Hypoxic training increases maximal oxygen consumption in Thoroughbred horses well-trained in normoxia.

Hypoxic training is effective for improving athletic performance in humans. It increases maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) more than normoxic training in untrained horses. However, the effects of hypoxic training on well-trained horses are unclear. We measured the effects of hypoxic training on V̇O2max of 5 well-trained horses in which V̇O2max had not increased over 3 consecutive weeks of supramaximal treadmill training in normoxia which was performed twice a week. The horses trained with hypoxia (15% inspired O2) twice a week. Cardiorespiratory valuables were analyzed with analysis of variance between before and after 3 weeks of hypoxic training. Mass-specific V̇O2max increased after 3 weeks of hypoxic training (178 ± 10 vs. 194 ± 12.3 ml O2 (STPD)/(kg × min), P<0.05) even though all-out training in normoxia had not increased V̇O2max. Absolute V̇O2max also increased after hypoxic training (86.6 ± 6.2 vs. 93.6 ± 6.6 l O2 (STPD)/min, P<0.05). Total running distance after hypoxic training increased 12% compared to that before hypoxic training; however, the difference was not significant. There were no significant differences between pre- and post-hypoxic training for end-run plasma lactate concentrations or packed cell volumes. Hypoxic training may increase V̇O2max even though it is not increased by normoxic training in well-trained horses, at least for the durations of time evaluated in this study. Training while breathing hypoxic gas may have the potential to enhance normoxic performance of Thoroughbred horses

Physiological and skeletal muscle responses to high-intensity interval exercise in Thoroughbred horses

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to determine whether acute high-intensity interval exercise or sprint interval exercise induces greater physiological and skeletal muscle responses compared to moderate-intensity continuous exercise in horses.MethodsIn a randomized crossover design, eight trained Thoroughbred horses performed three treadmill exercise protocols consisting of moderate-intensity continuous exercise (6 min at 70% VO2max; MICT), high-intensity interval exercise (6 × 30 s at 100% VO2max; HIIT), and sprint interval exercise (6 × 15 s at 120% VO2max; SIT). Arterial blood samples were collected to measure blood gas variables and plasma lactate concentration. Biopsy samples were obtained from the gluteus medius muscle before, immediately after, 4 h, and 24 h after exercise for biochemical analysis, western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. Effects of time and exercise protocol were analyzed using mixed models (p < 0.05).ResultsHeart rate and plasma lactate concentration at the end of exercise were higher in HIIT and SIT than those in MICT (heart rate, HIIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0005; SIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0015; lactate, HIIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0014; SIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0003). Arterial O2 saturation and arterial pH in HIIT and SIT were lower compared with MICT (SaO2, HIIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0035; SIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0265; pH, HIIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0011; SIT vs. MICT, p = 0.0023). Muscle glycogen content decreased significantly in HIIT (p = 0.0004) and SIT (p = 0.0016) immediately after exercise, but not in MICT (p = 0.19). Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in HIIT showed a significant increase immediately after exercise (p = 0.014), but the increase was not significant in MICT (p = 0.13) and SIT (p = 0.39). At 4 h after exercise, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α mRNA increased in HIIT (p = 0.0027) and SIT (p = 0.0019) and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA increased in SIT (p = 0.0002).DiscussionDespite an equal run distance, HIIT and SIT cause more severe arterial hypoxemia and lactic acidosis compared with MICT. In addition, HIIT activates the AMPK signaling cascade, and HIIT and SIT elevate mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis, whereas MICT did not induce any significant changes to these signaling pathways

準拠集団と道徳性の発達(第3報告) : 交友選択の範囲及び対人態度と準拠人・道徳判断の類似性

This is one of the study concerning reference groups and moral development. In the first part, the bounds of friend selection as a reference person was analysed. The objects were 250 fourth graders of elementary school and 151 first year students of junior high school. As the result of sociometric test, it was found that concerning the fourth graders, their friend selection rates among the Classmates was found high. While there was quite a variety of their selection outside their class. About the first year students of junior high school, when they think about the situations of playing or studying, rate of their selection among the classmates appeared high. However, when they consult their personal problems, this rate was rather low. In such cases they tended to choose their friends among those of their same age. In the second part, the relationship between interpersonal attraction and similarity was analysed. The objects were 39 fourth graders and 95 sixth graders. The questionnaire for reference person, moral development test and sociometric test were used. Two kinds of selection pairs were set up. The first was the pair between the selector and his most prefered friend. The second was the pair between the selector and his least prefered friend. Comparing these two pairs, the first tended to choose the same reference person. When the friend was regarded as the reference person, this tendency was accurately seen in the sixth graders. When the family was the reference group, there was not clear difference between the first and second pairs in the fourth graders. However, the second pairs of the sixth graders was selected more often their family as the reference group. Concerning the moral judgement, there was not clear relationship between similarity and attraction. It was discussed that those who select friends as reference persons were tended to be chosen as friends by others. As the same time, the similarity of the reference person might be the significant factor of interpersonal attraction

Acute exercise in a hot environment increases heat shock protein 70 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α mRNA in Thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle

Heat acclimatization or acclimation training in horses is practiced to reduce physiological strain and improve exercise performance in the heat, which can involve metabolic improvement in skeletal muscle. However, there is limited information concerning the acute signaling responses of equine skeletal muscle after exercise in a hot environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that exercise in hot conditions induces greater changes in heat shock proteins and mitochondrial-related signaling in equine skeletal muscle compared with exercise in cool conditions. Fifteen trained Thoroughbred horses [4.6 ± 0.4 (mean ± SE) years old; 503 ± 14 kg] were assigned to perform a treadmill exercise test in cool conditions [COOL; Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), 12.5°C; n = 8] or hot conditions (HOT; WBGT, 29.5°C; n = 7) consisting of walking at 1.7 m/s for 1 min, trotting at 4 m/s for 5 min, and cantering at 7 m/s for 2 min and at 90% of VO2max for 2 min, followed by walking at 1.7 m/s for 20 min. Heart rate during exercise and plasma lactate concentration immediately after exercise were measured. Biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle before and at 4 h after exercise, and relative quantitative analysis of mRNA expression using real-time RT-PCR was performed. Data were analyzed with using mixed models. There were no significant differences between the two groups in peak heart rate (COOL, 213 ± 3 bpm; HOT, 214 ± 4 bpm; p = 0.782) and plasma lactate concentration (COOL, 13.1 ± 1.4 mmoL/L; HOT, 17.5 ± 1.7 mmoL/L; p = 0.060), while HSP-70 (COOL, 1.9-fold, p = 0.207; HOT, 2.4-fold, p = 0.045), PGC-1α (COOL, 3.8-fold, p = 0.424; HOT, 8.4-fold, p = 0.010), HIF-1α (COOL, 1.6-fold, p = 0.315; HOT, 2.2-fold, p = 0.018) and PDK4 (COOL, 7.6-fold, p = 0.412; HOT, 14.1-fold, p = 0.047) mRNA increased significantly only in HOT at 4 h after exercise. These data indicate that acute exercise in a hot environment facilitates protective response to heat stress (HSP-70), mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α and HIF-1α) and fatty acid oxidation (PDK4)

Prospective cohort study of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer patients administered with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapies: CSPOR-BC FN study

Background As Asians are more vulnerable to febrile neutropenia (FN) than Caucasians, evaluations of FN incidence and risk factors in Asians are important for the appropriate use of primary pegfilgrastim (PEG-G). Patients and methods Japanese breast cancer patients receiving standard adjuvant chemotherapies were prospectively enrolled in multicenter institutions from August 2015 to July 2017. FN was evaluated from 2 treatment policies: true FN (T-FN): ≥37.5 °C, grade 4 neutropenia, mandatory hospital visit (visiting); surrogate FN (S-FN): ≥37.5 °C, oral antibiotic, no mandatory visit (non-visiting). PEG-G was used at the physicians’ discretion. The primary endpoint was FN incidence during all cycles. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify T-FN risk factors. Results Of 1005 enrolled patients, 980 women treated with FEC, E(A)C, and TC were analyzed. The FN incidence proportions in all patients were 22.5%, 27.5%, and 33.9% for FEC, E(A)C, and TC, respectively. Those of T-FN were 27.7%, 22.4%, and 36.6%; those of S-FN were 17.3%, 32.4%, and 31.5% with more frequent primary PEG-G usage. The relative dose intensity (RDI) of the 3 regimens was ≥0.85 in both groups. In the analysis of risk factors, TC (odds ratio = 2.67), age ≥ 65 years (2.24), and pretreatment absolute neutrophil count (ANC)/1000 μl (0.8) remained significant. Conclusions FN incidences were above 20% in the 3 regimens, with TC showing the highest. RDI was maintained at a high level in both visiting and non-visiting groups. Patient-related risk factors were age and pretreatment ANC

Incorporation of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Into Human Skeletal Muscle Sarcolemmal and Mitochondrial Membranes Following 12 Weeks of Fish Oil Supplementation

Fish oil (FO) supplementation in humans results in the incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C20:6) into skeletal muscle membranes. However, despite the importance of membrane composition in structure–function relationships, a paucity of information exists regarding how different muscle membranes/organelles respond to FO supplementation. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effects 12 weeks of FO supplementation (3g EPA/2g DHA daily) on the phospholipid composition of sarcolemmal and mitochondrial fractions, as well as whole muscle responses, in healthy young males. FO supplementation increased the total phospholipid content in whole muscle (57%; p < 0.05) and the sarcolemma (38%; p = 0.05), but did not alter the content in mitochondria. The content of omega-3 FAs, EPA and DHA, were increased (+3-fold) in whole muscle, and mitochondrial membranes, and as a result the omega-6/omega-3 ratios were dramatically decreased (-3-fold), while conversely the unsaturation indexes were increased. Intriguingly, before supplementation the unsaturation index (UI) of sarcolemmal membranes was ∼3 times lower (p < 0.001) than either whole muscle or mitochondrial membranes. While supplementation also increased DHA within sarcolemmal membranes, EPA was not altered, and as a result the omega-6/omega-3 ratio and UI of these membranes were not altered. All together, these data revealed that mitochondrial and sarcolemmal membranes display unique phospholipid compositions and responses to FO supplementation

準拠集団と道徳性の発達(第2報告)

This is a very brief summary of the report of a series of studies on reference groups and moral development. In the first study, an attempt was made to construct a moral development test in terms of moral judgment in interpersonal conflicting situations. The test consisted of 16 questions, each of which included a conflicting situation of moral judgment, and four-choice response items; that is, Type A-selfish-expedient, Type B-conforming-other-oriented, Type C-conscientious-normative, and Type D-rational-altruistic. Out of four responses, described in terms of a form of concrete behavior, in each test situation, the subjects were asked to choose the most fitting response. The results show a remarkable tendency by fourth graders and above to dominantly choose C and D type responses. In the second study, the general features of moral judgment responses and a mode of choice of reference persons were examined. Fourth graders were likely to choose parents as their reference persons whereas sixth graders were more likely to choose close friends. No significant relationship was found between children\u27s moral judgment responses and their choice of reference persons. Next, the effects of agreement and disagreement between moral judgment responses of reference persons and children\u27s own responses were experimentally investigated to determine whether or not the children\u27s responses were modified. Where the children\u27s typical responses were of Type A, disagreement between their responses and those by reference persons was likely to lead to the children modifying their responses in the direction of agreement with the reference persons\u27 responses. In other type responses, however, such a tendency was not evident. In the condition of agreement, children tended to positively appreciate the reference persons\u27 responses, but in the condition of disagreement, they were likely to react more negatively to reference persons\u27 responses. In the subsequent study, parent-child moral judgments were compared on the basis of four different criteria. In general, children tended to perceive parents\u27 judgments as similar to their own; likewise, parents also tended to regard their children\u27s judgments as similar to theirs. The latter tendency, however, was not as conspicuous as the former. In the final study, children\u27s moral judgments were compared with their mothers\u27 judgments as perceived by their children, as well as with friends\u27 judgments as perceived by the subjects. The subjects were very likely to interprete other\u27s moral judgments as similar to their own. In cases of disagreement, children were likely to judge that their mother\u27s responses were in accord with the majority judgments, whereas they tended to regard their friends\u27 responses as supporting their own responses. Finally, some promising lines for further study are discussed

The Quiescent Intracluster Medium in the Core of the Perseus Cluster

Clusters of galaxies are the most massive gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe and are still forming. They are thus important probes of cosmological parameters and a host of astrophysical processes. Knowledge of the dynamics of the pervasive hot gas, which dominates in mass over stars in a cluster, is a crucial missing ingredient. It can enable new insights into mechanical energy injection by the central supermassive black hole and the use of hydrostatic equilibrium for the determination of cluster masses. X-rays from the core of the Perseus cluster are emitted by the 50 million K diffuse hot plasma filling its gravitational potential well. The Active Galactic Nucleus of the central galaxy NGC1275 is pumping jetted energy into the surrounding intracluster medium, creating buoyant bubbles filled with relativistic plasma. These likely induce motions in the intracluster medium and heat the inner gas preventing runaway radiative cooling; a process known as Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback. Here we report on Hitomi X-ray observations of the Perseus cluster core, which reveal a remarkably quiescent atmosphere where the gas has a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of 164+/-10 km/s in a region 30-60 kpc from the central nucleus. A gradient in the line-of-sight velocity of 150+/-70 km/s is found across the 60 kpc image of the cluster core. Turbulent pressure support in the gas is 4% or less of the thermodynamic pressure, with large scale shear at most doubling that estimate. We infer that total cluster masses determined from hydrostatic equilibrium in the central regions need little correction for turbulent pressure.Comment: 31 pages, 11 Figs, published in Nature July