Control approach for high sensitivity cardiopulmonary exercise testing during stimulated cycle ergometry in spinal cord injured subjects

AimPeople with complete lower-limb paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI) can perform cycle ergometry by means of functional electrical stimulation. Here, we propose and evaluate new exercise testing methods for estimation of cardiopulmonary performance parameters during this form of exercise.MethodsWe utilised a customised ergometer incorporating feedback control of stimulated exercise workrate and cycling cadence. This allowed the imposition of arbitrary workrate profiles with high precision with the potential for improved sensitivity in exercise testing. New incremental exercise test (IET) and step exercise test (SET) protocols for determination of peak and steady-state performance parameters were assessed.ResultsThe IET protocol allowed reliable determination of the ventilatory threshold, peak workrate and oxygen uptake-workrate relationship, but gave unrepresentative peak oxygen uptake values and highly variable measures of oxygen uptake kinetics. The SET protocol gave reliable estimation of steady-state oxygen uptake and metabolic efficiency of constant load exercise, but high variability in the estimation of oxygen uptake kinetics.ConclusionThe feedback-controlled testbed and the new IET and SET protocols have the potential for estimation of cardiopulmonary performance parameters with improved sensitivity during stimulated cycle ergometry in subjects with SCI.     

Immunocytochemical localization of angiotensin-(1–7) in the rat forebrain

Recent findings by this group have led us to reconsider the view that amino (N−) terminal fragments of angiotensin (Ang) II are inactive degradation products of renin-angiotensin system. To further examine this possibility, an antibody to Ang-(1–7), the N-terminal heptapeptide, was produced to demonstrate the neuroanatomical distribution of the rat brain. Ang-(1–7)-immunoreactivity was found in paraventricular, supraoptic, and suprachiasmatic nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, substantia innominata, median eminence, and neurohypophysis. This distribution of Ang-(1–7) in the rat forebrain, together with our previous demonstrations of vasopressin secretion in response to this peptide, suggest that Ang-(1–7) functions as a neuromodulator.     

Effects of interleukin-8 on suppression of human lymphocyte polarization and migration by anti-LFA-1 antibody.

We investigated the role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) in human T cell polarization and migration assay by using monoclonal antibody specific to beta chain (CD18) and alpha chain (CD11a). T cell polarization in response to fetal calf serum (FCS) and colchicine was suppressed by the addition of CD18 and CD11a antibodies. Furthermore, T cell migration in response to lymphocyte chemotactic factor (LCF) and casein was markedly depressed by the addition of CD18 and CD11a antibodies. Additional studies to evaluate effects of interleukin 8 (IL-8) on polarization and migration of T cells preincubated with CD18 or CD11a antibody showed that IL-8 restored the capability of migration of T cells, whereas did not restore polarization activity of such cells. These studies indicate that LFA-1 plays a role in the polarization and migration of T cells and that IL-8 may positively interfer with LFA-1-adhesion molecules.     

AChemS: the beginning. Association for Chemoreception Sciences

This paper unfolds the events, the people and the times that led up to the founding of AChemS and fashioned its character during its early formative years. It describes the path over which AChemS came, going from the original assertions and denials for the need of such an organization to its later inception and nascent development. This narration highlights such topics as the debate over the need for AChemS, the role of National Science Foundation in the founding of AChemS, the derivation of the Association's name, the choice of Sarasota and the Hyatt House as the meeting site, the generation of the programs for the early annual meetings, the adoption of the bylaws, the process of incorporation and tax deferment, and the birth of the Givaudan Lectureship. Most emphatically highlighted, however, is the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work that the members of the chemosensory research community displayed in bringing AChemS to fruition.