Sprint interval training (SIT) is an effective method to maintain cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and glucose homeostasis in Scottish adolescents

The present study examined the physiological impact of a school based sprint interval training (SIT) intervention in replacement of standard physical education (SPE) class on cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) and glucose homeostasis during the semester following summer vacation. Participants (n=49) were randomly allocated to either intervention (SIT; n=26, aged 16.9 ± 0.3 yrs) or control group who underwent standard physical education (SPE; n=23, aged 16.8 ± 0.6 yrs). CRF (VO₂max) and glucose homeostasis were obtained prior-to and following 7 weeks of SIT exercise. Significant group x time interaction was observed for CRF (P < 0.01) with non-significant trends for fasting insulin (P= 0.08), and HOMA-IR (P=0.06). CRF decreased (P < 0.01) in SPE such that POST intervention CRF was significantly lower (P< 0.05) in SPE. Fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.01), insulin (P< 0.01) and HOMA-IR (P< 0.01) increased significantly amongst SPE. The main finding of the present study is that 7-weeks of SIT exercise is an effective method of maintaining (but not improving) CRF and fasting insulin homeostasis amongst school-going adolescents. SIT exercise demonstrates potential as a time efficient physiological adjunct to standard PE class in order to maintain CRF during the school term.     

Exercise training in heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common condition with a poor prognosis. It is associated with poor exercise tolerance and debilitating symptoms. These symptoms appear to be associated with pathophysiological changes that occur systemically in the patient with CHF. Exercise training in carefully selected patients has been shown to be safe and to improve exercise capacity. Many of the pathophysiological abnormalities of CHF are improved by training. Some studies have suggested a possible improvement in morbidity and mortality with training. This review analyzes the controlled clinical trials of exercise training in CHF published to date.     

FOOD HANDLER'S INFECTION (SWINE ERYSIPELAS) IN MAN

Swine erysipelas in man can at times be a serious and even fatal disease.The usual cutaneous type runs a prolonged course when treated by any of the older methods.Experimental and clinical evidence indicates that penicillin aids greatly in the treatment of the disease.     

Effects of two antihistamine drugs on actual driving performance.

A double blind placebo controlled experiment was conducted measuring the effects of the centrally active antihistamine triprolidine and the peripherally acting antihistamine terfenadine on actual driving performance in a group of experienced women drivers. Triprolidine greatly impaired driving behaviour, whereas terfenadine did not. Triprolidine also impaired subjective and objective measures of mood and arousal, and despite an awareness that their driving was impaired while they were taking this agent subjects could not correct their performance. This study suggests that drivers who need antihistamine drugs should avoid those that act centrally.     

Examination of vectors with two dominant, selectable genes for DNA repair and mutation studies in mammalian cells

A series of vectors with two dominant selectable genes was constructed for repair and mutation studies following transfer into mammalian cells. The recombinant genes (SV-gpt and HSVtk-neo) were placed in different relative orientations and positions in the vectors. These variables were shown to affect transformation frequency of cells by the vectors especially where one of the genes had a relatively weak expression, modelled by truncating the promoter of the HSVtk-neo gene. The use of two-gene vectors to assess DNA repair was investigated by cutting the SV-gpt gene with a restriction endonuclease and monitoring correct rejoining by selecting for gene activity after transfer into various cell types. In such experiments, selection was first applied for the undamaged HSVtk-neo gene to eliminate transfer artefacts, followed by counterselection for the activity of the damaged SV-gpt gene. The measured frequency of correct rejoining of the damaged gene was found to vary both with the vector construct and with the recipient cell species (Chinese hamster V79 or human transformed fibroblasts). Despite this variation, correct rejoining was found to be consistently lower in radiosensitive (ataxia telangiectasia) human cells than in wild-type human cells, irrespective of the vector construct. In these experiments, some of the transformed cell colonies showed 'sectoring' on exposure to the counterselection, suggesting a slow determination of the fate of transferred DNA. For mutation studies a V79 cell clone carrying a single copy of one of these two-gene vectors was identified and shown to be stably integrated. Mutations of the SV-gpt gene in these cells were isolated while maintaining selection for the HSVtk-neo gene, to attempt to limit mutational loss of the total integrated sequence and provide at least one identifiable junction for analysis of deletion events. Spontaneous and X-ray-induced mutants were identified with a variety of genetic changes, as shown by Southern analysis, from presumed point mutations to deletions and rearrangements of the vector sequence. Rescue of integrated two-gene vector sequences from transformed cells, by recloning in E. coli, was shown to be feasible; thus alterations in transferred DNA can be analysed in detail.     

Spatial and temporal expression of histone demethylase,Kdm2a,during murine molar development

The histone demethylase, lysine (K)-specific demethylase 2A (Kdm2a), is highly conserved and expressed ubiquitously. Kdm2a can regulate cell proliferation and osteo/dentinogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissue. We used quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry to detect Kdm2a expression during development of the murine molar at embryonic days E12, E14, E16 and E17 and postnatal days P3 and P14. Immunohistochemistry results showed no positive staining of Kdm2a at E12. At E14, Kdm2a was expressed weakly in the inner enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum cells and dental sac. At E16, Kdm2a was expressed mainly in the inner and outer enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium and dental sac, but weaker staining was found in cervical loop and dental papilla cells adjacent to the basement membrane. At E17, the strongest Kdm2a staining was detected in the ameloblasts and stronger Kdm2a staining also was detected in the stratum intermedium, outer enamel epithelium and dental papilla cells compared to the expression at E16. Postnatally, we found that Kdm2a was localized in secretory and mature ameloblasts and odontoblasts, and dentin was unstained. Real-time RT-PCR showed that Kdm2a mRNA levels in murine germ cells increased from E12 to E14 and from E14 to E16; no significant change occurred at E16, E17 or P3, then the levels decreased at P14 compared to P3. Kdm2a expression may be closely related to cell proliferation, to ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation and to the secretion of extracellular enamel and dentin during murine tooth development.