Effect of melatonin ingestion on physical performance, metabolic responses, and recovery after an intermittent training session

Objectives Fatigue is a limiting factor for sport performance. For this reason, optimal recovery after training is just as critical as the training program itself, if not more. Indeed, there is a need for strategies that can facilitate recovery after training, and one such strategy is the ingestion of supplements like melatonin (MEL). This study aimed to evaluate if MEL intake could improve recovery of athletes after an intermittent training session (ITS). Methods Fifteen elite female athletes (17.4 ± 0.4 years, 76.4 ± 5.6 kg, 1.76 ± 0.04 m; mean ± standard deviation) participated in two testing campaigns. During each period, they performed a battery of physical and cognitive tests before and after an ITS, as well as after ingesting MEL (6 mg tablet) or placebo in a randomized design. The ITS comprised the modified agility T-test, squat jump, counter movement jump, maximum standing ball-throw velocity test, maximum jump ball-throw velocity test, and 20-m sprint. Oral temperature (OT) and vigilance were evaluated before and after the ITS. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate [La], and glucose [Gl] were recorded after each ITS. Results Short-term performance, recovery of physical performance, and OT were not affected by MEL ingestion after the ITS. Moreover, MEL did not affect cognitive performance or RPE scores after the ITS. However, [La] and [Gl] (p < 0.05 for both) were decreased after MEL ingestion. Conclusion: MEL has no effect on the recovery of physical performance but may affect glucose utilization and lactate metabolism during the team-handball training session

Morning melatonin ingestion and diurnal variation of short-term maximal performances in soccer players

Aim Very few studies have investigated the temporal specificity of melatonin (MEL) ingestion upon short-term maximal athletic performances. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of morning MEL ingestion on cognitive and physical performances measured in the afternoon. Methods Twelve soccer players from a Tunisian squad (17.9 ± 1.3 years, 1.74 ± 0.06 m and 62.0 ± 8.8 kg) participated in the present study. They performed two testing sessions at 08:00 h, 12:00 h and 16:00 h after either MEL (5mg) or placebo (PLA) ingestion, in a randomized order. During each period, the participants performed the following cognitive and physical tests: reaction time and vigilance tests, medicine-ball throw (MBT), five jumps, handgrip strength (HG), and agility tests. Results cognitive and physical performances were significantly higher at 16:00 h compared to 08:00 h during the two conditions (p < 0.05). Moreover, performances of MBT and HG were lower in the morning with MEL in comparison to PLA (p < 0.05). However, MEL ingestion did not affect physical and cognitive performances measured at 12:00 h and 16:00 h. Conclusion morning MEL ingestion has no unfavourable effect on afternoon physical and cognitive performances in soccer players

Far-infrared study of the Jahn-Teller distorted C60 monoanion in C60 tetraphenylphosphoniumiodide

We report high-resolution far-infrared transmission measurements on C(60)-tetraphenylphosphoniumiodide as a function of temperature. In the spectral region investigated (20-650 cm(-1)), we assign intramolecular modes of the C(60) monoanion and identify low-frequency combination modes. The well-known F(1u)(1) and F(1u)(2) modes are split into doublers at room temperature, indicating a D(5d) or D(3d) distorted ball. This result is consistent with a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the strong-coupling limit or with a static distortion stabilized by low-symmetry perturbations. The appearance of silent odd modes is in keeping with symmetry reduction of the hall, while activation of even modes is attributed to interband electron-phonon coupling and orientational disorder in the fulleride salt. Temperature dependences reveal a weak transition in the region 125-150 K in both C(60)(-) and counterion modes, indicating a bulk, rather than solely molecular, effect. Anomalous softening (with decreasing temperature) in several modes may correlate with the radial character of those vibrations. [S0163-1829(98)03245-7]

Variation in the provision and practice of implant-based breast reconstruction in the UK: Results from the iBRA national practice questionnaire

Introduction The introduction of biological and synthetic meshes has revolutionised the practice of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) but evidence for effectiveness is lacking. The iBRA (implant Breast Reconstruction evAluation) study is a national trainee-led project that aims to explore the practice and outcomes of IBBR to inform the design of a future trial. We report the results of the iBRA National Practice Questionnaire (NPQ) which aimed to comprehensively describe the provision and practice of IBBR across the UK. Methods A questionnaire investigating local practice and service provision of IBBR developed by the iBRA Steering Group was completed by trainee and consultant leads at breast and plastic surgical units across the UK. Summary data for each survey item were calculated and variation between centres and overall provision of care examined. Results 81 units within 79 NHS-hospitals completed the questionnaire. Units offered a range of reconstructive techniques, with IBBR accounting for 70% (IQR:50–80%) of participating units' immediate procedures. Units on average were staffed by 2.5 breast surgeons (IQR:2.0–3.0) and 2.0 plastic surgeons (IQR:1.0–3.0) performing 35 IBBR cases per year (IQR:20-50). Variation was demonstrated in the provision of novel different techniques for IBBR especially the use of biological (n = 62) and synthetic (n = 25) meshes and in patient selection for these procedures. Conclusions The iBRA-NPQ has demonstrated marked variation in the provision and practice of IBBR in the UK. The prospective audit phase of the iBRA study will determine the safety and effectiveness of different approaches to IBBR and allow evidence-based best practice to be explored

183. Współistnienie chorób piersi u chorych leczonych z powodu raka lub innych chorób tarczycy

Choroby gruczołu piersiowego i tarczycy należą do najczęściej występujących chorób u kobiet. Powszechność tych schorzeń budzi pytanie o istniejące pomiędzy nimi związki. Celem pracy była ocena gruczołu piersiowego u kobiet leczonych z powodu raka tub innych chorób tarczycy. Badaniem objęto 229 kobiet leczonych z powodu raka tarczycy oraz 39 kobiet, u których rozpoznano łagodne choroby tarczycy. Wśród chorych na raka tarczycy stwierdzono: 176 przypadków raka brodawkowatego (76,9%), 3 przypadki odmiany pęcherzykowej raka brodawkowatego (1,3%), 37 przypadków raka pęcherzykowego (16,2%), 5 przypadków raka oksyfilnego (2,2%) oraz 6 przypadków raka rdzeniastego (2,6%). W grupie łagodnych chorób tarczycy stwierdzono 26 przypadków wola guzkowego (66,7%), 9 przypadków choroby Hashimoto i innych zapaleń (23,1%) i 4 przypadki choroby Graves-Basedowa (10,3%). U chorych wykonywano następujące badania piersi: badanie palpacyjne, mammografię i ultrasonografię. W przypadku stwierdzenia zmian w powyższych badaniach kontynuowano diagnostykę wykonując biopsję cienkoigłową lub chirurgiczne wycięcie zmian z badaniem histopatologicznym. W grupie chorych na raka tarczycy u 62 pacjentek rozpoznano choroby piersi (27,1%). Były to: raki–5 przypadków (2,2%) oraz zmiany niezłośliwe –57 przypadków (24,9%). W grupie schorzeń niezłośliwych u 46 pacjentek były to zmiany o charakterze mastopatii (80,1%), a u 11 pacjentek nowotwory łagodne (19,3%). Zachorowalność na raka piersi w badanej 268 osobowej grupie chorych wyniosła 1,86% (1860/100 000) i wyraźnie przewyższa standaryzowany względem wieku wskaźnik zachorowalności wynoszący dla Polski 36,0/100 000.Wniosek – w grupie chorych tyreologicznych stwierdza się częstsze występowanie patologii w obrębie piersi. Uzasadnia to rutynową diagnostykę piersi w tej grupie kobiet

Relative Timed Model for Coordinated Multi Agent Systems

The MAS engineering is becoming very important, it is concerned with models, methods and tools. Therefore, verifying the correctness of MAS is the next challenge. We are interested by MAS where each participating agent has its own physical clock of varying frequency, while no global clock is available or desirable. Under such circumstances models must be adapted. In this paper we attempt a novel approach to model the MAS, with a respect of two characteristics, the concurrent aspect and heterogeneity of agents (perceived as a different time rates of agents plan execution). Timed automata with action durations are used; for the circumstance it’s extended to deal with relative time rates. Its semantic is abstracted by a novel equivalence relation leading to a region automaton for decidability assessment and proof.45