The effects of low and high glycemic index meals on metabolism and performance during soccer-specific intermittent exercise

The glycemic index (GI) of a pre-exercise meal has been shown to affect substrate oxidation during exercise and may influence exercise performance. Previous research in this area has focused on continuous, moderate intensity exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low and high glycemic index (GI) pre-exercise meals on metabolism and performance during soccer-specific intermittent exercise. Thirteen trained male soccer players (22.3 ± 3.3 yrs) participated in four experimental trials in a repeated crossover design. Isocaloric low GI-high protein (lentils), high GI-high protein (potato + egg whites), or high GI-low protein (potato) meals were consumed two hours before a 90-minute treadmill soccer match simulation. A fasted control condition was also employed. Blood and expired gas samples were collected before and during exercise to assess markers of carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The distance covered on five 1-minute sprints (separated by 2.5 minutes of recovery) performed during the last 15 minutes of the match was used to assess performance. Serum insulin concentration at the start of exercise was higher in the high GI-low protein condition compared to all other conditions (

Acute effects of adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's disease

Background: Beta-based adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) is effective in Parkinson's disease (PD), when assessed in the immediate post-implantation phase. However, the potential benefits of aDBS in patients with electrodes chronically implanted, in whom changes due to the microlesion effect have disappeared, are yet to be assessed. Methods: To determine the acute effectiveness and side-effect profile of aDBS in PD compared to conventional continuous DBS (cDBS) and no stimulation (NoStim), years after DBS implantation, 13 PD patients undergoing battery replacement were pseudo-randomised in a crossover fashion, into three conditions (NoStim, aDBS or cDBS), with a 2-min interval between them. Patient videos were blindly evaluated using a short version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (subUPDRS), and the Speech Intelligibility Test (SIT). Results: Mean disease duration was 16 years, and the mean time since DBS-implantation was 6.9 years. subUPDRS scores (11 patients tested) were significantly lower both in aDBS (p=<.001), and cDBS (p = .001), when compared to NoStim. Bradykinesia subscores were significantly lower in aDBS (p = .002), and did not achieve significance during cDBS (p = .08), when compared to NoStim. Two patients demonstrated re-emerging tremor during aDBS. SIT scores of patients who presented stimulation-induced dysarthria significantly worsened in cDBS (p = .009), but not in aDBS (p = .407), when compared to NoStim. Overall, stimulation was applied 48.8% of the time during aDBS. Conclusion: Beta-based aDBS is effective in PD patients with bradykinetic phenotypes, delivers less stimulation than cDBS, and potentially has a more favourable speech side-effect profile. Patients with prominent tremor may require a modified adaptive strategy

Biological resurfacing in a canine model of hip osteoarthritis

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The Impact of Sub-maximal Exercise on Neuropathic Pain, Inflammation, and Affect Among Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) often report high levels of neuropathic pain (NP) and poor well-being, which may result from increased inflammation. This study examined the impact of sub-maximal aerobic exercise on NP, inflammation and psychological affect among adults with SCI. Methods: Eight active adults with tetraplegia (n-4, AIS A-C) and paraplegia (n = 4, AIS A-C) performed 30-min of arm-crank aerobic exercise and reported their ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) each minute. Measures of NP, affect, and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ra, TNF-α) were taken pre-(T0), immediately post-(T1), and 90-min post-exercise (T2). Results: NP decreased between T0 and T1 for tetraplegics (−60%, d = 0.47; CI = −0.32, 2.02) and paraplegics (−16%, d = 0.15; CI = −0.30, 0.90). Correlations between change in cytokines and change in NP were medium-to large for tetraplegics (rs ranged from −0.820 to 0.965) and paraplegics (rs ranged from −0.598 to 0.833). However, the pattern of correlations between change in cytokines and affect was inconsistent between groups. Lower baseline levels of IL-1ra predicted greater decreases in NP immediately post-exercise (r = 0.83, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Sub-maximal exercise can positively impact NP for some persons with SCI. Further experimental research should identify the optimal exercise intensity to reduce NP for persons with SCI, in addition to understanding biomarkers which may predict changes in NP. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03955523

Laser written waveguide photonic quantum circuits

We report photonic quantum circuits created using an ultrafast laser processing technique that is rapid, requires no lithographic mask and can be used to create three-dimensional networks of waveguide devices. We have characterized directional couplers--the key functional elements of photonic quantum circuits--and found that they perform as well as lithographically produced waveguide devices. We further demonstrate high-performance interferometers and an important multi-photon quantum interference phenomenon for the first time in integrated optics. This direct-write approach will enable the rapid development of sophisticated quantum optical circuits and their scaling into three-dimensions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Optics Express 04/04/2009, accepted for publication 30/06/0

Subthalamic nucleus beta and gamma activity is modulated depending on the level of imagined grip force.

Motor imagery involves cortical networks similar to those activated by real movements, but the extent to which the basal ganglia are recruited is not yet clear. Gamma and beta oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) vary with the effort of sustained muscle activity. We recorded local field potentials in Parkinson's disease patients and investigated if similar changes can be observed during imagined gripping at three different 'forces'. We found that beta activity decreased significantly only for imagined grips at the two stronger force levels. Additionally, gamma power significantly scaled with increasing imagined force. Thus, in combination, these two spectral features can provide information about the intended force of an imaginary grip even in the absence of sensory feedback. Modulations in the two frequency bands during imaginary movement may explain the rehabilitating benefit of motor imagery to improve motor performance. The results also suggest that STN LFPs may provide useful information for brain-machine interfaces

Glycemic and Metabolic Effects of Two Long Bouts of Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Men with Normal Glucose Tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes

BackgroundThe glycemic and insulinemic responses following 30–60 min of exercise have been extensively studied, and a dose–response has been proposed between exercise duration, or volume, and improvements in glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity. However, few studies have examined the effects of longer bouts of exercise in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Longer bouts may have a greater potential to affect glucagon, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and incretin hormones [i.e., glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP)].AimTo examine the effect of two bouts of long-duration, moderate-intensity exercise on incretins, glucagon, and IL-6 responses before and after exercise, as well as in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conducted the following day.MethodsTwelve men, six with and six without T2D, participated in two separate conditions (i.e., exercise vs. rest) according to a randomized crossover design. On day 1, participants either rested or performed two 90 min bouts of treadmill exercise (separated by 3.5 h) at 80% of their ventilatory threshold. All participants received standardized meals on day 1. On day 2 of each condition, glucose and hormonal responses were measured during a 4-h OGTT.ResultsOn day 1, exercise increased IL-6 at the end of the first bout of exercise (exercise by time interaction p = 0.03) and GIP overall (main effect of exercise p = 0.004). Glucose was reduced to a greater extent in T2D following exercise (exercise by T2D interaction p = 0.03). On day 2, GIP and active GLP-1 were increased in the fasting state (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively), while plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations were reduced during the OGTT (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) in the exercise compared to the rest condition for both healthy controls and T2D. Postprandial glucose was elevated in T2D compared to healthy control (p &lt; 0.05) but was not affected by exercise.ConclusionLong-duration, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase IL-6. On the day following exercise, fasting incretins remained increased but postprandial insulin and glucagon were decreased without affecting postprandial glucose. This long duration of exercise may not be appropriate for some people, and further research should investigate why next day glucose tolerance was unchanged

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Experimental protocol for sea level projections from ISMIP6 stand-alone ice sheet models

Projection of the contribution of ice sheets to sea level change as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) takes the form of simulations from coupled ice sheet–climate models and stand-alone ice sheet models, overseen by the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project for CMIP6 (ISMIP6). This paper describes the experimental setup for process-based sea level change projections to be performed with stand-alone Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet models in the context of ISMIP6. The ISMIP6 protocol relies on a suite of polar atmospheric and oceanic CMIP-based forcing for ice sheet models, in order to explore the uncertainty in projected sea level change due to future emissions scenarios, CMIP models, ice sheet models, and parameterizations for ice–ocean interactions. We describe here the approach taken for defining the suite of ISMIP6 stand-alone ice sheet simulations, document the experimental framework and implementation, and present an overview of the ISMIP6 forcing to be used by participating ice sheet modeling groups