Effects of Aging on Muscle Hypertrophy

Context: Skeletal muscle is essential for proper bodily functions by playing key roles in strength and movement, and it accounts for roughly 50% of our total body mass. Decreases in total muscle mass or mass-specific function would be expected to have a magnified negative impact. Sarcopenia, an age-dependent loss of motor nerves, leading by necessity to a coincident loss of muscle mass, would have exactly this kind of effect. Results: This age-dependent disorder may be the result of aberrant mTOR signaling, irregular miRNAs content, malnutrition and lack of activity, and age-related inflammation. It may be possible to reduce the effects of sarcopenia via strength training, as well as increasing daily intakes of protein, essential amino acids, and fish oils. Combining the consumption of whey protein, which is high in leucine, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids with strength training resulted in increases in muscle mass and strength. Objective: This review examines the existing causes and effects of age-related sarcopenia, as well as methods that might ameliorate problems associated with age-related sarcopenia

Effects of Aging on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy

Context: Skeletal muscle is essential for proper bodily functions by playing key roles in strength and movement, and it accounts for roughly 50% of our total body mass. Decreases in total muscle mass or mass-specific function would be expected to have a magnified negative impact. Sarcopenia, an age-dependent loss of motor nerves, leading by necessity to a coincident loss of muscle mass, would have exactly this kind of effect. Results: This age-dependent disorder may be the result of aberrant mTOR signaling, irregular miRNAs content, malnutrition and lack of activity, and age-related inflammation. It may be possible to reduce the effects of sarcopenia via strength training, as well as increasing daily intakes of protein, essential amino acids, and fish oils. Combining the consumption of whey protein, which is high in leucine, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids with strength training resulted in increases in muscle mass and strength. Objective: This review examines the existing causes and effects of age-related sarcopenia, as well as methods that might ameliorate problems associated with age-related sarcopenia

Addressing Motivations and Barriers to Research Involvement during Medical School among Osteopathic Medical Students in the United States

Involvement in research is regarded as a high-impact educational practice, which, for medical professionals, is associated with sharpened critical thinking and life-long learning skills, greater appreciation for evidence-based medicine, and better clinical competence scores. However, there are limited data regarding the research experience and/or interest among osteopathic medical students in the United States despite a rapidly increasing enrollment and expansion of the number of osteopathic medical schools. Thus, we administered an electronic survey examining prior research experience, interests, and perceptions about research participation during medical school to four successive classes of incoming first-year osteopathic medical students. We also performed focus groups with rising third-year osteopathic medical students around the topic of perceived barriers to and potential enablers of promoting research participation. This yielded a survey addendum where first-year osteopathic medical students provided feedback on the likelihood of specific incentives/enablers to encourage participation in research during medical school. Overall, osteopathic medical students are interested in research, view research experience as valuable, and perceive research experience as beneficial to future career development. Students perceive that the primary barrier to involvement in research is a potential negative impact upon performance in coursework. Feedback on the likelihood of specific enablers/incentives was also garnered. Our findings from a single institution may have important implications in defining the prior experiences and perceptions held by first-year osteopathic medical students. Specifically, our study indicates that research experiences intentionally designed with (1) a strong likelihood of gaining a publication, (2) financial compensation, and (3) the opportunity for short-term involvement, a flexible time commitment, and/or a dedicated time period are most likely to encourage research participation by osteopathic medical students

Addressing Motivations and Barriers to Research Involvement during Medical School among Osteopathic Medical Students in the United States

Involvement in research is regarded as a high-impact educational practice, which, for medical professionals, is associated with sharpened critical thinking and life-long learning skills, greater appreciation for evidence-based medicine, and better clinical competence scores. However, there are limited data regarding the research experience and/or interest among osteopathic medical students in the United States despite a rapidly increasing enrollment and expansion of the number of osteopathic medical schools. Thus, we administered an electronic survey examining prior research experience, interests, and perceptions about research participation during medical school to four successive classes of incoming first-year osteopathic medical students. We also performed focus groups with rising third-year osteopathic medical students around the topic of perceived barriers to and potential enablers of promoting research participation. This yielded a survey addendum where first-year osteopathic medical students provided feedback on the likelihood of specific incentives/enablers to encourage participation in research during medical school. Overall, osteopathic medical students are interested in research, view research experience as valuable, and perceive research experience as beneficial to future career development. Students perceive that the primary barrier to involvement in research is a potential negative impact upon performance in coursework. Feedback on the likelihood of specific enablers/incentives was also garnered. Our findings from a single institution may have important implications in defining the prior experiences and perceptions held by first-year osteopathic medical students. Specifically, our study indicates that research experiences intentionally designed with (1) a strong likelihood of gaining a publication, (2) financial compensation, and (3) the opportunity for short-term involvement, a flexible time commitment, and/or a dedicated time period are most likely to encourage research participation by osteopathic medical students