1,108 research outputs found

    Maximal Oxidative Capacity during Exercise Is Associated with Skeletal Muscle Fuel Selection and Dynamic Changes in Mitochondrial Protein Acetylation

    Get PDF
    SummaryMaximal exercise-associated oxidative capacity is strongly correlated with health and longevity in humans. Rats selectively bred for high running capacity (HCR) have improved metabolic health and are longer-lived than their low-capacity counterparts (LCR). Using metabolomic and proteomic profiling, we show that HCR efficiently oxidize fatty acids (FAs) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), sparing glycogen and reducing accumulation of short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines. HCR mitochondria have reduced acetylation of mitochondrial proteins within oxidative pathways at rest, and there is rapid protein deacetylation with exercise, which is greater in HCR than LCR. Fluxomic analysis of valine degradation with exercise demonstrates a functional role of differential protein acetylation in HCR and LCR. Our data suggest that efficient FA and BCAA utilization contribute to high intrinsic exercise capacity and the health and longevity benefits associated with enhanced fitness

    The foot posture index, ankle lunge test, Beighton scale and the lower limb assessment score in healthy children: a reliability study

    Get PDF
    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Outcome measures are important when evaluating treatments and physiological progress in paediatric populations. Reliable, relevant measures of foot posture are important for such assessments to be accurate over time. The aim of the study was to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of common outcome measures for paediatric foot conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A repeated measures, same-subject design assessed the intra- and inter-rater reliability of measures of foot posture, joint hypermobility and ankle range: the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6), the ankle lunge test, the Beighton scale and the lower limb assessment scale (LLAS), used by two examiners in 30 healthy children (aged 7 to 15 years). The Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OxAFQ-C) was completed by participants and a parent, to assess the extent of foot and ankle problems.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The OxAFQ-C demonstrated a mean (SD) score of 6 (6) in adults and 7(5) for children, showing good agreement between parents and children, and which indicates mid-range (transient) disability. Intra-rater reliability was good for the FPI-6 (ICC = 0.93 - 0.94), ankle lunge test (ICC = 0.85-0.95), Beighton scale (ICC = 0.96-0.98) and LLAS (ICC = 0.90-0.98). Inter-rater reliability was largely good for each of the: FPI-6 (ICC = 0.79), ankle lunge test (ICC = 0.83), Beighton scale (ICC = 0.73) and LLAS (ICC = 0.78).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The four measures investigated demonstrated adequate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability in this paediatric sample, which further justifies their use in clinical practice.</p

    Structure of Disk Dominated Galaxies I. Bulge/Disk Parameters, Simulations, and Secular Evolution

    Get PDF
    (Abridged) A robust analysis of galaxy structural parameters, based on the modeling of bulge and disk brightnesses in the BVRH bandpasses, is presented for 121 face-on and moderately inclined late-type spirals. Each surface brightness (SB) profile is decomposed into a sum of a generalized Sersic bulge and an exponential disk. The reliability and limitations of our bulge-to-disk (B/D) decompositions are tested with extensive simulations of galaxy brightness profiles (1D) and images (2D). Galaxy types are divided into 3 classes according to their SB profile shapes; Freeman Type-I and Type-II, and a third ``Transition'' class for galaxies whose profiles change from Type-II in the optical to Type-I in the infrared. We discuss possible interpretations of Freeman Type-II profiles. The Sersic bulge shape parameter for nearby Type-I late-type spirals shows a range between n=0.1-2 but, on average, the underlying surface density profile for the bulge and disk of these galaxies is adequately described by a double-exponential distribution. We confirm a coupling between the bulge and disk with a scale length ratio r_e/h=0.22+/-0.09, or h_bulge/h_disk=0.13+/-0.06 for late-type spirals, in agreement with recent N-body simulations of disk formation and models of secular evolution. This ratio increases from ~0.20 for late-type spirals to ~0.24 for earlier types. The similar scaling relations for early and late-type spirals suggest comparable formation and/or evolution scenarios for disk galaxies of all Hubble types.Comment: 78 pages with 23 embedded color figures + tables of galaxy structural parameters. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. The interested reader is strongly encouraged to ignore some of the low res figures within; instead, download the high resolution version from http://www.astro.ubc.ca/people/courteau/public/macarthur02_disks.ps.g

    Updated Parameters and a New Transmission Spectrum of HD 97658b

    Get PDF
    Recent years have seen increasing interest in the characterization of sub-Neptune-sized planets because of their prevalence in the Galaxy, contrasted with their absence in our solar system. HD 97658 is one of the brightest stars hosting a planet of this kind, and we present the transmission spectrum of this planet by combining four Hubble Space Telescope transits, 12 Spitzer/IRAC transits, and eight MOST transits of this system. Our transmission spectrum has a higher signal-to-noise ratio than those from previous works, and the result suggests that the slight increase in transit depth from wavelength 1.1–1.7 μm reported in previous works on the transmission spectrum of this planet is likely systematic. Nonetheless, our atmospheric modeling results are inconclusive, as no model provides an excellent match to our data. Nonetheless, we find that atmospheres with high C/O ratios (C/O ≳ 0.8) and metallicities of ≳100× solar metallicity are favored. We combine the mid-transit times from all of the new Spitzer and MOST observations and obtain an updated orbital period of P = 9.489295 ± 0.000005, with a best-fit transit time center at T₀ = 2456361.80690 ± 0.00038 (BJD). No transit timing variations are found in this system. We also present new measurements of the stellar rotation period (34 ± 2 days) and stellar activity cycle (9.6 yr) of the host star HD 97658. Finally, we calculate and rank the Transmission Spectroscopy Metric of all confirmed planets cooler than 1000 K and with sizes between 1 R⊕ and 4 R⊕. We find that at least a third of small planets cooler than 1000 K can be well characterized using James Webb Space Telescope, and of those, HD 97658b is ranked fifth, meaning that it remains a high-priority target for atmospheric characterization

    Self-reported attitudes, skills and use of evidence-based practice among Canadian doctors of chiropractic: a national survey

    Get PDF
    Objectives: To identify Canadian chiropractors' attitudes, skills and use of evidence based practice (EBP), as well as their level of awareness of previously published chiropractic clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Methods: 7,200 members of the Canadian Chiropractic Association were invited by e-mail to complete an online version of the Evidence Based practice Attitude & utilisation SurvEy (EBASE) a valid and reliable measure of participant attitudes, skills and use of EBP. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 554 respondents. Most respondents (>75%) held positive attitudes toward EBP. Over half indicated a high level of self-reported skills in EBP, and over 90% expressed an interest in improving these skills. A majority of respondents (65%) reported over half of their practice was based on evidence from clinical research, and only half (52%) agreed that chiropractic CPGs significantly impacted on their practice. Conclusions: While most Canadian chiropractors held positive attitudes towards EBP, believed EBP was useful, and were interested in improving their skills in EBP, many did not use research evidence or CPGs to guide clinical decision making. Our findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the low response rate. (JCCA. 2015 59(4): 332-348) KEY WORDS: chiropractic complementary and alternative medicine evidence-based practice survey Objectifs: Cerner les comportements, les competences et la mise en oeuvre de la pratique factuelle (pratique fondee sur des donnees probantes) des chiropraticiens canadiens, ainsi que leur niveau de connaissance des guides de pratique clinique chiropratiques precedemment publies. Methodes: 7 200 membres de l'Association chiropratique canadienne ont ete invites par courriel pour remplir une version en ligne du sondage sur l'utilisation et le comportement associes a la pratique factuelle une evaluation valable et fiable des comportements, des competences et de la mise en oeuvre de la pratique factuelle par les participants. Resultats: Les questionnaires ont ete remplis par 554 repondants. La plupart des repondants (> 75 %) ont revele des comportements positifs vis-a-vis de la pratique factuelle. Plus de la moitie d'entre eux ont rapporte un niveau eleve d'aptitudes autodeclarees en matiere de pratique factuelle, et plus de 90 % d'entre eux ont fait part de leur interet a ameliorer ces competences. La majorite des repondants (65 %) a indique que plus de la moitie de leur pratique etait fondee sur des donnees probantes issues de la recherche clinique, et seulement la moitie de ces derniers (52 %) a reconnu que les guides de pratique clinique chiropratiques avaient des repercussions importantes sur leur pratique. Conclusions: Si la plupart des chiropraticiens canadiens ont revele des comportements positifs vis-a-vis de la pratique factuelle, pensaient que celle-ci etait utile et etaient interesses a l'idee d'ameliorer leurs competences en la matiere, un grand nombre d'entre eux n'utilisaient pas les donnees probantes issues de la recherche ou les guides de pratique clinique pour orienter leurs prises de decisions cliniques. Nos conclusions doivent etre interpretees avec precaution en raison du faible taux de reponse. (JCCA. 2015 59(4): 332-348) MOTS-CLES: chiropratique, medecine parallele et medecine douce, pratique factuelle, sondag

    Exercise rehabilitation in COPD and heart failure : comparison of two national audits

    Get PDF
    BACKGROUND: Pulmonary (PR) and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are recommended in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF); the impact of coexisting COPD and CHF on completion and outcomes of rehabilitation programmes is unknown. We examined enrolment, completion and clinical outcomes of CR and PR in adults with COPD, CHF and coexisting COPD and CHF. METHODS: The National Audit of CR and National COPD Audit Programme: clinical audits of PR were analysed (211 PR and 237 CR programmes); adults with a diagnosis of CHF, COPD or coexisting COPD and CHF were identified (COPD+CHF or CHF+COPD according to database). Propensity matching was conducted (age, sex, body mass index and functional status) between COPD+CHF and COPD, and CHF+COPD and CHF. Group by time interaction was examined using mixed 2×2 analysis of variance. RESULTS: Those with CHF+COPD had lower enrolment and completion of CR compared to those with CHF; there were no differences in PR enrolment or completion between the two groups. Adults with COPD made a significantly larger gain in the incremental shuttle walk test compared to adults with COPD+CHF following PR (59.3 m versus 37.4 m); the improvements following CR were similar (CHF 77.3 m versus CHF+COPD 58.3 m). Similar improvements were made in the 6-min walk test following CR (CHF 45.1 m versus CHF+COPD 38.8 m) and PR (COPD 48.2 m versus COPD+CHF 44.0 m). Comparable improvements in quality of life and mood state were made following CR and PR, regardless of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that multi-morbid adults benefit from exercise-based rehabilitation, yet efforts are needed to promote completion. These findings support group-based, tailored, multi-morbid exercise rehabilitation
    • …
    corecore