Instant Biofeedback Provided by Wearable Sensor Technology Can Help to Optimize Exercise and Prevent Injury and Overuse

Source at https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00167 With great interest, we have been following the developing variety and popularity of commercially available wearable sensor technologies, as well as the discussion concerning their usefulness for improving fitness and health (Duking et al., 2016; Halson et al., 2016; Sperlich and Holmberg,2016). Although many of these devices may not necessarily fulfill scientific criteria for quality (Sperlich and Holmberg, 2016) or may pose a threat to the security of personal data (Austen, 2015 ), we would like to emphasize here that many individuals who seek to improve their health or physical performance do so on their own, without the guidance of professionals to design their fitness training. Although professional guidance is, of course, important, such individuals and, especially beginners, would find instantaneous (bio)feedback beneficial for optimal adaptation and prevention of overuse or injury. We believe wearable sensor technologies, in conjunction with appropriate (mobile) applications, data mining and machine learning algorithms, can provide biofeedback that is useful in many ways

Maskerade in Theorie und literarischer Gestaltung. Geschlecht und Körper, Begehren und Liebe in Werken von Antje Rávic Strubel, Katharina Hacker und Angela Krauß

The aim of this dissertation is to apply and advance the concept of gender masquerading, which has its origins in psychoanalysis and gender studies, to the field of literary studies. There, the concept of masquerading has mainly been discussed in the context of literary works in which gender masquerade was paralleled by cross-dressing. This approach needs to be differentiated methodologically as the concept of gender masquerading allows for a close psychological analysis of the literary characters in terms of femininity and masculinity, hetero- and homosexuality, desire and love, even and in particular in the absence of any visible disguise that masks gender or makes it seem confusingly ambiguous. The concept of gender masquerading was first developed by the psychoanalysts Joan Riviere and Jaques Lacan, and later critically re-assessed by philosopher and gender theorist Judith Butler, and includes multifaceted questions relating to the authenticity, the mechanisms and effects of gender performance, as well as to the relational structures between lovers or those who desire. Gender masquerading focuses on the discussion of femininity, which, in different theoretical contexts, is construed as pretence, as a psychic coping strategy, as stabilization of patriarchal structures, or as denial of a female desire which needs to be unmasked. In order to bring to the fore and highlight this specific character of gender masquerading in literary studies, the present study analyses three novels by contemporary female authors that do not include an overtly visible disguise or a readily identifiable change of gender roles: Antje Rávic Strubel's Kältere Schichten der Luft (2007), Katharina Hacker's Die Habenichtse (2006) und Angela Krauß' Wie weiter (2006). In-depth analyses of the narrative contents and linguistic representations of the novels provide the basis for a literary approach that unfolds the psychological depth of the respective characters and unveils numerous differences, contradictions and disruptions. These describe a complex interplay of various aspects: on the one hand the power of gender roles, the obligation of gender masquerading, the diverse insecurities, fears and possible repressions, on the other hand moments of conscious selfformation and self-transformation, as well as free, playful, sensual masquerading. In conclusion, it becomes clear that the concept of gender masquerading is a complex and versatile theoretical tool, which can prove to productively connect diverse questions of gender and body, sexuality, desire and love

Wearable technology in the sports medicine clinic to guide the return-to-play and performance protocols of athletes following a COVID-19 diagnosis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has enabled the adoption of digital health platforms for self-monitoring and diagnosis. Notably, the pandemic has had profound effects on athletes and their ability to train and compete. Sporting organizations worldwide have reported a significant increase in injuries manifesting from changes in training regimens and match schedules resulting from extended quarantines. While current literature focuses on the use of wearable technology to monitor athlete workloads to guide training, there is a lack of literature suggesting how such technology can mediate the return to sport processes of athletes infected with COVID-19. This paper bridges this gap by providing recommendations to guide team physicians and athletic trainers on the utility of wearable technology for improving the well-being of athletes who may be asymptomatic, symptomatic, or tested negative but have had to quarantine due to a close exposure. We start by describing the physiologic changes that occur in athletes infected with COVID-19 with extended deconditioning from a musculoskeletal, psychological, cardiopulmonary, and thermoregulatory standpoint and review the evidence on how these athletes may safely return to play. We highlight opportunities for wearable technology to aid in the return-to-play process by offering a list of key parameters pertinent to the athlete affected by COVID-19. This paper provides the athletic community with a greater understanding of how wearable technology can be implemented in the rehabilitation process of these athletes and spurs opportunities for further innovations in wearables, digital health, and sports medicine to reduce injury burden in athletes of all ages. © The Author(s) 2023

Anesthesia triggers drug delivery to experimental glioma in mice by hijacking caveolar transport

Abstract Background: Pharmaceutical intervention in the CNS is hampered by the shielding function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To induce clinical anesthesia, general anesthetics such as isoflurane readily penetrate the BBB. Here, we investigated whether isoflurane can be utilized for therapeutic drug delivery. Methods: Barrier function in primary endothelial cells was evaluated by transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance, and nanoscale STED and SRRF microscopy. In mice, BBB permeability was quantified by extravasation of several fluorescent tracers. Mouse models including the GL261 glioma model were evaluated by MRI, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, western blot, and expression analysis. Results: Isoflurane enhances BBB permeability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. We demonstrate that, mechanistically, isoflurane disturbs the organization of membrane lipid nanodomains and triggers caveolar transport in brain endothelial cells. BBB tightness re-establishes directly after termination of anesthesia, providing a defined window for drug delivery. In a therapeutic glioblastoma trial in mice, simultaneous exposure to isoflurane and cytotoxic agent improves efficacy of chemotherapy. Conclusions: Combination therapy, involving isoflurane-mediated BBB permeation with drug administration has far-reaching therapeutic implications for CNS malignancies

Respiration-deficient astrocytes survive as glycolytic cells in vivo

Neurons and glial cells exchange energy-rich metabolites and it has been suggested, originally based on in vitro data, that astrocytes provide lactate to glutamatergic synapses ("lactate shuttle"). Here, we have studied astrocytes that lack mitochondrial respiration in vitro and in vivo A novel mouse mutant (GLAST(CreERT2):Cox10(flox/flox) ) was generated, in which the administration of tamoxifen causes mutant astrocytes to fail in the assembly of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX). Focussing on cerebellar Bergmann glial cells that exhibit the highest rate of Cre-mediated recombination, we find a normal density of viable astrocytes even one year after tamoxifen-induced Cox10 gene targeting. Our data show that Bergmann glial cells, and presumably all astrocytes, can survive by aerobic glycolysis for an extended period of time, in the absence of glial pathology or unspecific signs of neurodegeneration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhen astrocytes are placed into culture they import glucose and release lactate, an energy-rich metabolite readily metabolized by neurons. This observation led to the "glia-to-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis", but in vivo evidence for this hypothesis is weak. To study astroglial energy metabolism and the directionality of lactate flux, we generated conditional Cox10 mouse mutants lacking mitochondrial respiration in astrocytes thus forcing these cells to survive by aerobic glycolysis. Here, we report that these mice are fully viable in the absence of any signs of glial or neuronal loss, suggesting that astrocytes are naturally glycolytic cells

Ketogenic diet uncovers differential metabolic plasticity of brain cells

To maintain homeostasis, the body, including the brain, reprograms its metabolism in response to altered nutrition or disease. However, the consequences of these challenges for the energy metabolism of the different brain cell types remain unknown. Here, we generated a proteome atlas of the major central nervous system (CNS) cell types from young and adult mice, after feeding the therapeutically relevant low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) and during neuroinflammation. Under steady-state conditions, CNS cell types prefer distinct modes of energy metabolism. Unexpectedly, the comparison with KD revealed distinct cell type–specific strategies to manage the altered availability of energy metabolites. Astrocytes and neurons but not oligodendrocytes demonstrated metabolic plasticity. Moreover, inflammatory demyelinating disease changed the neuronal metabolic signature in a similar direction as KD. Together, these findings highlight the importance of the metabolic cross-talk between CNS cells and between the periphery and the brain to manage altered nutrition and neurological disease

Respiratory Frequency during Exercise: The Neglected Physiological Measure

The use of wearable sensor technology for athlete training monitoring is growing exponentially, but some important measures and related wearable devices have received little attention so far. Respiratory frequency (fR), for example, is emerging as a valuable measurement for training monitoring. Despite the availability of unobtrusive wearable devices measuring fR with relatively good accuracy, fR is not commonly monitored during training. Yet fR is currently measured as a vital sign by multiparameter wearable devices in the military field, clinical settings, and occupational activities. When these devices have been used during exercise, fR was used for limited applications like the estimation of the ventilatory threshold. However, more information can be gained from fR. Unlike heart rate, VO2, and blood lactate, fR is strongly associated with perceived exertion during a variety of exercise paradigms, and under several experimental interventions affecting performance like muscle fatigue, glycogen depletion, heat exposure and hypoxia. This suggests that fR is a strong marker of physical effort. Furthermore, unlike other physiological variables, fR responds rapidly to variations in workload during high-intensity interval training (HIIT), with potential important implications for many sporting activities. This Perspective article aims to (i) present scientific evidence supporting the relevance of fR for training monitoring; (ii) critically revise possible methodologies to measure fR and the accuracy of currently available respiratory wearables; (iii) provide preliminary indication on how to analyze fR data. This viewpoint is expected to advance the field of training monitoring and stimulate directions for future development of sports wearables