CHANGES IN RUNNING GAIT PARAMETERS DURING A 161 KM TRAIL RACE

The current study examined changes in running speed and technique during a 161 km trail race and their relationship to performance. Sixteen participants were video recorded during continuous running for each of the five 32 km loops of the race. Participant's stride length (SL), stride rate (SR), and speed were calculated. Lap and finish times were also collated from the race results. All variables changed significantly during the race (i.e. Speed↓, Lap time↑, SL↓ and SR↓). Increased consistency in stride rate and length across the five laps, as well as speed, correlated positively with performance. Increased stride length in laps one, two and four correlated positively with performance. Results indicated that fatigue during the race decreased both speed and SL. Better performers ran faster with a longer SL and were able to maintain their initial speed for longer

Logarithmic interaction under periodic boundary conditions: Closed form formulas for energy and forces

A method is given to obtain closed form formulas for the energy and forces for an aggregate of charges interacting via a logarithmic interaction under periodic boundary conditions. The work done here is a generalization of Glasser's results [M. L. Glasser, J. Math. Phys. 15, 188 (1974)] and is obtained with a different and simpler method than that by Stremler [M. A. Stremler, J. Math. Phys. 45, 3584 (2004)]. The simplicity of the formulas derived here makes them extremely convenient in a computer simulation

Randomized trial of FK 506/prednisone vs FK 506/azathioprine/prednisone after renal transplantation: preliminary report.

FK 506 was used as a primary immunosuppressive agent in 125 cases of renal transplantation in a randomized trial comparing FK 506/prednisone with FK 506/azathioprine/prednisone. With a mean follow-up of 5.5 +/- 2.5 months, there has been a 6-month actuarial patient survival of 99% and graft survival of 88%. There is no difference thus far between the two-drug and three-drug groups, although there may be less rejection and diabetes in the three-drug group. These results suggest that FK 506 is a useful immunosuppressive agent in kidney transplantation

Antibiotics Increase Gut Metabolism and Antioxidant Proteins and Decrease Acute Phase Response and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Background: The appropriate use of antibiotics for preterm infants, which are highly susceptible to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), is not clear. While antibiotic therapy is commonly used in neonates with NEC symptoms and sepsis, it remains unknown how antibiotics may affect the intestine and NEC sensitivity. We hypothesized that broad-spectrum antibiotics, given immediately after preterm birth, would reduce NEC sensitivity and support intestinal protective mechanisms. Methodology/Principal Findings: Preterm pigs were treated with antibiotics for 5 d (oral and systemic doses of gentamycin, ampicillin and metrodinazole; AB group) and compared with untreated pigs. Only the untreated pigs showed evidence of NEC lesions and reduced digestive function, as indicated by lowered villus height and activity of brush border enzymes. In addition, 53 intestinal and 22 plasma proteins differed in expression between AB and untreated pigs. AB treatment increased the abundance of intestinal proteins related to carbohydrate and protein metabolism, actin filaments, iron homeostasis and antioxidants. Further, heat shock proteins and the complement system were affected suggesting that all these proteins were involved in the colonization-dependent early onset of NEC. In plasma, acute phase proteins (haptoglobin, complement proteins) decreased, while albumin, cleaved C3, ficolin and transferrin increased. Conclusions/Significance: Depressed bacterial colonization following AB treatment increases mucosal integrity and reduces bacteria-associated inflammatory responses in preterm neonates. The plasma proteins C3, ficolin, and transferrin are potential biomarkers of the colonization-dependent NEC progression in preterm neonates. © 2012 Jiang et al.published_or_final_versio