Functional Analysis of a Putative Target of Spatially Varying Selection in the Menin1 Gene of Drosophila melanogaster

While significant effort has been devoted to investigating the potential influence of spatially varying selection on genomic variation, relatively little effort has been devoted to experimental analysis of putative variants or genes experiencing such selection. Previous population genetic work identified an amino acid polymorphism in the Mnn1 gene as one of the most strongly latitudinally differentiated SNPs in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster in the United States and Australia. Here we report the results of our transgenic analysis of this amino acid polymorphism. Genotypes carrying alternative Mnn1 alleles differed in multiple phenotypes in a direction generally consistent with phenotypic differences previously observed along latitudinal clines. These results support inferences from earlier population genomic work that this variant influences fitness, and support the idea that the alleles exhibiting clines may be likely to have pleiotropic effects that are correlated along the axes favored by natural selection.

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Photoplethysmography Detection of Overreaching

Introduction Detecting the onset of functional or non-functional overreaching in endurance athletes is of prior importance to ensure reactive amendment of the scheduled training program. The objective of this study was to assess photoplethysmography (PPG) in overloaded athletes and test whether 1) it would be affected differently in functional overreached (FOR) or non-overreached acutely fatigued (AF) athletes; 2. Specific PPG characteristics would allow timely distinction of FOR and AF. Methods Fifteen athletes performed 2-wk baseline (BSL) training followed by 3-wk overload (+45%; OVL) and 2-wk recovery (-20%; RCV). 3000 m running time-trial was used to assess performance at the end of BSL, OVL and RCV and distinguish FOR and AF. PPG was recorded overnight using a wearable sensor, every third night. Overnight means and variances of systolic, diastolic and dicrotic amplitudes and times as well as systolic and diastolic slopes were used to discriminate FOR and AF athletes. Results Performance was decreased in FOR and improved in AF at the end of OVL. Diastolic time was greater in AF than FOR whilst systolic slope was smaller in AF than FOR during OVL. The variances of systolic, diastolic, dicrotic amplitudes, systolic, diastolic slopes and pulse areas were smaller in AF compared to FOR in the last week of OVL. Conclusion PPG is an efficient tool for the detection of overreaching as it distinguished FOR and AF athletes during OVL (prior performance decrement). This fast-responding method would therefore allow adjusting the daily training content in order to prevent non-functional overreaching. Address for correspondence: Nicolas Bourdillon, ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, Synathlon, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 21 692 3797. E-mail: nicolas.bourdillon@unil.ch NB and GPM have no conflicts of interest, sources of funding, or financial ties to disclose and no current or past relationship with companies or manufacturers who could benefit from the results of the present study. MN is an employee of my-vitality. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. This work was made possible by the financial support of the CTI commission n° 18164.2 PFLS-LS. Results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. Accepted for publication October 2018. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

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Effectiveness of a Parent-led Physical Activity Intervention in Youth with Obesity

Purpose Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex, rare neuro-behavioral syndrome characterized by excessive fat, hypotonia, poor motor skills, and behavioral and cognitive disabilities. We tested the effectiveness of a home-based physical activity (PA) intervention led by parents in youth with obesity with and without PWS to increase moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and gross motor proficiency (MP). Methods Participants were 111 youth ages 8-16 y (45 with PWS and 66 without PWS, but categorized as obese). A parallel design was used with the control group (C) receiving the intervention after serving as control. Intervention participants (I) completed a PA curriculum four days a week for 24 weeks including warm-up exercises, strengthening exercises, and playground games two days a week and interactive console games two days a week guided by their parents. Pre-post outcomes (baseline to 24 weeks) included MVPA (7-day accelerometry) and MP including upper limb coordination, bilateral coordination, balance, running speed and agility, and muscle strength (Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency). Results The intervention led to no change in MVPA (I-group: 39.6 vs. 38.9 min/day; C-group: 40.6 vs. 38.3 min/day). The intervention led to improvements in body coordination (22.3%; p

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Attenuation of Spontaneous Baroreceptor Sensitivity following Concussion

Introduction Cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (CV-ANS) function is negatively impacted after concussion. The arterial baroreflex buffers pressor and depressor challenges through efferent modulation of cardiac chrono- and inotropism, and peripheral vascular tone. Baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) reflects the capacity of the CV-ANS to accommodate dynamic metabolic demands in the periphery. The impact of concussion on BRS has yet to be defined. Methods CV-ANS assessment (e.g., electrocardiogram and beat-to-beat SBP) was performed the seated upright position at rest within 48 hours (V1) of concussion and 1 week later (V2) in 10 intercollegiate male athletes with concussion and 10 non-injured male athletes. Changes in heart rate (HR), SBP, high and low frequency HR variability (HF- and LF-HRV, respectively), LF-SBP variability and BRS for increasing (BRSn-Up) and decreasing (BRSn-Dn) SBP excursions, and overall BRS (BRSn-Avg) were assessed for differences at V1 and V2. Results The concussion (age: 20±1 years; height: 1.79±0.14 meters; weight: 83±10 kilograms) and control (age: 20±1 years; height: 1.78±0.10 meters; weight: 79±13 kilograms) groups were matched for demographics. Concussed athletes had a significantly reduced BRSn-Up, BRSn-Dn, and BRSn-Avg compared to controls at V1 or V2; these changes occurred without differences in conventional markers of CV-ANS function (e.g., HF-HRV, LF-HRV, LF-SBP), HR or SBP at either visit. Conclusions Reduced BRS is a post-concussive consequence of CV-ANS dysfunction during the first post-injury week. Because SBP was similar between groups, it may be speculated that reduced BRS was not afferent in origin, but represents a post-injury consequence of the central nervous system after injury. Address for Correspondence and Reprints: Michael F. La Fountaine, Ed.D., ATC, FACSM, Seton Hall University, Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) Campus, Building 123, 340 Kingsland Street, Nutley, NJ 07110. Phone: (973) 275-2918. Fax: (973) 275-2370. E-mail address: lafounmi@shu.edu Preparation of this manuscript was partially supported by the New Jersey Commission for Brain Injury Research Individual Research Grant #CBIR16IRG025. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation, and statement that results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by the ACSM. Conflicts of Interest: None to declare Accepted for publication October 2018. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

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Time Trial Performance Is Sensitive to Low-Volume Autologous Blood Transfusion

PURPOSE This study tested the hypothesis that autologous blood transfusion (ABT) of ~50% of the red blood cells (RBCs) from a standard 450 ml phlebotomy would increase mean power in a cycling time trial. Additionally, the study investigated whether further ABT of RBCs obtained from another 450 ml phlebotomy would increase repeated cycling sprint ability. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design (3-month wash-out), nine highly trained male subjects donated two 450 ml blood bags each (BT-trial) or were sham phlebotomized (PLA-trial). Four weeks later, a 650 kcal time trial (n=7) was performed three days before and 2 h after receiving either ~50% (135 ml) of the RBCs or a sham transfusion. On the following day, transfusion of RBCs (235 ml) from the second donation or sham transfusion was completed. A 4×30 s all-out cycling sprint interspersed by 4 min of recovery was performed six days before and three days after the second ABT (n=9). RESULTS The mean power was increased in time trials from before to after transfusion (P

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Sandy Hook parent puts emphasis on compassion at trauma conference

Scarlett Lewis praised audience members for being the"heroes" of trauma response and discussed the importance of social-emotional learning

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Son’s death inspires father to become first responder

Dan Miller, an 11-year veteran firefighter-paramedic, became an EMT shortly after his 2-year-old son died of choking

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