Upper-body strength gains from different modes of resistance training in women who are underweight and women who are obese

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of upper-body strength gained by college women who are underweight and those who are obese using different modes of resistance training. Women who were underweight (UWW, n = 93, weight = 49.3 ± 4.5 kg) and women who were obese (OBW, n = 73, weight = 94.0 ± 15.1 kg) were selected from a larger cohort based on body mass index (UWW ≤ 18.5 kg·m?2; OBW ≥ 30 kg·m?2). Subjects elected to train with either free weights (FW, n = 38), supine vertical bench press machine (n = 52) or seated horizontal bench press machine (n = 76) using similar linear periodization resistance training programs 3× per week for 12 weeks. Each participant was assessed for upper-body strength using FWs (general) and machine weight (specific) 1 repetition maximum bench press before and after training. Increases in general and mode-specific strength were significantly greater for OBW (5.2 ± 5.1 and 9.6 ± 5.1 kg, respectively) than for UWW (3.5 ± 4.1 and 7.2 ± 5.2 kg, respectively). General strength gains were not significantly different among the training modes. Mode-specific gains were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than general strength gains for all groups. In conclusion, various resistance training modes may produce comparable increases in general strength but will register greater gains if measured using the specific mode employed for training, regardless of the weight category of the individual.     

Smell-recognition of newborns by women who are not mothers

Women without children held an unrelated infant in their armsfor 1 hr and then were tested for infant-smell-recognition.Most were successful. This indicates that the ability to identifyinfants by thier odor is a more general human skill than previouslyrealized.     

Prognosis of children who are carriers of hepatitis B.

Fifteen children who had become positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by perinatal transmission were traced and re-examined after a mean of 8.1 years; all had been born in England to mothers from ethnic minorities who were carriers of HBsAg. Fourteen of the children remained carriers of HBsAg; of these, more girls than boys developed antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe). Those children whose transaminase activities had been above normal within the first three years of life were more likely to have developed anti-HBe. The earlier production of anti-HBe suggests that girls have a more effective immune response. Increased transaminase activity early in the course of asymptomatic carriage of HBsAg may be a favourable prognostic sign.     

Pulmonary function in persons who are professionally exposed to formaldehyde fumes

The present study examines long-term effects of occupational exposure to formaldehyde fumes on lung function. Forced spirometry and diffusing lung capacity were measured in 16 health-service professionals (8 medical doctors and 8 laboratory technicians) working at the pathoanatomic laboratory for at least 4 years with daily exposure 8 +/- 1 hours. Control group employed 16 males, which were matched by age and stature to members of the exposed group. Only non-smokers were included in the study. Spirometric parameters in study participants exposed to formaldehyde fumes compared to control group were not significantly different indicating absence of restrictive and/or obstructive deterioration of lung function in exposed group. The only parameter differing in two groups was blood volume of pulmonary capillaries (Vc') which was significantly larger in a group exposed to formaldehyde fumes. The possibility that the hyperemic lung reaction is the consequence of the exposure to formaldehyde fumes should be further explored.