Effect of adding plyometric training to physical education sessions on specific biomechanical parameters in primary school girls

Objectives:The study aimed to determine the effect of adding a school-based plyometric training program (PMT) to physical education (PE) sessions on the strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school girls.Methods:Students from grades 3-6 were randomized equally to a plyometric or control group. In the control group, students took their regular PE classes twice a week. In the plyometric group, students performed PMT twice a week during the initial 20 minutes of every PE session. The Lido Linea closed kinetic chain isokinetic dynamometer, Star excursion balance test (SEBT), and sit-and-reach test were used to assess muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, respectively, before and after nine weeks of training.Results:The improvement in extension peak force (p=0.04) and extension total work (p<0.001) was more prevalent in the PMT group than in the control group. SEBT scores had improved significantly (p<0.05) for all directions in the PMT group, except in the anterior direction, which was highly significant (p<0.001). Hamstring and lower back flexibility had improved more in the PMT group than in the control group (p<0.001).Conclusion:Adding PMT to regular PE classes has a positive and notable effect on muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school students.     

The application of musculoskeletal modeling to investigate gender bias in non-contact ACL injury rate during single-leg landings

The central tenet of this study was to develop, validate and apply various individualised 3D musculoskeletal models of the human body for application to single-leg landings over increasing vertical heights and horizontal distances. While contributing to an understanding of whether gender differences explain the higher rate of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among females, this study also correlated various musculoskeletal variables significantly impacted by gender, height and/or distance and their interactions with two ACL injury-risk predictor variables; peak vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and peak proximal tibia anterior shear force (PTASF). Kinematic, kinetic and electromyography data of three male and three female subjects were measured. Results revealed no significant gender differences in the musculoskeletal variables tested except peak VGRF (p = 0.039) and hip axial compressive force (p = 0.032). The quadriceps and the gastrocnemius muscle forces had significant correlations with peak PTASF (r = 0.85, p < 0.05 and r = ? 0.88, p < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, hamstring muscle force was significantly correlated with peak VGRF (r = ? 0.90, p < 0.05). The ankle flexion angle was significantly correlated with peak PTASF (r = ? 0.82, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that compared to males, females did not exhibit significantly different muscle forces, or ankle, knee and hip flexion angles during single-leg landings that would explain the gender bias in non-contact ACL injury rate. Our results also suggest that higher quadriceps muscle force increases the risk, while higher hamstring and gastrocnemius muscle forces as well as ankle flexion angle reduce the risk of non-contact ACL injury.     

Spontaneous dimerization of titin protein Z1Z2 domains induces strong nanomechanical anchoring

Muscle elasticity strongly relies on the mechanical anchoring of the giant protein titin to both the sarcomere M-band and the Z-disk. Such strong attachment ensures the reversible dynamics of the stretching-relaxing cycles determining the muscle passive elasticity. Similarly, the design of biomaterials with enhanced elastic function requires experimental strategies able to secure the constituent molecules to avoid mechanical failure. Here we show that an engineered titin-mimicking protein is able to spontaneously dimerize in solution. Our observations reveal that the titin Z1Z2 domains are key to induce dimerization over a long-range distance in proteins that would otherwise remain in their monomeric form. Using single molecule force spectroscopy, we measure the threshold force that triggers the noncovalent transition from protein dimer to monomer, occurring at ～700 piconewtons. Such extremely high mechanical stability is likely to be a natural protective mechanism that guarantees muscle integrity. We propose a simple molecular model to understand the force-induced dimer-to-monomer transition based on the geometric distribution of forces occurring within a dimeric protein under mechanical tension.     

Detection and imaging of non-contractile inclusions and sarcomeric anomalies in skeletal muscle by second harmonic generation combined with two-photon excited fluorescence

The large size of the multinucleated muscle fibers of skeletal muscle makes their examination for structural and pathological defects a challenge. Sections and single fibers are accessible to antibodies and other markers but imaging of such samples does not provide a three-dimensional view of the muscle. Regrettably, bundles of fibers cannot be stained or imaged easily. Two-photon microscopy techniques overcome these obstacles. Second harmonic generation (SHG) by myosin filaments and two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) of mitochondrial and lysosomal components provides detailed structural information on unstained tissue. Furthermore, the infrared exciting light can penetrate several layers of muscle fibers and the minimal processing is particularly valuable for fragile biopsies. Here we demonstrate the usefulness of SHG, combined with 2PEF, to reveal enlarged lysosomes and accumulations of non-contractile material in muscles from the mouse model for the lysosomal storage disorder Pompe disease (PD), and in biopsies from adult and infant PD patients. SHG and 2PEF also detect sarcomeric defects that may presage the loss of myofibrils in atrophying muscle and signify loss of elasticity. The combination of SHG and 2PEF should be useful in the analysis and diagnosis of a wide range of skeletal muscle pathologies.     

Interaction of the disintegrin and cysteine-rich domains of ADAM12 with integrin alpha7beta1

We describe a novel interaction between the disintegrin and cysteine-rich (DC) domains of ADAM12 and the integrin alpha7beta1. Integrin alpha7beta1 extracted from human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with alpha7 cDNA was retained on an affinity column containing immobilized DC domain of ADAM12. 293 cells stably transfected with alpha7 cDNA adhered to DC-coated wells, and this adhesion was partially inhibited by 6A11 integrin alpha7 function-blocking antibody. The X1 and the X2 extracellular splice variants of integrin alpha7 supported equally well adhesion to the DC protein. Integrin alpha7beta1-mediated cell adhesion to DC had different requirements for Mn2+ than adhesion to laminin. Furthermore, integrin alpha7beta1-mediated cell adhesion to laminin, but not to DC, resulted in efficient cell spreading and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at Tyr397. We also show that adhesion of L6 myoblasts to DC is mediated in part by the endogenous integrin alpha7beta1 expressed in these cells. Since integrin alpha7 plays an important role in muscle cell growth, stability, and survival, and since ADAM12 has been implicated in muscle development and regeneration, we postulate that the interaction between ADAM12 and integrin alpha7beta1 may be relevant to muscle development, function, and disease. We also conclude that laminin and the DC domain of ADAM12 represent two functional ligands for integrin alpha7beta1, and adhesion to each of these two ligands via integrin alpha7beta1 triggers different cellular responses.     

Long term oviposition preference and larval performance of Schizomyia macrocapillata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on larger shoots of its host plant Bauhinia brevipes (Fabaceae)

The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) proposes that natural selection on female oviposition choice results from higher fitness of larvae on more vigorous and larger plant modules. For six consecutive years we tested the PVH predictions by investigating the effect of shoot size of Bauhinia brevipes (Fabaceae) on the oviposition preference and offspring survival of the gall-midge Schizomyia macrocapillata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Additionally, we analyzed the effects of bottom-up and top-down mortality forces on the system. The hypersensitive reaction (bottom-up effect) accounted for more than 90% larval mortality of S. macrocapillata, making available few galls to be found and killed by natural enemies (top-down effect). Smaller shoots were always more abundant while longer shoots were rare. Nevertheless, the percent number of galls induced by S. macrocapillata was up to 10-fold greater on the largest shoots, corroborating the preference prediction of the PVH. Schizomyia macrocapillata should use over-exploit larger shoots to maximize the preference for, and consequently increase the performance on these shoots. Our results partially support the performance prediction of the PVH: (1) the observed survival was higher than expected on longer shoots, and (2) the ratio of survival per shoot was positively related with shoot length only in 2 years. Thus, we found a link between female preference and larval performance on large-sized shoots, at least in some years. The gall-midge attack pattern in this study might be an evolved response to maximize the female preference and increased larval performance on longer shoots of the host plant.     

The absorption of orally supplied β-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis

Summary. β-Alanine in blood-plasma when administered as A) histidine dipeptides (equivalent to 40 mg · kg⁻¹ bwt of β-alanine) in chicken broth, or B) 10, C) 20 and D) 40 mg · kg⁻¹ bwt β-alanine (CarnoSyn™, NAI, USA), peaked at 428 ± SE 66, 47 ± 13, 374 ± 68 and 833 ± 43 μM. Concentrations regained baseline at 2 h. Carnosine was not detected in plasma with A) although traces of this and anserine were found in urine. Loss of β-alanine in urine with B) to D) was <5%. Plasma taurine was increased by β-alanine ingestion but this did not result in any increased loss via urine. Pharmacodynamics were further investigated with 3 × B) per day given for 15 d. Dietary supplementation with I) 3.2 and II) 6.4 g · d⁻¹ β-alanine (as multiple doses of 400 or 800 mg) or III) L-carnosine (isomolar to II) for 4 w resulted in significant increases in muscle carnosine estimated at 42.1, 64.2 and 65.8%.     

Quantification of the concentration and 13C tracer enrichment of long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A in muscle by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Recent diabetes and obesity research has been focused on the role of intracellular lipids in insulin resistance. Fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) esters play a central role in the trafficking of intracellular lipids, but there has not previously been a method with which to quantify their kinetics using tracer methodology. We have therefore developed a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry method to simultaneously measure the (13)C stable isotopic enrichment of palmitoyl-acyl-CoA ester and the concentrations of five individual long-chain fatty acyl-CoA esters extracted from muscle tissue samples. The long-chain fatty acyl-CoA can be effectively extracted from frozen muscle tissue samples and baseline separated by a reverse-phase HPLC with the presence of a volatile reagent-triethylamine. Negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring was used to analyze the fatty acyl-CoAs to achieve reliable quantification of their concentrations and (13)C isotopic enrichment. Applying this protocol to rabbit muscle samples demonstrates that it is a sensitive, accurate, and precise method for the quantification of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA concentrations and enrichment.     

Spatial and temporal coordination of traction forces in one-dimensional cell migration

ABSTRACT

Migration of a fibroblast along a collagen fiber can be regarded as cell locomotion in one-dimension (1D). In this process, a cell protrudes forward, forms a new adhesion, produces traction forces, and releases its rear adhesion in order to advance itself along a path. However, how a cell coordinates its adhesion formation, traction forces, and rear release in 1D migration is unclear. Here, we studied fibroblasts migrating along a line of microposts. We found that when the front of a cell protruded onto a new micropost, the traction force produced at its front increased steadily, but did so without a temporal correlation in the force at its rear. Instead, the force at the front coordinated with a decrease in force at the micropost behind the front. A similar correlation in traction forces also occurred at the rear of a cell, where a decrease in force due to adhesion detachment corresponded to an increase in force at the micropost ahead of the rear. Analysis with a bio-chemo-mechanical model for traction forces and adhesion dynamics indicated that the observed relationship between traction forces at the front and back of a cell is possible only when cellular elasticity is lower than the elasticity of the cellular environment.     

家兔胫骨前肌肌纤维型的分布研究

根据家兔胫骨前肌的肌纤维起止、排列和神经支配特征,将该肌分为前、后两个亚体。利用家兔８例１６侧胫骨前肌,按上述两个亚体分别取材,作恒冷箱冰冻横切,肌球蛋白ＡＴＰ酶染色,将肌纤维分为Ⅰ型、ⅡＡ型、ⅡＢ型,检测各亚体的肌纤维型构成比例,肌束内肌纤维的分布特征,并用图象分析仪测量各亚体肌纤维横切面积和直径。结果发现,前、后亚体以Ⅱ型纤维居多,前亚体ⅡＡ型纤维高达３５．４％,后亚体Ⅰ型纤维多达２４．５％,两者的ⅡＢ型纤维均达５０％左右。而左、右侧之间无差异,肌束周边部内Ⅰ型纤维仅占１２．７～１３．３％,ⅡＢ型纤维高达５９．９～６０．０％,说明受肌束膜压迫影响,ⅡＢ型肌纤维血供少,以适应无氧酵解的功能。各亚体的Ⅰ型纤维较细,Ⅱ型纤维较Ⅱ粗,Ａ型与ⅡＢ型二者相似。作者认为,前亚体主要参与快速有力的足背屈运动,后亚体则维持踝关节的稳定,保持足弓的形状和弹性,以便适应该肌的站立、跑动和跳跃的功能。