A method for the ultrastructural preservation of tiny percutaneous needle biopsy material from skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle biopsies require transecting the muscle fibers resulting, in structural damage near the cut ends. Classically, the optimal ultrastructural preservation has been obtained by the use of relatively large biopsies in which the tissue fibers are restrained by ligating to a suitable retaining support prior to excision, and by examining regions at some distance from the cut ends. However, these methods require invasive surgical procedures. In the present study, we present and substantiate an alternative approach that allows for the excellent ultrastructural preservation of needle biopsy samples, even the very small samples obtained through tiny percutaneous needle biopsy (TPNB). TPNB represents an advantage, relative to standard muscle biopsy techniques and to other needle biopsies currently in use, as in addition to not requiring a skin incision, it leaves no scars in the muscle and requires an extremely brief recovery period. It is most appropriate for obtaining repeated samples in horizontal studies, e.g., in order to follow changes with athletic training and/or aging in a single individual and for studies of sarcopenic muscles in elderly patients. Due to the small size of the sample, TPNB may present limited usefulness for classical pathology diagnostics. However, it offers the major advantage of allowing multiple samples within a single session and this may be useful under specific circumstances

RCCS™ bioreactor-based modelled microgravity induces significant changes on in vitro 3D neuroglial cell cultures

We propose a human-derived neuro-/glial cell three-dimensional in vitro model to investigate the effects of microgravity on cell-cell interactions. A rotary cell-culture system (RCCS) bioreactor was used to generate a modelled microgravity environment, and morphofunctional features of glial-like GL15 and neuronal-like SH-SY5Y cells in three-dimensional individual cultures (monotypic aggregates) and cocultures (heterotypic aggregates) were analysed. Cell survival was maintained within all cell aggregates over 2 weeks of culture. Moreover, compared to cells as traditional static monolayers, cell aggregates cultured under modelled microgravity showed increased expression of specific differentiation markers (e.g., GL15 cells: GFAP, S100B; SH-SY5Y cells: GAP43) and modulation of functional cell-cell interactions (e.g., N-CAM and Cx43 expression and localisation). In conclusion, this culture model opens a wide range of specific investigations at the molecular, biochemical, and morphological levels, and it represents an important tool for in vitro studies into dynamic interactions and responses of nervous system cell components to microgravity environmental conditions

GOKIO KUMBU/AMADABLAM TREK 2012 : stabilometric adaptation in women to exercise training at low and high altitude

Purpose: Balance is the essential ability to maintain posture during physical activity and daily life. Exercise can have acute and chronic effects on postural stability. Individual exercise sessions can decrease postural stability, while long-term training improves balance and postural sway. Consequently, athletes and people undergoing training have better postural sway than more sedentary subjects. Hypobaric hypoxia has also been suggested to cause stress and adaptation of balance abilities. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of exercise training under normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia on postural sway. Methods: Seven adult females participated in this study. They underwent assessments of posture before and after 12 days of low-to-moderate exercise training at low altitude, and the same 4 months later, after 12 days of exercise training at high altitude. The data collected included: centre of pressure, average speed oscillation, and Romberg Quotient. This generated a total of 56 posture tests for these seven subjects. Results and conclusions: The results of this research suggest that comparing the each period of activity (pre-exercise) and after the end of each period (post-exercise), both at low and at high altitudes, did not influence the postural stability

Sport medicine and safety at work

As humans become more and more sedentary, physical capacities also become lost along with aerobic fitness, muscular strength, coordination, and action-reaction time. This situation can lead to not only absence from work (back pain is the most common reason in European Union (EU), but especially, workplace accidents. In this article we want to combine our experience with exercise physiology and physical capacities with our medical work in a critical environment. We tested over ten years, the fitness profile of 1200 Italian Alpine Soldiers, and gave them a scientific training program. We obtained a trained and homogeneous team (homogeneous, in terms of aerobic and anaerobic fitness). Here, we detail changes to aerobic and anaerobic fitness that occurred as a result of soldiers' participation in a training program. We consider this method necessary for safe work in a critical environment

Effects of a vibrational proprioceptive stimulation on recovery phase after maximal incremental cycle test

Global Proprioceptive Resonance (GPR) is a recently developed approach conceived to solicit the various cutaneous mechanoreceptors, through application of mechanical multifocal vibration at low amplitude and at definite body sites, limiting the stimulation of the profound structures. This interventional study evaluated the effects of GPR on cardiorespiratory function during the post-exertional recovery period. A group of volunteers involved in Triathlon (a multisport discipline consisting of sequential swim, cycle, and run disciplines higly demanding in terms of metabolic engagment), underwent two maximal incremental exercise tests until exhaustion followed alternatively to (a) a 13 minutes section of GPR or (b) a standard low intensity exercise acute trend of the same duration. These effects of these two approaches were compared in terms of recovery of: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and venous lactate concentration (Lac). The physiological parameters (HR, RR, SpO2 and Lac) recorded in the pre-exertion session showed similar values between the 40 volunteers while several differences were recorded in the post-exertion phase. After 6 min of GPR recovery it was recorded a drop in RR below baseline (19.4\ub14.15 min-1 vs. 12.2\ub1 0.4 min-1; p<0.001) coupled with an increase in peripheral oxygen saturation above the baseline (GPR: 99.0%\ub10.16% vs. 96.6%\ub10.77%, p<0.001). Moreover, the most striking result was the drop in lactate concentration measured after 13 min of GPR recovery: 84.5\ub13.5% in GPR vs 2.9\ub17.6% reduction in standard recovery (p<0.001). Notably no differences were recorded recovery of heart rate. GPR has promising effects on post-exercise recovery on RR, SpO2 and lactate level on young athletes

Changes in energy system contributions to the Wingate anaerobic test in climbers after a high altitude expedition

Purpose: The Wingate anaerobic test measures the maximum anaerobic capacity of the lower limbs. The energy sources of Wingate test are dominated by anaerobic metabolism (~ 80%). Chronic high altitude exposure induces adaptations on skeletal muscle function and metabolism. Therefore, the study aim was to investigate possible changes in the energy system contribution to Wingate test before and after a high-altitude sojourn. Methods: Seven male climbers performed a Wingate test before and after a 43-day expedition in the Himalaya (23 days above 5.000 m). Mechanical parameters included: peak power (PP), average power (AP), minimum power (MP) and fatigue index (FI). The metabolic equivalents were calculated as aerobic contribution from O2 uptake during the 30-s exercise phase (WVO2), lactic and alactic anaerobic energy sources were determined from net lactate production (WLa) and the fast component of the kinetics of post-exercise oxygen uptake (WPCr), respectively. The total metabolic work (WTOT) was calculated as the sum of the three energy sources. Results: PP and AP decreased from 7.3 \ub1 1.1 to 6.7 \ub1 1.1 W/kg and from 5.9 \ub1 0.7 to 5.4 \ub1 0.8 W/kg, respectively, while FI was unchanged. WTOT declined from 103.9 \ub1 28.7 to 83.8 \ub1 17.8 kJ. Relative aerobic contribution remained unchanged (19.9 \ub1 4.8% vs 18.3 \ub1 2.3%), while anaerobic lactic and alactic contributions decreased from 48.3 \ub1 11.7 to 43.1 \ub1 8.9% and increased from 31.8 \ub1 14.5 to 38.6 \ub1 7.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Chronic high altitude exposure induced a reduction in both mechanical and metabolic parameters of Wingate test. The anaerobic alactic relative contribution increased while the anaerobic lactic decreased, leaving unaffected the overall relative anaerobic contribution to Wingate test