Effects of movement velocity and training frequency of resistance exercise on functional performance in older adults: a randomised controlled trial

Objectives: To investigate the effects that high-velocity, low-load (HVLL) and low-velocity, high-load (LVHL) resistance exercise, performed once or twice-weekly, have on indices of functional performance (primary outcome), maximal strength, and body composition (secondary outcomes) in older adults. Methods: In a randomised, controlled, multi-armed, parallel design, 54 moderately-highly active, but resistance exercise naïve older adults (aged 60–79 years), attended baseline and post-10-week intervention assessment sessions. Physical and functional assessments were completed, and predicted one-repetition maximums (1-RM) were obtained for eight exercises. Participants were then randomised into one of five conditions: HVLL once-weekly (HVLL1: n = 11) or twice-weekly (HVLL2: n = 11), LVHL once-weekly (LVHL1: n = 10) or twice-weekly (LVHL2: n = 11), no-exercise control condition (CON: n = 11). The HVLL conditions completed 3 sets of 14 repetitions at 40% 1-RM and the LVHL conditions, 3 sets of 7 repetitions at 80% 1-RM. In total, 50 participants completed all testing and were included in analyses. Results: Only LVHL2 improved 30-sec chair stand performance (p =.035; g = 0.89), arm curls (p =.011; g = 1.65) and grip-strength (p =.015; g = 0.34) compared to CON. LVHL2 improved maximal strength compared to CON for 7/8 exercises (p <.05). Whereas, LVHL1 and HVLL2 only improved seated row and chest press compared to CON (p <.05). Conclusion: Possibly due to the lower intensity nature of the HVLL conditions, LVHL, twice-weekly was most beneficial for improving functional performance and strength in moderately-highly active older adults. Therefore, we recommend that exercise professionals ensure resistance exercise sessions have sufficient intensity of effort and volume, in order to maximise functional performance and strength gains in older adults. 

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, mode of analgesia and risk of Caesarean delivery after onset of labour: a Mendelian randomisation analysis

BACKGROUND: Lower circulating levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) are associated with intrapartum inflammation and epidural analgesia-related maternal fever, both of which increase the rate of obstetric interventions. We hypothesised that genetic variants determining IL-1ra levels would be associated with Caesarean delivery rates after the onset of labour. METHODS: We performed Mendelian randomisation analyses in parous women ≥16 yr old who received either non-neuraxial or neuraxial analgesia for their first two labours (UK Biobank). We used an established genetic score (calculated as 0-4, determined by the presence/absence of rs6743376 and rs1542176 alleles), in which the complete absence of both alleles causes the lowest IL-1ra levels. The primary outcome was Caesarean delivery after the onset of labour (odds ratio [OR]: 95% confidence intervals). RESULTS: There were 7731 women (mean [standard deviation] age at first birth: 25 [5] yr) who had complete genetic scores and delivery data. For women who received non-neuraxial analgesia, Caesarean delivery rates were different across allele scores (χ2=12.4; P=0.015): 104/596 (17.4%) women with zero allele score underwent Caesarean delivery, compared with 654/5015 (13.0%) with allele score ≥1 (OR 1.41; 1.12-1.77). For women who had neuraxial analgesia, Caesarean delivery was not different across allele scores, ranging from 18.1% to 20.8% (χ2=0.29; P=0.99). Caesarean delivery was independent of type of analgesia for 818/7731 (10.6%) women with zero allele scores (OR 0.93; 0.63-1.39), but was higher in women receiving neuraxial analgesia with allele scores ≥1 (OR 1.55; 1.35-1.79; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mendelian randomisation analysis suggests that higher IL-1ra levels are associated with reduced Caesarean delivery rate. Neuraxial analgesia appears to disrupt this link. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UK Biobank study 62745

Adaptation and Validation of the MapMe Body Image Scales in Spanish Parents of Schoolchildren

\ua9 2024 by the authors.Childhood overweight and obesity is a worldwide problem and to treat it parents’ detection has to be improved. The MapMe Body Image Scales (BIS) are a visual tool developed to improve parental perception of child weight in the United Kingdon (UK) based on British growth reference criteria. The aim of this study was to make a transcultural adaptation and validation of the MapMe BIS in Spain based on International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut offs A descriptive cross-sectional study was done. First, a translation and cultural adaptation was carried out. A total of 155 10–11-year-old children and their parents participated in this study. Children were measured to calculate their weight status, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Percentage (BFP) and Waist Circumference (WC), and their parents completed a purpose designed questionnaire about their perception and satisfaction of child’s body weight status using the adapted BIS. Test-retest reliability, criterion validity and concurrent validity of the adapted BIS were analyzed. This study shows that the adapted MapMe BIS has good psychometric properties and is a suitable visual scale to assess parental perception of weight status in 10 and 11-year-old children in Spain

Predicting the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary health care. The predictD-Spain study: Methodology

Background: The effects of putative risk factors on the onset and/or persistence of depression remain unclear. We aim to develop comprehensive models to predict the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary care. Here we explain the general methodology of the predictD-Spain study and evaluate the reliability of the questionnaires used. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. A systematic random sample of general practice attendees aged 18 to 75 has been recruited in seven Spanish provinces. Depression is being measured with the CIDI at baseline, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A set of individual, environmental, genetic, professional and organizational risk factors are to be assessed at each follow-up point. In a separate reliability study, a proportional random sample of 401 participants completed the test-retest (251 researcher-administered and 150 self-administered) between October 2005 and February 2006. We have also checked 118,398 items for data entry from a random sample of 480 patients stratified by province. Results: All items and questionnaires had good test-retest reliability for both methods of administration, except for the use of recreational drugs over the previous six months. Cronbach's alphas were good and their factorial analyses coherent for the three scales evaluated (social support from family and friends, dissatisfaction with paid work, and dissatisfaction with unpaid work). There were 191 (0.16%) data entry errors. Conclusion: The items and questionnaires were reliable and data quality control was excellent. When we eventually obtain our risk index for the onset and persistence of depression, we will be able to determine the individual risk of each patient evaluated in primary health car

A Phase I study of the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of navitoclax plus docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

Aim: This Phase I study investigated safety of navitoclax and docetaxel in patients (n = 41) with advanced solid tumors. Patients & methods: Two navitoclax plus docetaxel dosing schedules (21 and 28 days) were evaluated. Maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities and preliminary antitumor activity were assessed. Results: Ten (24%) patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities; dose-escalation cohorts: n = 7 (21-day schedule: n = 5; 28-day schedule: n = 2) and 21-day expanded safety cohort: n = 3. Navitoclax 150-mg days 1-5 every 21 days with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 day 1 was the maximum tolerated dose and optimal schedule. Adverse events included thrombocytopenia (63%), fatigue (61%), nausea (59%) and neutropenia (51%). Four confirmed partial responses occurred. Conclusion: Navitoclax 150-mg orally once/day was safely administered with docetaxel. Myelosuppression limited dose escalation; antitumor activity was observed. Clinical trial registration: NCT00888108 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Nano-mechanical properties of Fe-Mn-Al-C lightweight steels

High Al Low-density steels could have a transformative effect on the light-weighting of steel structures for transportation and achieving the desired properties with the minimum amount of Ni is of great interest from an economic perspective. In this study, the mechanical properties of two duplex low-density steels, Fe-15Mn-10Al-0.8C-5Ni and Fe-15Mn-10Al-0.8C (wt.%) were investigated through nano-indentation and simulation through utilization of ab initio formalisms in Density Functional Theory (DFT) in order to establish the hardness resulting from two critical structural features (ߢ-carbides and B2 intermetallic) as a function of annealing temperature (500 − 1050 ℃) and the addition of Ni. In the Ni-free sample, the calculated elastic properties of kappa-carbides were compared with those of the B2 intermetallic Fe3Al − L12, and the role of Mn in the kappa structure and its elastic properties were studied. The Ni-containing samples were found to have a higher hardness due to the B2 phase composition being NiAl rather than FeAl, with Ni-Al bonds reported to be stronger than the Fe-Al bonds. In both samples, at temperatures of 900 ℃ and above, the ferrite phase contained nano-sized discs of B2 phase, wherein the Ni-containing samples exhibited higher hardness, attributed again to the stronger Ni-Al bonds in the B2 phase. At 700 ℃ and below, the nano-sized B2 discs were replaced by micrometre sized needles of kappa in the Ni-free sample resulting in a lowering of the hardness. In the Ni-containing sample, the entire alpha phase was replaced by B2 stringers, which had a lower hardness than the Ni-Al nano-discs due to a lower Ni content in B2 stringer bands formed at 700 ℃ and below. In addition, the hardness of needle-like kappa-carbides formed in alpha phase was found to be a function of Mn content. Although it was impossible to measure the hardness of cuboid kappa particles in gamma phase because of their nano-size, the hardness value of composite phases, e.g. gamma + kappa was measured and reported. All the hardness values were compared and rationalized by bonding energy between different atoms

Patterns of subnet usage reveal distinct scales of regulation in the transcriptional regulatory network of Escherichia coli

The set of regulatory interactions between genes, mediated by transcription factors, forms a species' transcriptional regulatory network (TRN). By comparing this network with measured gene expression data one can identify functional properties of the TRN and gain general insight into transcriptional control. We define the subnet of a node as the subgraph consisting of all nodes topologically downstream of the node, including itself. Using a large set of microarray expression data of the bacterium Escherichia coli, we find that the gene expression in different subnets exhibits a structured pattern in response to environmental changes and genotypic mutation. Subnets with less changes in their expression pattern have a higher fraction of feed-forward loop motifs and a lower fraction of small RNA targets within them. Our study implies that the TRN consists of several scales of regulatory organization: 1) subnets with more varying gene expression controlled by both transcription factors and post-transcriptional RNA regulation, and 2) subnets with less varying gene expression having more feed-forward loops and less post-transcriptional RNA regulation.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, to be published in PLoS Computational Biolog

Circuit dissection of the role of somatostatin in itch and pain

Stimuli that elicit itch are detected by sensory neurons that innervate the skin. This information is processed by the spinal cord; however, the way in which this occurs is still poorly understood. Here we investigated the neuronal pathways for itch neurotransmission, particularly the contribution of the neuropeptide somatostatin. We find that in the periphery, somatostatin is exclusively expressed in Nppb+ neurons, and we demonstrate that Nppb+somatostatin+ cells function as pruriceptors. Employing chemogenetics, pharmacology and cell-specific ablation methods, we demonstrate that somatostatin potentiates itch by inhibiting inhibitory dynorphin neurons, which results in disinhibition of GRPR+ neurons. Furthermore, elimination of somatostatin from primary afferents and/or from spinal interneurons demonstrates differential involvement of the peptide released from these sources in itch and pain. Our results define the neural circuit underlying somatostatin-induced itch and characterize a contrasting antinociceptive role for the peptide

Interactions of treated municipal wastewater with native plant species

Potentially, the restoration of native ecosystems could be combined with the land application of treated municipal wastewater (TMW), reducing TMW discharge into waterbodies. High levels of nutrients, pathogens, and other contaminants from TMW can degrade water quality. The land application of TMW onto native vegetation reduces the nutrient load in water bodies and may create zones of ecological value. However, establishing native plants may be challenging if the species are not adapted to highly fertile environments, such as those resulting from TMW irrigation. There is a critical knowledge gap about the response of native plant species to irrigation with TMW. We aimed to determine the distribution and speciation of nutrients in the soil- plant system following application of TMW onto 11 species of native plants in a long-term field trial on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand (NZ). TMW was irrigated at a rate of 1000 mm per annum, equivalent to N, and P loading rates of 194 and 110 kg ha yr¯¹, respectively. We determined physicochemical properties from soil profiles (0–65 cm) under selected species as well as the growth and chemical composition of the plants. Despite the site receiving 950 kg ha¯¹ yr¯¹ of Na, there was no evidence of impaired soil structure following TMW irrigation. Nitrogen did not accumulate in the soil, and it is likely to have been taken up by plants or lost through denitrification and nitrate leaching. The accumulation rate of P indicated that soil P concentrations will remain within the range found in NZ agricultural soils for at least 50 years. TMW irrigation increased plant height by 10% compared to the control after 3.5 years of growth. Plant species significantly affected the concentrations of total C, total N, nitrate (NO‾₃), and Na in the soil. TMW application had negligible effects on the elemental composition of plant foliage. NZ native vegetation can facilitate the land application of TMW. Future work should elucidate the maximum rates that can be applied as well as the effect of TMW on the soil microbiota