Body composition changes in an endurance athlete using two different training strategies

Swimming, running and cycling are among the most popular and fastest growing sports in the world. Inherent in these sports is a desire to favourably alter body composition. Here we report a ~5.4kg and ~5.3kg fat tissue mass (FTM) loss in two separate interventions (12 – 16 weeks), in the same athlete, separated by 5 years. Whole body composition was assessed using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Dietary analysis for intervention 2 was completed using Mc Cance and Widdowson’s composition of foods. In 2010, the male athlete (23 yrs, 85kg, 195cm, 18.1% body fat (BF)) had a reduction of ~5.4kg of FTM (15.4kg vs. 10.0kg) and an increase of ~5.1kg of lean tissue mass (LTM) following 16 weeks of moderate intensity running (213 (53) min/week) and circuit training (64 (46) min/week). In 2015, the same athlete (28 yrs, 90.6kg, 195cm; 18.2%) had a ~5.3kg loss of FTM and a ~0.8kg increase in LTM after 12 weeks, predominately (75%) non-weight bearing exercise (49% Cycling, 215 (88) min/week; 25% Running 110 (47) min/week; 19% Swimming, 83 (27) min/week; 7% Rowing Machine, 29 (26) min/week). Weekday and weekend dietary intake during intervention 2 were estimated as 2,560 kcal and 3,240 kcal per day respectively. This report provides support for the hypothesis that an extended period of energy deficit is required to reduce body fat levels in amateur athletes independent of the mode of exercise

CREB Inhibits AP-2α Expression to Regulate the Malignant Phenotype of Melanoma

The loss of AP-2alpha and increased activity of cAMP-responsive element binding (CREB) protein are two hallmarks of malignant progression of cutaneous melanoma. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for the loss of AP-2alpha during melanoma progression remains unknown.Herein, we demonstrate that both inhibition of PKA-dependent CREB phosphorylation, as well as silencing of CREB expression by shRNA, restored AP-2alpha protein expression in two metastatic melanoma cell lines. Moreover, rescue of CREB expression in CREB-silenced cell lines downregulates expression of AP-2alpha. Loss of AP-2alpha expression in metastatic melanoma occurs via a dual mechanism involving binding of CREB to the AP-2alpha promoter and CREB-induced overexpression of another oncogenic transcription factor, E2F-1. Upregulation of AP-2alpha expression following CREB silencing increases endogenous p21(Waf1) and decreases MCAM/MUC18, both known to be downstream target genes of AP-2alpha involved in melanoma progression.Since AP-2alpha regulates several genes associated with the metastatic potential of melanoma including c-KIT, VEGF, PAR-1, MCAM/MUC18, and p21(Waf1), our data identified CREB as a major regulator of the malignant melanoma phenotype

Risks of serious complications and death from smallpox vaccination: A systematic review of the United States experience, 1963–1968

BACKGROUND: The United States (US) has re-instituted smallpox vaccinations to prepare for an intentional release of the smallpox virus into the civilian population. In an outbreak, people of all ages will be vaccinated. To prepare for the impact of large-scale ring and mass vaccinations, we conducted a systematic review of the complication and mortality risks of smallpox vaccination. We summarized these risks for post-vaccinial encephalitis, vaccinia necrosum (progressive vaccinia), eczema vaccinatum, generalized vaccinia, and accidental infection (inadvertant autoinoculation). METHODS: Using a MEDLINE search strategy, we identified 348 articles, of which seven studies met our inclusion criteria (the number of primary vaccinations and re-vaccinations were reported, sufficient data were provided to calculate complication or case-fatality risks, and comparable case definitions were used). For each complication, we estimated of the complication, death, and case-fatality risks. RESULTS: The life-threatening complications of post-vaccinial encephalitis and vaccinia necrosum were at least 3 and 1 per million primary vaccinations, respectively. Twenty-nine percent of vaccinees with post-vaccinial encephalitis died and 15% with vaccinia necrosum died. There were no deaths among vaccinees that developed eczema vaccinatum; however, 2.3% of non-vaccinated contacts with eczema vaccinatum died. Among re-vaccinees, the risk of post-vaccinial encephalitis was reduced 26-fold, the risk of generalized vaccinia was reduced 29-fold, and the risk of eczema vaccinatum was reduced 12-fold. However, the risk reductions of accidental infection and vaccinia necrosum were modest (3.8 and 1.5 fold respectively)