Steady exercise removes VO2max difference between mitochondrial genomic variants

It has been clearly established that mitochondrial variants, among other potential factors, influence on VO_2max. With this study we sought to determine whether this genetic predisposition could be modified by steady exercise. Mitochondrial genetic variants were determined in 70 healthy controls (CON) and in 77 athletes who trained regularly (50 cyclists, aerobic training (AER), and 27 runners of 400 m, anaerobic training (NoAER)). All of them were male Spanish Caucasian individuals. A maximum graded exercise test (GXT) in cycle-ergometer was performed to determine VO_2max (mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). Our results confirmed that, in CON, VO_2max (P = 0.007) was higher in Non-J than J individuals. Furthermore, we found that AER and NoAER showed, as it could be expected, higher VO_2max than CON, but not differences between mitochondrial variants have been found. According with these findings, the influence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants on VO_2max has been confirmed, and a new conclusion has arisen: the steady exercise is able to remove this influence. The interest of these promising findings in muscular performance should be further explored, in particular, the understanding of potential applications in sport training and in muscle pathological syndromes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Lutidinium Ionic Liquid-Supported Vanadylsalicylaldoxime Complex for Catalytic Application in Epoxidation Reaction

A new chelating task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL), lutidinium-based salicylaldoxime ( LSOH ), and its square pyramidal vanadyl(II) complex (VO(LSO)₂) have been successfully synthesized and structurally characterized using elemental (CHN), spectral, and thermal analyses. The catalytic activity of the lutidinium-salicylaldoxime complex (VO(LSO)₂) in the alkene epoxidation reactions was studied under various reaction conditions, such as solvent effect, alkene/oxidant molar ratio, pH, reaction temperature, reaction time, and the catalyst dose. The results demonstrated that the CHCl₃ solvent, 1 : 3 of the cyclohexene/H₂O₂ ratio, pH 8, temperature of 340 K, and catalyst dose of 0.012 mmol are assigned as the optimum conditions for achieving maximum catalytic activity for VO(LSO)₂. Moreover, the VO(LSO)₂ complex has the potential for application in the effective and selective epoxidation of alkenes. Notably, under optimal VO(LSO)₂ conditions, cyclic alkenes convert more efficiently to their corresponding epoxides than linear alkenes.     

Enhanced survival by vitamin A supplementation during a retrovirus infection causing murine AIDS

Infection by LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) produces an AIDS-like condition in mice. The viral infection suppressed the percentage of peripheral blood cells showing surface markers for macrophages, activated macrophages, T lymphocytes and activated lymphoid cells. High dietary vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) caused increased numbers of activated macrophages. It also increased the percentage of cells with markers for Ia+ cells and macrophages in the retrovirally infected mice compared to infected controls. In uninfected mice retinyl palmitate stimulated the percentage of cells with activated lymphocytes bearing IL-2R, and T cytotoxic cells. These were associated with a retarded death rate during infection with LP-BM5 murine leukemia in C57BL/6 mice. By 25 weeks of infection and 20 weeks of retinyl palmitate supplementation 71.3% survived, while 45.0% virally infected controls survived. The mice also had elevated numbers of B cells measured in the blood after 4 and 8 weeks of dietary treatment. Vitamin A stimulation may play a role in the slower death rate for retrovirally infected mice.     

Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast

Cell samples of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were exposed to 100 J/m² of 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) radiation followed by a 30 min treatment with ultra-wide band (UWB) electromagnetic pulses. The UWB pulses (101–104 kV/m, 1.0 ns width, 165 ps rise time) were applied at the repetition rates of 0 Hz (sham), 16 Hz, or 600 Hz. The effect of exposures was evaluated from the colony-forming ability of the cells on complete and selective media and the number of aberrant colonies. The experiments established no effect of UWB exposure on the UV-induced reciprocal and non-reciprocal recombination, mutagenesis, or cell survival. Bioelectromagnetics 19: 128–130, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Paratesticular spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology: a case report

BACKGROUND: Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare, newly identified subtype ofembryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with improved behavior and a predilection for the paratesticular area. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma have been described. However, there is no previous report on the cytologic findings of spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma at testicular or extratesticular sites. CASE: A 13-year-old boy presented with a large, right sided scrotal mass. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed for rapid diagnosis. The smears revealed numerous spindle cells and large fragments of cytoplasmic processes with cross-striations and were diagnosed as spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma. The histologic sections were also diagnosed as spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: The cytologic findings of this rare tumor have not been reported before. The cross-striations were easily identified in FNA smears, so the diagnosis of spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma was made confidently. The histologic sections showed only spindle cells with different patterns of arrangement, resembling leiomyosarcoma. The cross-striations were not identified in the histologic sections. In this case cytologic diagnosis aided the histologic diagnosis.