Nutrition Strategies for Triathlon

Contemporary sports nutrition guidelines recommend that each athlete develop a personalised, periodised and practical approach to eating that allows him or her to train hard, recover and adapt optimally, stay free of illness and injury and compete at their best at peak races. Competitive triathletes undertake a heavy training programme to prepare for three different sports while undertaking races varying in duration from 20 min to 10 h. The everyday diet should be adequate in energy availability, provide CHO in varying amounts and timing around workouts according to the benefits of training with low or high CHO availability and spread high-quality protein over the day to maximise the adaptive response to each session. Race nutrition requires a targeted and well-practised plan that maintains fuel and hydration goals over the duration of the specific event, according to the opportunities provided by the race and other challenges, such as a hot environment. Supplements and sports foods can make a small contribution to a sports nutrition plan, when medical supplements are used under supervision to prevent/treat nutrient deficiencies (e.g. iron or vitamin D) or when sports foods provide a convenient source of nutrients when it is impractical to eat whole foods. Finally, a few evidence-based performance supplements may contribute to optimal race performance when used according to best practice protocols to suit the triathlete’s goals and individual responsiveness

Development of a stand-alone device to simultaneously record cardiotocography biosignals in an open format for testing methods of assessing fetal heart rate variability

Fetal hypoxia/acidemia recognition improves with computerized analysis of biosignals collected from cardiotocography (CTG), particularly the assesment of short-term variability (STV) of fetal heart rate (FHR). Several methods to compute STV have been described with varied performance results according to acquisition method, sampling and storage rates and algorithm definition. Dawes-Redman algorithm (STV16) is the most widely reproduced in available commercial systems. However, it shows a low correlation with the beat-to-beat variation determined from fetal electrocardiographic signal (fECG). STV240 algorithm has been introduced in an attempt to approximate STV assessment to real beat-to-beat variation. There is no comparison in the literature between these two algorithms, taking as gold standard variability obtained from ECG tracing. With a view to providing reliable records for the standardization and comparison of STV algorithms, most notably, STV16 and STV240, we have designed, assembled and developed a stand- alone device well able to connect with different CTG machines and collect simultaneously biomedical signals of interest, particularly FHR, uterine activity and fECG, from the standard monitor outputs. It generates a file in an open format that allows assessment of computerized parameters of CTG. By means of R- R instantaneous variation from fECG as a reference we have found no agreement by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient between STV16 and STV240, neither with STV calculated from fECG. Nevertheless, the last two correlated closely. Standardisation of algorithms, interoperability and research in computerized CTG need to be provided with simultaneous recordings of biosignals involved, including the ECG raw signal. STV16 and STV240 require individualised normal ranges.This work has been funded by the Fundación para el fomento de la investigación sanitaria y biomédica de la comunitat valenciana (FISABIO UGP-21-045)

Short-term exposure to carbamazepine causes oxidative stress on common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Artículo científico en revista indizadaThe aim of this research was to determine the bioconcentration factor and if subacute exposure to carbama- zepine (2 mg L−1) modifies the oxidative state of liver, gills and brain of Cyprinus carpio. This was measured through the following biomarkers: hydroperoxide and protein carbonyl content, lipid peroxidation degree, as well as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity. Carbamazepine concentration in carp’s tissue was also determined by liquid chromatography with a diode arrangement detector. An increase in lipid peroxidation degree, hydroperoxide and protein carbonyl content, and a decrease in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (P < 0.05) with respect to control was observed. Also, there is an increase in the con- centration of carbamazepina present in the organs with respect to the water in the system, which denotes bioconcentration of the drug. In conclusion, carbamazepine is bioconcentrated and produces oxidative stress on the common carp (C. carpio).Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (SIP-IPN 20170919)

Psychological type and prayer preferences: a study among Anglican clergy in the United Kingdom

This study applies the framework of Jungian psychological type theory to define eight aspects of prayer preference, namely: introverted prayer, extraverted prayer, sensing prayer, intuitive prayer, feeling prayer, thinking prayer, judging prayer, and perceiving prayer. On the basis of data provided by 1,476 newly ordained Anglican clergy from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, eight 7-item scales were developed to access these aspects of prayer preferences. Significant correlations were found between each prayer preference and the relevant aspect of psychological type accessed by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. These data support the theory that psychological type influences the way in which people pray

May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening in Spain-Europe.

May Measurement Month 2017 is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide, in which Spain participated actively. The primary objective was to raise awareness and increase control of BP in Spain. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was set up in May 2017. Following the design of the International Society of Hypertension, data were collected from the 17 autonomous communities in which Spain is divided, mainly in community pharmacies, primary care centres and some hypertension (HT) units, and cardiovascular departments in hospitals. No additional training of volunteers was necessary. A total of 3849 individuals were screened. After multiple imputation, our data showed that 1923 (50.0%) had HT. In those not receiving antihypertensive medication, 17.5% were hypertensives, in individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 33.9% had uncontrolled BP. May Measurement Month 2017 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Spain. In total, 17.5% of people with HT did not receive medication. One-third of hypertensive participants receiving treatment did not have their BP controlled. These results confirm that an opportunistic screening can identify a significant number of subjects with and untreated and inadequately treated BP

Results of salt intake restriction monitored with the new sodium control biosensor

Adherence to a low sodium (Na) diet is crucial in patients under hemodialysis, as it improves cardiovascular outcomes and reduces thirst and interdialytic weight gain. Recommended salt intake is lower than 5 g/day. The new 6008 CareSystem monitors incorporate a Na module that offers the advantage of estimating patients' salt intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary Na restriction for 1 week, monitored with the Na biosensor.A prospective study was conducted in 48 patients who maintained their usual dialysis parameters and were dialyzed with a 6008 CareSystem monitor with activation of the Na module. Total Na balance, pre/postdialysis weight, serum Na (sNa), changes in pre- to post-dialysis sNa (ΔsNa), diffusive balance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were compared twice, once after 1 week of patients' usual Na diet and again after another week with more restricted Na intake.Restricted Na intake increased the percentage of patients on a low-sodium diet (<85 Na mmol/day) from 8% to 44%. Average daily Na intake decreased from 149 ± 54 to 95 ± 49 mmol and interdialytic weight gain was reduced by 460 ± 484 g per session. More restricted Na intake also decreased pre-dialysis sNa and increased both intradialytic diffusive balance and ΔsNa. In hypertensive patients, reducing daily sodium by more than 3 g Na/day lowered their systolic blood pressure.The new Na module allowed objective monitoring of Na intake, which in turn could permit more precise personalized dietary recommendations in patients under hemodialysis.S. Karger AG, Basel

Microbiomes of the Sydney Rock Oyster are acquired through both vertical and horizontal transmission

Abstract Background The term holobiont is widely accepted to describe animal hosts and their associated microorganisms. The genomes of all that the holobiont encompasses, are termed the hologenome and it has been proposed as a unit of selection in evolution. To demonstrate that natural selection acts on the hologenome, a significant portion of the associated microbial genomes should be transferred between generations. Using the Sydney Rock Oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) as a model, we tested if the microbes of this broadcast spawning species could be passed down to the next generation by conducting single parent crosses and tracking the microbiome from parent to offspring and throughout early larval stages using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. From each cross, we sampled adult tissues (mantle, gill, stomach, gonad, eggs or sperm), larvae (D-veliger, umbo, eyed pediveliger, and spat), and the surrounding environment (water and algae feed) for microbial community analysis. Results We found that each larval stage has a distinct microbiome that is partially influenced by their parental microbiome, particularly the maternal egg microbiome. We also demonstrate the presence of core microbes that are consistent across all families, persist throughout early life stages (from eggs to spat), and are not detected in the microbiomes of the surrounding environment. In addition to the core microbiomes that span all life cycle stages, there is also evidence of environmentally acquired microbial communities, with earlier larval stages (D-veliger and umbo), more influenced by seawater microbiomes, and later larval stages (eyed pediveliger and spat) dominated by microbial members that are specific to oysters and not detected in the surrounding environment. Conclusion Our study characterized the succession of oyster larvae microbiomes from gametes to spat and tracked selected members that persisted across multiple life stages. Overall our findings suggest that both horizontal and vertical transmission routes are possible for the complex microbial communities associated with a broadcast spawning marine invertebrate. We demonstrate that not all members of oyster-associated microbiomes are governed by the same ecological dynamics, which is critical for determining what constitutes a hologenome. </jats:sec

Cell walls of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis exhibit bilaminate structures and sloughing of extensive and intact layers

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), grants E-26/202.974/2015 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grants 229755/2013-5, Brazil. LMLB is a senior research fellow of CNPq and Faperj. NG acknowledged support from the Wellcome Trust (Trust (097377, 101873, 200208) and MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Red wine polyphenols prevent metabolic and cardiovascular alterations associated with obesity in Zucker fatty rats (Fa/Fa)

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