from the mean value of the directly preceding test. A significant negative correlation (r=–0.98, P<0.01) between FTCR and l _rowed was found in a period i.e. at a training camp, when there was a sudden increase in training volume. When FTCR was related to t a significant positive correlation (r=0.88, P<0.05) was found only for the period at the training camp. Our data further suggested that the FTCR alone was not an adequate indicator for the anabolic/catabolic balance in elite female rowers. This finding was contrary to previous findings in elite male rowers. However, in training practice the FTCR seems useful as an indicator of the hormonal training status of elite female rowers when complemented with data about total and free testosterone, performance parameters and knowledge concerning cyclic variations of the FTCR.Both departments co-operate in the working group Janus Jongbloed Research Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands     

Disentangling the dynamic core: a research program for a neurodynamics at the large-scale

My purpose in this paper is to sketch a research direction based on Francisco Varela's pioneering work in neurodynamics (see also Rudrauf et al. 2003, in this issue). Very early on he argued that the internal coherence of every mental-cognitive state lies in the global self-organization of the brain activities at the large-scale, constituting a fundamental pole of integration called here a "dynamic core". Recent neuroimaging evidence appears to broadly support this hypothesis and suggests that a global brain dynamics emerges at the large scale level from the cooperative interactions among widely distributed neuronal populations. Despite a growing body of evidence supporting this view, our understanding of these large-scale brain processes remains hampered by the lack of a theoretical language for expressing these complex behaviors in dynamical terms. In this paper, I propose a rough cartography of a comprehensive approach that offers a conceptual and mathematical framework to analyze spatio-temporal large-scale brain phenomena. I emphasize how these nonlinear methods can be applied, what property might be inferred from neuronal signals, and where one might productively proceed for the future. This paper is dedicated, with respect and affection, to the memory of Francisco Varela.     

Development and validation of a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of etodolac in human plasma

A simple and specific method using a one-step liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with butyl acetate followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) detection was developed for the determination of etodolac in human plasma, using indomethacin as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed isocratically using a Capcellpak MGII C(18) column with 65% acetonitrile and 35% water containing 10mM ammonium formate (adjusted to pH 3.5 with formic acid). Acquisition was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode by monitoring the transitions: m/z 287.99>172.23 for etodolac and m/z 357.92>139.01 for IS. The method was validated to determine its selectivity, linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, recovery and stability. The limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.1microg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 15%. The devised method provides an accurate, precise and sensitive tool for determining etodolac levels in plasma.     

Kidney graft loss in children: implications for program development

BACKGROUND: Graft survival in children who undergo kidney transplantation is lower than that in adults. The objective of the study was to review the experience of the first 22 years of operation of the regional pediatric kidney transplantation unit for Atlantic Canada, based at the IWK-Grace Health Centre, Halifax, and to use the results to improve graft survival. METHODS: All cases of kidney transplantation performed at the centre from 1971 to 1992 were reviewed and the data compiled with the use of a predetermined database outline. Data for first transplants were analysed and compared with those in North American databases. Of the 40 graft failures, 19 (48%) occurred within the first 3 months after transplantation, a rate similar to that at other centres. The overall survival rates tended to be slightly lower than those of international databases. The introduction of cyclosporine A as an immunosuppressant, in 1985, did not provide the expected marked improvement in survival. Infection frequently accompanied acute rejection, and there was a delay in treatment of infections and rejection after discharge home. On the basis of these preliminary findings, several program changes were made: 1) a sequential immunosuppression protocol was implemented, 2) the intensity of the medical surveillance was increased for the first 3 months after transplantation, with aggressive treatment of infections and rejections, 3) a dedicated pediatric transplantation team was established as a subset of the adult team and 4) pediatric-specific selection criteria for cadaver donors were formulated. After these changes were implemented, data were collected and analysed up to June 30, 1997. RESULTS: Graft survival rates at 1, 2 and 5 years improved dramatically. After the beginning of 1993, there were only 2 graft losses among 22 transplants. Only one of these occurred in the first 3 months, and it was due to recurrent disease. Twenty-four rejection episodes occurred (10 in the first 3 months after transplantation), but all were reversed easily with high-dose steroid therapy. INTERPRETATION: Sequential immunosuppression with close medical surveillance and early aggressive treatment of infection and rejection contribute to a marked improvement in kidney graft survival in children.     

Differences in stakeholder perceptions about native forest: implications for developing a restoration program

Ecological restoration is a global priority. Incorporating stakeholders' perceptions has been established as a critical factor to improve the success of restoration and conservation initiatives and decrease future social conflicts; however, it has barely been incorporated. Our objective was to analyze and compare the differences in the perceptions of Chilean dryland forest restoration of three groups: local community, experts, and government managers. We asked about: (1) what is the knowledge, importance, and uses that they have and give to the native forest and its restoration? (2) What is the willingness to restore the native forest? (3) What are the most valuable goods and services provided by the forest? (4) Where to begin to restore? (5) What criteria must be considered to prioritize areas to restore? To determine if the criteria selected were related to the stakeholder group, a semi‐parametric multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with 61 stakeholders. The community gave greater importance to restoring the ravines and creeks, the experts to restoring areas that increase landscape connectivity, and both experts and government managers to restoring areas of greater biodiversity and ecological value. The experts gave a lower value to both social and economic criteria compared to the local community and government managers. The differences among stakeholder perceptions must necessarily be considered in the restoration programs. Research on perceptions can contribute to decision‐making and will favor the social approval and long‐term success of restoration programs.     

Mitochondrial dynamics regulators: implications for therapeutic intervention in cancer

Cell Biology and Toxicology - Regardless of the recent advances in therapeutic developments, cancer is still among the primary causes of death globally, indicating the need for alternative...     

Critical determinants of endurance performance in middle-aged and elderly endurance runners with heterogeneous training habits

The current investigation was designed to determine which factor or what combination of factors would best account for distance running performance in middle-aged and elderly runners (mean age 57.5 years SD +/- 9.7) with heterogeneous training habits. Among 35 independent variables which were arbitrarily selected as possible prerequisites in the distance running performance of these runners, oxygen uptake (VO2) at lactate threshold (LT) (r = 0.781-0.889), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) (r = 0.751 approximately 0.886), and chronological age (r = -0.736-(-)0.886) were found to be the 3 predictor variables showing the highest correlations with the mean running velocity at 5 km (V5km), 10 km (V10km), and marathon (VM). When all independent variables were used in a multiple regression analysis, any 3 or 4 variables selected from among VO2 at LT, chronological age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), atherogenic index (AI), and Katsura index (KI) were found to give the best explanation of V5km, V10km, or VM in a combined linear model. Linear multiple regression equations constructed for predicting the running performances were: V5km = 0.046X1-0.026X2-0.0056X3+5.17, V10km = 0.028X1-0.028X2-0.190X4-1.34X5+6.45, and VM = -0.0400X2-0.324X4-1.16X5+7.36, where X1 = VO2 at LT (ml.min-1.kg-1), X2 = chronological age, X3 = SBP, X4 = AI, and X5 = KI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prospective validation of a core curriculum progress assimilation instrument for radiation oncology residentship

ObjectivesTo develop a tool that could assess residents’ knowledge beyond simple information gathering and evaluate its reliability.MethodsAn assessment tool of 40 objective questions and at least one essay-based question was developed to assess residents’ comprehension of general radiation oncology accordingly to validated training curricula beyond level 2 in the Bloom scale. With randomized content, questions were developed such as to be classified as at least 2 in the Bloom scale, so that reasoning and not only information gathering could be assessed. Criteria validation was made using the Classical Test Theory to describe difficulty and discrimination of each item. Reliability was tested by internal consistency using the Cronbach alpha test.ResultsBetween 2016 and 2019, 24 residents were assessed. Six different versions of the test were made with a total of 240 objective questions and 18 essay-based questions. Five of the six versions were deemed valid and reliable. Comparisons between 1st (PGY-1) and 3rd (PGY-3) year residents were made. Consistently, PGY-3 residents had scores 150% higher than PGY-1 residents. Only two different PGY-3 reached the most complex level of answers in the essay-based questions. The results demonstrated that the major part of the acquired knowledge and retention occurs in the first six months of training rather than in all the following period.ConclusionThe instrument can be considered valid. This developed instrument also raised the hypothesis that residents may not assess and analyze their acquired knowledge beyond the application level.     

Development and validation of a model for radiofrequency ablation]

Since 1986, cardiac arrhythmias have been successfully treated by destroying the underlying arrhythmogenic substrate with radiofrequency energy (radiofrequency ablation). The aim of this study was to develop a model for radiofrequency ablation enabling evaluation of the temperature distribution within cardiac tissue and the influence of electrode tissue contact. The model describes a 7F electrode, 4 mm in length and positioned perpendicular to the tissue. Heat convection within the tissue and heat lost via the blood was taken into account. Simulation of constant tissue exposure to 4 W resulted in a temperature increase of 35 degrees C after 10 sec. The temperature increase in the depths was less steep, but constant, and exceeded the electrode temperature at depths of 1 mm after 40 sec, 2 mm after 100 sec, and 3 mm after 200 sec. Electrode tissue contact proved to have a great influence on tissue temperature. Poor contact resulted in a temperature rise of only 0.68 degree C with a maximum of 50 W, whereas with ideal contact, 4 W sufficed to achieve a chosen setpoint of 70 degrees C. The model was validated in an in vitro setup using ventricular tissue from the pig. A strong correlation was found between simulated heating efficiency during temperature-controlled ablations under different contact conditions, and the respective measured values in the in vitro setup with a correlation coefficient of 0.97.     

Development and validation of a diagnostic microbial microarray for methanotrophs

The potential of DNA microarray technology in high-throughput detection of bacteria and quantitative assessment of their community structures is widely acknowledged but has not been fully realised yet. A generally applicable set of techniques, based on readily available technologies and materials, was developed for the design, production and application of diagnostic microbial microarrays. A microarray targeting the particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) gene was developed for the detection and quantification of methanotrophs and functionally related bacteria. A microarray consisting of a set of 59 probes that covers the whole known diversity of these bacteria was validated with a representative set of extant strains and environmental clones. The potential of the pmoA microarray was tested with environmental samples. The results were in good agreement with those of clone library sequence analyses. The approach can currently detect less dominant bacteria down to 5% of the total community targeted. Initial tests assessing the quantification potential of this system with artificial PCR mixtures showed very good correlation with the expected results with standard deviations in the range of 0.4-17.2%. Quantification of environmental samples with this method requires the design of a reference mixture consisting of very close relatives of the strains within the sample and is currently limited by biases inherent in environmental DNA extraction and universal PCR amplification.