Match running performance and physical capacity profiles of U8 and U10 soccer players

Aim This study aimed to characterize match running performance of very young soccer players and evaluate the relationship between these data and physical capacities and technical skills. Methods Distances covered at different speed thresholds were measured during 31 official matches using GPS technology in U10 (n = 12; age 10.1 ± 0.1 years) and U8 (n = 15; age 7.9 ± 0.1 years) national soccer players. Counter movement jump performance (CMJ), 20 m shuttle running (20 m-SR), linear sprint performance (10, 20, 30 m), shuttle (SHDT) and slalom dribble tests (SLDT) were performed to determine the players physical capacities and technical skills. Results Physical capacities and technical skills were higher in U10 versus U8 players [P 0.05, ES: 0.74). The U10 players covered more total (TD) and high-intensity running distance (HIRD) than their younger counterparts did (P 0.05, ES: 0.99). TD and HIRD covered across the three 15 min periods of match play did not decline (P > 0.05, ES: 0.02–0.55). Very large magnitude correlations were observed between the U8 and U10 players performances during the 20 m-SR versus TD (r = 0.79; P < 0.01) and HIRD (r = 0.82; P < 0.01) covered during match play. Conclusions Data demonstrate differences in match running performance and physical capacity between U8 and U10 players, and large magnitude relationships between match play measures and physical test performances. These findings could be useful to sports science staff working within the academies

Remodeling of cholinergic input to the hippocampus after noise exposure and tinnitus induction in Guinea pigs

Here, we investigate remodeling of hippocampal cholinergic inputs after noise exposure and determine the relevance of these changes to tinnitus. To assess the effects of noise exposure on the hippocampus, guinea pigs were exposed to unilateral noise for 2 hr and 2 weeks later, immunohistochemistry was performed on hippocampal sections to examine vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) expression. To evaluate whether the changes in VAChT were relevant to tinnitus, another group of animals was exposed to the same noise band twice to induce tinnitus, which was assessed using gap‐prepulse Inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) 12 weeks after the first noise exposure, followed by immunohistochemistry. Acoustic Brainstem Response (ABR) thresholds were elevated immediately after noise exposure for all experimental animals but returned to baseline levels several days after noise exposure. ABR wave I amplitude‐intensity functions did not show any changes after 2 or 12 weeks of recovery compared to baseline levels. In animals assessed 2‐weeks following noise‐exposure, hippocampal VAChT puncta density decreased on both sides of the brain by 20–60% in exposed animals. By 12 weeks following the initial noise exposure, changes in VAChT puncta density largely recovered to baseline levels in exposed animals that did not develop tinnitus, but remained diminished in animals that developed tinnitus. These tinnitus‐specific changes were particularly prominent in hippocampal synapse‐rich layers of the dentate gyrus and areas CA3 and CA1, and VAChT density in these regions negatively correlated with tinnitus severity. The robust changes in VAChT labeling in the hippocampus 2 weeks after noise exposure suggest involvement of this circuitry in auditory processing. After chronic tinnitus induction, tinnitus‐specific changes occurred in synapse‐rich layers of the hippocampus, suggesting that synaptic processing in the hippocampus may play an important role in the pathophysiology of tinnitus.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150542/1/hipo23058.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150542/2/hipo23058_am.pd

Sequencing of bacterial microflora in peripheral blood: our experience with HIV-infected patients

The healthy gastrointestinal tract is physiologically colonized by a large variety of commensal microbes that influence the development of the humoral and cellular mucosal immune system. Microbiota is shielded from the immune system via a strong mucosal barrier. Infections and antibiotics are known to alter both the normal gastrointestinal tract barrier and the composition of resident bacteria, which may result in possible immune abnormalities. HIV causes a breach in the gastrointestinal barrier with progressive failure of mucosal immunity and leakage into the systemic circulation of bacterial bioproducts, such as lipopolysaccharide and bacterial DNA fragments, which contribute to systemic immune activation. Microbial translocation is implicated in HIV/AIDS immunopathogenesis and response to therapy. We aimed to characterise the composition of bacteria translocating in peripheral blood of HIV-infected patients. To pursue our aim we set up a PCR reaction for the panbacteric 16S ribosomial gene followed by a sequencing analysis. Briefly, whole blood from both HIV-infected and healthy subjects is used. Given that healthy individuals present normal intestinal homeostasis no translocation of microflora is expected in these patients. Following whole blood collection by venipuncture and plasma separation, DNA is extracted from plasma and used to perform a broad range PCR reaction for the panbacteric 16S ribosomial gene. Following PCR product purification, cloning and sequencing analyses are performed

Tapered Optical Fibers for Optogenetics: Ray Tracing Modeling

We present a Ray Tracing model of tapered optical fibers (TF), recently proposed for both wide-volume and site-selective optical control of neural activity [1]. Light-delivery properties of TFs are computationally investigated by identifying the emitting region of the taper and the resulting output angles. This is done in two alternative light coupling modes: i) injecting light within the entire acceptance angle of the optical fiber, generating light output from almost the entire taper, and ii) selecting a specific input angle, therefore allowing light delivery from a specific portion of the TF. In both cases a good agreement with previously reported experimental data has been obtained, letting us envision that the proposed approach can be used to study the mode-division demultiplexing properties of TFs, representing an important tool to design optogenetics experiments in vivo with TFs. © 2018 IEEE

Tailoring light delivery for optogenetics by modal demultiplexing in tapered optical fibers

Optogenetic control of neural activity in deep brain regions ideally requires precise and flexible light delivery with non-invasive devices. To this end, Tapered Optical Fibers (TFs) represent a versatile tool that can deliver light over either large brain volumes or spatially confined sub-regions, while being sensibly smaller than flat-cleaved optical fibers. In this work, we report on the possibility of further extending light emission length along the taper in the range 0.4 mm-3.0 mm by increasing the numerical aperture of the TFs to NA = 0.66. We investigated the dependence between the input angle of light (θin) and the output position along the taper, finding that for θin > 10° this relationship is linear. This mode-division demultiplexing property of the taper was confirmed with a ray tracing model and characterized for 473 nm and 561 nm light in quasi-transparent solution and in brain slices, with the two wavelengths used to illuminate simultaneously two different regions of the brain using only one waveguide. The results presented in this manuscript can guide neuroscientists to design their optogenetic experiments on the base of this mode-division demultiplexing approach, providing a tool that potentially allow for dynamic targeting of regions with diverse extension, from the mouse VTA up to the macaque visual cortex

MULTISYSTEM NON-ARTHROPATHIC RETICULOHISTIOCYTOSIS Problems and pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of multisystem non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses

Histiocytoses are rare proliferative disorders of the mononuclear-phagocyte system. Within non-Langerhans-cell histiocytoses (NLCH), multisystem (MS) cases potentially constitute a subset at high risk of complications and progression. The current 2016 revised classification subdivides histiocytoses in 5 groups, based on highly heterogeneous criteria. Within MS-NLCH, the "L-group" includes Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) together with Langerhans-cell histiocytosis, due to their molecular similarity; disseminated juvenile xanthogranuloma, xanthoma disseminatum and multicentric reticulohistiocytosis belong to the "C-group", because of their predominant dermatological presentation; and lastly, MS-Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is listed in the specific "R-group" due to clinical and pathological findings. However, from a histopathological point of view, MS-NLCH may be divided into three categories: foamy-cell NLCH (e.g. ECD), Reticulohistiocytoses and RDD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved