The influence of playing surface on the loading response to soccer-specific activity

Context: The influence of playing surface on injury risk in soccer is contentious, and 6 contemporary technologies permit an in-vivo assessment of mechanical loading on the 7 player. Objective: To quantify the influence of playing surface on the PlayerLoad elicited 8 during soccer-specific activity. Design: Repeated measures, field-based. Setting: 9 Regulation soccer pitches. Participants: 15 amateur soccer players (22.1 ± 2.4 yrs), injury 10 free with ≥ 6 yrs competitive experience. Interventions: Each player completed 11 randomised order trials of a soccer-specific field test on natural turf, astroturf and third 12 generation artificial turf. GPS units were located at C7 and the mid-tibia of each leg to 13 measure triaxial acceleration (100Hz). Main Outcome Measures: Total accumulated 14 PlayerLoad in each movement plane was calculated for each trial. Ratings of perceived 15 exertion (RPE) and visual analogue scales (VAS) assessing lower-limb muscle soreness 16 were measured as markers of fatigue. Results: ANOVA revealed no significant main 17 effect for playing surface on total PlayerLoad (P = 0.55), distance covered (P = 0.75), or 18 post-exercise measures of RPE (P = 0.98) and VAS (P = 0.61). There was a significant 19 main effect for GPS location (P < 0.001), with lower total loading elicited at C7 than mid20 tibia (P < 0.001), but with no difference between limbs (P = 0.70). There was no unit 21 placement x surface interaction (P = 0.98). There was also a significant main effect for 22 GPS location on the relative planar contributions to loading (P < 0.001). Relative planar 23 contributions to loading in the AP:ML:V planes was 25:27:48 at C7 and 34:32:34 at mid24 tibia. Conclusions: PlayerLoad metrics suggest that playing surface does not influence 25 mechanical loading during soccer-specific activity (not including tackling). Clinical 2 26 reasoning should consider that PlayerLoad magnitude and axial contributions were 27 sensitive to unit placement, highlighting opportunities in the objective monitoring of load 28 during rehabilitation

Component analysis of nutritionally rich chloroplasts: recovery from conventional and unconventional green plant species

A study of the literature indicates that chloroplasts synthesise a range of molecules, many of which have nutritional value for humans, but as yet no one has established the nutritional credentials of chloroplasts recovered from plant cells. Chloroplast-rich-fractions (CRFs) were prepared from green plant species and the macro- and micronutrient composition compared with the whole leaf materials (WLMs). The results indicated that, on a dry weight basis, CRF material from a range of green biomass was enriched in lipids and proteins, and in a range of micronutrients compared with the WLM. Vitamins E, pro-vitamin A, and lutein were all greater in CRF preparations. Of the minerals, iron was most notably concentrated in CRF. Spinach CRFs possessed the highest α-tocopherol (62 mg 100 g-1 , dry weight (DW)), β-carotene (336 mg 100 g- 1 DW) and lutein (341 mg 100 g-1 DW) contents, whilst grass CRFs had the highest concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (69.5 mg g-1). The higher concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-carotene, lutein, ALA and trace minerals (Fe and Mn) in CRFs suggest their potential use as concentrated ingredients in food formulations deficient in these nutrients

Does albumin regulate albumin?

A novel feedback regulatory mechanism operating on transcription of the albumin gene is described in the rat. In 1946, it was proposed that circulating colloids, including serum albumin, may affect the synthesis and/or secretion of albumin in the liver. The molecular basis for this proposed regulation has now been inves tigated by adding oncotically active macromolecules to the circulation of normal or genetically albumin-deficient Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR) and analyzing the hepatic expression of genes, including albumin after 24 h. The transcription rate of the albumin gene was higher in NAR than in normal rats and was dramatically reduced by raising serum albumin to 1.6 g/dl. Intravenous infusion of albumin into normal rats also decreased transcriptional activity of the albumin gene by 50–60%, and this decrease correlated with changes in serum colloid osmotic pressure after albumin infusion. Inhibition of albumin gene transcription was also observed upon intravenous infusion of other protein or nonprotein macromolecules, such as Γ-globulin and dextran. This down-regulation appears to control the steady-state level of albumin mRNA in the liver. Aside from a concomitant decrease in apo E gene transcription after albumin or macromolecule infusion, there was no change in the transcription rate of other genes, including those exhibiting liver-preferred or -specific expression (e.g., tyrosine aminotransferase, cytochrome P-450, Α 1 -antitrypsin, apolipoproteins A-I and B, and transferrin) or general cellular expression (e.g., Α-tubulin, pro Α 2 collagen, and Β-actin). Feedback regulation of albumin gene expression by serum colloids may serve as a specific homeostatic mechanism to maintain the steady-state level of total protein in the circulation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38388/1/1840160629_ftp.pd

Determinants of serum levels of vitamin D: a study of life-style, menopausal status, dietary intake, serum calcium, and PTH

Background: Low blood levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxy D3, 25OHD3) in women have been associated with an increased risk of several diseases. A large part of the population may have suboptimal 25OHD3 levels but high-risk groups are not well known. The aim of the present study was to identify determinants for serum levels of 25OHD3 in women, i.e. factors such as lifestyle, menopausal status, diet and selected biochemical variables. Methods: The study was based on women from the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS), a prospective, population-based cohort study in Malmo, Sweden. In a previous case-control study on breast cancer, 25OHD3 concentrations had been measured in 727 women. In these, quartiles of serum 25OHD3 were compared with regard to age at baseline, BMI (Body Max Index), menopausal status, use of oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), life-style (e. g. smoking and alcohol consumption), socio-demographic factors, season, biochemical variables (i.e. calcium, PTH, albumin, creatinine, and phosphate), and dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium. In order to test differences in mean vitamin D concentrations between different categories of the studied factors, an ANOVA test was used followed by a t-test. The relation between different factors and 25OHD3 was further investigated using multiple linear regression analysis and a logistic regression analysis. Results: We found a positive association between serum levels of 25OHD3 and age, oral contraceptive use, moderate alcohol consumption, blood collection during summer/autumn, creatinine, phosphate, calcium, and a high intake of vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels were associated with obesity, being born outside Sweden and high PTH levels. Conclusions: The present population-based study found a positive association between serum levels of 25OHD3 and to several socio-demographic, life-style and biochemical factors. The study may have implications e. g. for dietary recommendations. However, the analysis is a cross-sectional and it is difficult to suggest Lifestyle changes as cause-effect relationships are difficult to assess

“Es fundamental que la información que se transmita sea confiable”

El flamante Doctor Honoris Causa de la UNLP, Emilio Luque Fadón, de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, fue uno de los conferencistas de CACIC 2017. Durante su estadía por la ciudad de La Plata, el español habló acerca de las nuevas tecnologías, su tolerancia a los fallos y el consumo energético.Facultad de Informátic