Do male athletes with already high initial hemoglobin mass benefit from ‘live high–train low’ altitude training?

Abstract

It has been proposed that athletes with high initial values of hemoglobin mass (Hb_mass) will have a lower Hb_mass increase in response to 'live high-train low' (LHTL) altitude training. To verify this assumption, the relationship between initial absolute and relative Hb_mass values and their respective Hb_mass increase following LHTL in male endurance and team-sport athletes was investigated. Overall, 58 male athletes (35 well-trained endurance athletes and 23 elite male field hockey players) undertook an LHTL training camp with similar hypoxic doses (200–230 h). Hb_mass was measured in duplicate pre- and post-LHTL with the carbon monoxide rebreathing method. While there was no relationship (r = 0.02, P = 0.91) between initial absolute Hb_mass (g) and percentage increase in absolute Hb_mass, a moderate relationship (r = −0.31, P = 0.02) between initial relative Hb_mass (g·kg⁻¹) and percentage increase in relative Hb_mass was detected. Mean absolute and relative Hb_mass increased to a similar extent (P ≥ 0.81) in endurance (from 916 ± 88 to 951 ± 96 g, +3.8%, P < 0.001 and from 13.1 ± 1.2 to 13.6 ± 1.1 g·kg⁻¹, +4.1%, P < 0.001) and team-sport (from 920 ± 120 to 957 ± 127 g, +4.0%, P < 0.001 and from 11.9 ± 0.9 to 12.3 ± 0.9 g·kg⁻¹, +4.0%, P < 0.001) athletes following LHTL. The direct comparison study using individual data of male endurance and team-sport athletes and strict methodological control (duplicate Hb_mass-measures, matched-hypoxic dose) indicated that even athletes with higher initial Hb_mass can reasonably expect Hb_mass gain post-LHTL.

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Oceanic dispersion of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 simulated by multiple oceanic general circulation models

Publication date: December 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 180
Author(s): Hideyuki Kawamura, Akiko Furuno, Takuya Kobayashi, Teiji In, Tomoharu Nakayama, Yoichi Ishikawa, Yasumasa Miyazawa, Norihisa Usui
To understand the concentration and amount of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 in the ocean, this study simulated the oceanic dispersion of Cs-137 by atmospheric and oceanic dispersion simulations. The oceanic dispersion simulations were carried out with an oceanic dispersion model and multiple oceanic general circulation models. The Cs-137 concentrations were sensitive to ocean currents in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans. The mean Cs-137 concentrations of the multiple models relatively well agreed with the observed concentrations in the coastal and offshore oceans during the first few months after the Fukushima disaster, and in the open ocean during the first year after the disaster. The Cs-137 amounts were quantified in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans during the first year after the disaster. It was suggested that Cs-137 actively dispersed from the coastal and offshore oceans to the open ocean, and from the surface layer to the deeper layers in the North Pacific.



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Application of ISOCS system in the laboratory efficiency calibration

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Author(s): Dominik Grządziel, Krzysztof Kozak, Jadwiga Mazur, Mariusz Mroczek
ISOCS (In Situ Counting Object System) from Canberra is applied in laboratory for creating efficiency calibrations of good quality without using radioactive standards. Besides of typical sample containers used in laboratory, ISOSC system also allows modelling containers and objects of almost any shape and elemental composition.The study was based on gamma spectrometry with HPGe semiconductor detector with electronics and software spectrum analysis GENIE 2000 + ISOCS. Measuring set is equipped with portable shield system with set of collimators ISOCS Shield Systems Model ISOXSHLD from Canberra. This shielding system provides attenuation of gamma background radiation with average value 33 (for gamma energies from 186 keV to 2615.5 keV).The portable shield system can be used for low-background laboratory measurements. For this purpose a measuring vessel of new geometry was constructed: the polystyrene cylinder with a height of 40 mm and a diameter of 70 mm. The efficiency calibration for this container was performed using both ISOCS system and classical calibration standard in the same geometry. In order to verify the correctness of performed calibration procedures, the measurements of radioactive standard CBSS 2 were made. The results of both calibrations were compared with the data from the standard certificate. Satisfactory agreement was achieved. Mean percentage difference between results from ISOCS calibration compared to reference values is 6% for all isotopes activities in CBSS 2 standard.The set of collimators was used to develop efficiency calibration for in situ measurements of the soil surface. Test measurements were carried out at the area of the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków, Poland (IFJ PAN). Two measurement methods were compared: in situ and laboratory gamma spectroscopy. The obtained average results (from all 10 measuring points) are consistent within the range of measurement uncertainty.



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Tonic inhibition of brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rostral raphe pallidus

Abstract

We sought to determine if body temperature and energy expenditure are influenced by a cholinergic input to neurons in the rostral raphe pallidus (rRPa), the site of sympathetic premotor neurons controlling brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. Nanoinjections of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) receptor agonist, oxotremorine, or the cholinesterase inhibitor, neostigmine (NEOS), in the rRPa of anaesthetized rats decreased cold-evoked BAT sympathetic nerve activity (SNA, nadirs: −72%, and −95%), BAT temperature (TBAT, −0.5°C and −0.6°C), expired CO₂ (Exp. CO₂, −0.3% and −0.5%), and heart rate (HR, −22 bpm and −41 bpm). NEOS into rRPa reversed the increase in BAT SNA evoked by blockade of GABA receptors in rRPa. Nanoinjections of the mAChR antagonist, scopolamine (SCOP), in the rRPa of warm rats increased BAT SNA (peak: +1087%), TBAT (+1.8°C), Exp. CO₂ (+0.7%), core temperature (TCORE, +0.5°C), and HR (+54 bpm). SCOP nanoinjections in rRPa produced similar activations of BAT during cold exposure, following a brain transection caudal to the hypothalamus, and during the blockade of glutamate receptors in rRPa. We conclude that a tonically-active cholinergic input to the rRPa inhibits BAT SNA via activation of local mAChR. The inhibition of BAT SNA mediated by mAChR in rRPa does not depend on activation of GABA receptors in rRPa. The increase in BAT SNA following mAChR blockade in rRPa does not depend on the activity of neurons in the hypothalamus or on glutamate receptor activation in rRPa.

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On neuromechanical approaches for the study of biological and robotic grasp and manipulation

Biological and robotic grasp and manipulation are undeniably similar at the level of mechanical task performance. However, their underlying fundamental biological vs. engineering mechanisms are, by definition,...

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Postoperative rehabilitation following thumb base surgery: a systematic review of the literature

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Robbert M. Wouters, Jonathan Tsehaie, Steven E.R. Hovius, Burcu Dilek, Ruud W. Selles
ObjectiveTo provide an overview of rehabilitation for patients who underwent CMC-1 arthroplasty, with emphasis on early active mobilization.Data Sources/Study SelectionPubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane were searched for articles written in English that described postoperative regime (including immobilization period/method and/or description of exercises/physical therapy, follow-up ≥six weeks) on CMC-1 arthroplasty.Data ExtractionThe PRISMA statement was used as guidance in this review and methodological quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. Randomized studies were additionally scored using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale.Data SynthesisTwenty-seven studies were included, concerning 1015 participants in whom 1118 surgical procedures were performed. A summary on the components of postoperative rehabilitation used in the included studies on CMC-1 OA is presented for different surgical interventions. We found that early active recovery (including short immobilization, early initiation of ROM and strength exercises) provides positive outcomes on pain, limitations in ADL and grip & pinch strength, but comparative studies are lacking. Furthermore, three postoperative exercises/therapy phases were identified in the literature: the 'acute phase', the 'unloaded phase' and the 'functional phase', but again comparative studies are lacking.ConclusionsEarly active recovery is used more often in the literature and does not lead to worse outcomes or more complications. This systematic review provides guidance for clinicians in the content of postoperative rehabilitation on CMC-1 arthroplasty. The review also clearly identifies the almost complete lack of high quality, comparative studies on postoperative rehabilitation after CMC-1 arthroplasty.



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Medical Safety Huddles in Rehabilitation – A Novel Patient Safety Strategy

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Meiqi Guo, Gaetan Tardif, Mark Bayley
ObjectiveTo describe the implementation process, outcomes, and lessons learned in the implementation of medical safety huddles, a novel patient safety monitoring strategy that promotes physician engagement with patient safety.DesignSingle-centre observational study.SettingThe Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program (BSCIRP) at an urban, academic adult rehabilitation hospital.Participants18 physicians associated with the program.InterventionsWeekly physicians' safety huddles were implemented to review, anticipate, and address patient safety issues.Main Outcome MeasuresThe main outcome measures were the number and nature of identified and anticipated patient safety incidents, actions taken and physician attendance during huddles. The number of adverse events in the program before and after huddle implementation were secondary measures.ResultsOver a 7-month period, average physician attendance at medical huddles was 76.0%. 1.0±0.8 patient safety incidents and 3.2±2.1 anticipated patient safety issues were identified in each weekly huddle. The majority of patient safety incidents identified were clinical administrative and clinical process-related, which differed from information gathered from the organization's pre-existing patient safety monitoring strategies. A total of 79 actions, or 3.3±1.8 actions/huddle were taken in response to improve patient safety for the program. Adverse events decreased from 31.2/month (95% confidence interval[CI] 27.0-35.3) to 22.9/month (CI 19.3-26.5) after implementation.Conclusion(s)Medical safety huddles are a novel strategy to engage physicians in patient safety and organizational quality improvement. They have the potential to enhance organizational anticipation of safety risks by supplementing existing methods. Other rehabilitation settings may wish to consider implementing and evaluating similar huddles into their existing patient safety and quality improvement frameworks.



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