Influence of Creatine Supplementation on Apoptosis Markers after Downhill Running in Middle-Aged Men: A Crossover Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study

Objective Strenuous exercise can induce apoptosis in a variety of tissues. We investigated the effects of creatine loading on apoptosis markers after downhill running. Design Twenty-two middle-aged men were randomly assigned to either a creatine or a placebo group. Crossover design, double-blind controlled supplementation was performed using 20 g/d-1 of creatine or maltodextrin for seven days. Downhill running (12% incline) at 70% of HRmax for 40 min was performed on the 8th day. Blood samples were taken on the day prior to supplementation, after supplementation and after running. Results There were no significant changes in the caspase-3 and -9, p53, Bax and IGF-1 concentrations from pre- to post- supplementation in both groups of creatine and placebo (p > 0.05). There were significant increases (p 0.05). Bcl-2 was unchanged in the placebo group, but substantially increased (p 0.05). Lactate levels increased similarly in both groups (p

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On Loneliness: Where politics, medicine, psychology, and society meet

No abstract available

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Letter to the editor about the article: Aquatic Exercises in the Treatment of Low Back Pain. A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis of Eight Studies

No abstract available

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Fatigue after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is highly prevalent in the first year post onset and related to low physical fitness: A longitudinal study

Objective To investigate whether low physical fitness and inactive and sedentary lifestyles play a role in the severity of fatigue in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (a-SAH). Design Prospective one-year follow-up study, including a total of 52 patients with a-SAH. Outcome measures included the Fatigue Severity Scale -score, peak oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak), isokinetic knee muscle strength (peak torque), physical activity (%24h period) and sedentary behavior (% waking hours), and were evaluated at six and twelve months post onset. Results Fatigue was highly prevalent in the first year, and reported by 48% of the patients at six months and by 52% at twelve months post a-SAH. Fatigue was associated with the knee extension (p

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Practical guidelines for clinical magnetoencephalography – Another step towards best practice

The first successful recordings of electrical activity from the human brain using scalp EEG were performed nearly a century ago (Berger, 1929). Its clinical relevance, particularly for epilepsy, was realized and established within a few years. Since then, scalp EEG has found many applications in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders (Schomer et al., 2018). However, the limitations of EEG were already acknowledged in these early years, notably by one of its pioneers, Edgar Adrian, who wrote "With present methods the skull and the scalp are too much in the way, and we need some new physical method to read through them" (Adrian, 1944).

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High voltage 14 Hz hippocampal discharges on stereotactic EEG underlying 14&6 Hz positive bursts on scalp EEG

14&6 Hz positive bursts are one of the well-known benign EEG variants (Lombroso et al., 1966). They are maximally expressed in adolescents. The peak age of prominent 14&6 Hz ranges from 13 to 15 years. Gibbs and Gibbs (Gibbs and Gibbs, 1951) first reported 14&6 Hz positive bursts and indicated thalamic or hypothalamic epilepsy. However, currently they are believed to be a benign EEG variant because they are frequently seen in a wide range of neurological disorders including epilepsy and normal individuals (Lombroso et al., 1966).

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Discharge to Inpatient Facilities After Lumbar Fusion Surgery is Associated with Increased Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism and Readmissions

Post-discharge care is a significant source of cost variability after posterior lumbar fusion surgery. However, there remains limited evidence associating post-discharge inpatient services and improved postoperative outcomes, despite the high cost of these services.

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Practical guidelines for clinical magnetoencephalography – Another step towards best practice

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Arjan Hillebrand, William Gaetz, Paul L. Furlong, Alida A. Gouw, Cornelis J. Stam




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Comprehensive evaluation of EMG and biopsy findings supported by computer simulations – preliminary study

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Ewa Zalewska, Anna Kaminska, Biruta Kierdaszuk, Elżbieta Szmidt-Salkowska, Małgorzata Gawel
ObjectiveThe aim was to compare muscle fiber diameters obtained from standard muscle biopsy and from computer simulations based on recorded motor unit potentials (MUPs).MethodsElectromyography (EMG) and muscle biopsy were performed in 14 patients with a suspicion of a neuromuscular disorder. Histograms of the simulated muscle fiber diameters (SMFDs) were compared with those from the biopsy. Results. The values of the SMFDs were similar to those in the muscle biopsy for the same patient (p=0.05) in all 14 cases.ConclusionsComprehensive evaluation of EMG and biopsy findings supported by computer simulations may help resolve the discrepancy between the assessment of muscle by EMG and biopsy by explaining different results obtained with these two methods.SignificanceEvaluation of the SMFDs that are comparable to biopsy findings extends the amount of information available from EMG.



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Patellar tendon properties distinguish elite from non-elite soccer players and are related to peak horizontal but not vertical power

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate potential differences in patellar tendon properties between elite and non-elite soccer players, and to establish whether tendon properties were related to power assessed during unilateral jumps performed in different directions.

Methods

Elite (n = 16; age 18.1 ± 1.0 years) and non-elite (n = 13; age 22.3 ± 2.7 years) soccer players performed vertical, horizontal-forward and medial unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJs) on a force plate. Patellar tendon (PT) cross-sectional area, elongation, strain, stiffness, and Young's modulus (measured at the highest common force interval) were assessed with ultrasonography and isokinetic dynamometry.

Results

Elite demonstrated greater PT elongation (6.83 ± 1.87 vs. 4.92 ± 1.88 mm, P = 0.011) and strain (11.73 ± 3.25 vs. 8.38 ± 3.06%, P = 0.009) than non-elite soccer players. Projectile range and peak horizontal power during horizontal-forward CMJ correlated positively with tendon elongation (r = 0.657 and 0.693, P < 0.001) but inversely with Young's modulus (r = − 0.376 and − 0.402; P = 0.044 and 0.031). Peak medial power during medial CMJ correlated positively with tendon elongation (r = 0.658, P < 0.001) but inversely with tendon stiffness (r = − 0.368, P = 0.050).

Conclusions

Not only does a more compliant patellar tendon appear to be an indicator of elite soccer playing status but it may also facilitate unilateral horizontal-forward and medial, but not vertical CMJ performance. These findings should be considered when prescribing talent selection and development protocols related to direction-specific power in elite soccer players.

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Prevalence of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Leishmaniasis and Lymphatic Filariasis) and Malaria Among a Migrant Labour Settlement in Kerala, India

Abstract

Neglected tropical diseases (visceral leismaniasis, lymphatic filariasis) and malaria are endemic in northern states of India. Kerala has become a hub of construction activities employing a large number of migrants from these endemic states. Studies on morbidity pattern among migrants in Kerala are lacking. It is essential to look into the burden of these infections among migrant laborers who can act as reservoirs and are a threat to native population. A cross sectional study was done among migrant laborers in Ernakulam district, Kerala. After getting informed consent, a questionnaire was administered to each participant to collect sociodemographic details and 5 ml of blood was collected for detection of antigens using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). Of the 309 migrants tested, none of them were positive for leishmaniasis, while 3.8% were positive for malaria and 3.6% for filariasis. With 2.5 million migrant laborers in Kerala, the magnitude of the problem in absolute numbers is enormous. Active surveillance and treatment is needed to prevent the reemergence of these diseases in Kerala.

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Visual Health and Visual Healthcare Access in Refugees and Displaced Persons: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Vision impairment is a significant global health concern. Still, there remains a gap in our knowledge of visual health in refugees. We conducted a systematic review of the distinctive eye care needs of refugees. We screened PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science through February 17, 2017 for studies that focused primarily on visual health in refugees. Risk of bias was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute quality assessment tools. 26 studies were included in the final review. The prevalence of blindness ranged from 1.3 to 26.2%. Trachoma was the leading infectious cause. Only four studies assessed vision-related care. Time/location of displacement, social unrest, and sanitation impacted severity of eye disease. Refugees have unique eye care needs. Public health interventions should target eye care at every stage of displacement. Providers may use these results to inform future research and improve visual healthcare access in refugee groups.

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A dominant variant in the PDE1C gene is associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss

Abstract

Identification of genes with variants causing non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is challenging due to genetic heterogeneity. The difficulty is compounded by technical limitations that in the past prevented comprehensive gene identification. Recent advances in technology, using targeted capture and next-generation sequencing (NGS), is changing the face of gene identification and making it possible to rapidly and cost-effectively sequence the whole human exome. Here, we characterize a five-generation Chinese family with progressive, postlingual autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL). By combining population-specific mutation arrays, targeted deafness genes panel, whole exome sequencing (WES), we identified PDE1C (Phosphodiesterase 1C) c.958G>T (p.A320S) as the disease-associated variant. Structural modeling insights into p.A320S strongly suggest that the sequence alteration will likely affect the substrate-binding pocket of PDE1C. By whole-mount immunofluorescence on postnatal day 3 mouse cochlea, we show its expression in outer (OHC) and inner (IHC) hair cells cytosol co-localizing with Lamp-1 in lysosomes. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the variant alters the PDE1C hydrolytic activity for both cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Collectively, our findings indicate that the c.958G>T variant in PDE1C may disrupt the cross talk between cGMP-signaling and cAMP pathways in Ca²⁺ homeostasis.

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Re-dating Zhoukoudian Upper Cave, northern China and its regional significance

Publication date: Available online 31 May 2018
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Feng Li, Christopher J. Bae, Christopher B. Ramsey, Fuyou Chen, Xing Gao
Due to the presence of multiple partial modern human skeletons thought to have been interred along with a diversity of evidence of symbolic behavior, Zhoukoudian Upper Cave (ZKD UC; formally "Choukoutien") from northern China has long been a critical site for understanding Late Quaternary human evolution and particularly the role eastern Asia played. Unfortunately, uncertainty regarding ZKD UC's chronology has long hindered determination of its importance in the debate over modern human origins. This situation has been particularly problematic because dates from the primary archaeological layers of ZKD UC have ranged from the Late Pleistocene to the Early Holocene (∼34–10 ka), with clearly different implications depending on which age is used. Here, we present a new set of accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating results from ZKD UC. Based on this new set of dates and further re-evaluations of the previous dating analyses, archaeological materials, published excavation reports and stratigraphy, we conclude that the ZKD UC archaeological layers minimally date to 35.1–33.5 ka. Given the similarities between the human fossils and archaeology between ZKD UC and western Eurasia, it is likely that the ZKD UC human foragers were part of dispersal events across northern Eurasia toward Siberia and eventually reaching into northern China.



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