Tribulus terrestris: A Study of its Effects on Strength, Body Composition, and Cardiovasuclar Health

The study of ergogenic aids and their influence results in many uncertainties that have yet to be answered or explained. There is speculation about the effectiveness of Tribulus terrestris (TT) as an ergogenic aid and its effectiveness for increasing power and strength. Little research has been completed to monitor its effects on cholesterol and blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of TT on muscular strength, blood pressure, and cholesterol in a sedentary population. Eighteen males (18 - 24 yrs,) were randomly assigned using a double-blind protocol into either TT group (n=9) or placebo (n=9), while subjects participated in an 8-week resistance training program. Each group either ingested a 650mg TT pill or a wheat grass equivalent pill with no change in diet. Strength outcomes were measured by having participants perform a 10-rep max strength test. Body fat outcomes were analyzed by including 7-site skinfold measurements and upper and lower body circumferences. Blood lipids and glucose were measured using the Cholestech LDX machine. The training protocol consisted of Smith machine bench press, Smith machine squat, Hammer Strength lat-pulldown, and Hammer Strength seated bicep curl with a ten percent progressive overload rate each week. Baseline body composition, cardiovascular health including cholesterol, and strength were not significantly different. Two-by-two repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze differences between the control and TT groups for all dependent measures. There was a 100% adherence rate as all subjects completed the training protocol for the entire eight weeks. Although changes did exist such as decrease in body fat percentage (TT- 14.4 ± 6.0 to 11.9 ± 6.1; Control-14.0 ± 5.4 to 11.3 ± 4.7) and total cholesterol (TT- 173.4 ± 30.8 to 167.2 ± 28.2; Control- 171.6 ± 30.4; TT- 155.6 ± 24.8), there were no significant differences after 8 weeks between the two groups. There was however, a significant decrease in overall cholesterol for the TT group after training (167.2 ± 28.2) (F = 10.24; P = .006). Individual variables of cholesterol such as LDL, HDL, triglycerides and blood pressure were not significantly different between groups. The results indicated no significant interaction due to TT use for all measurements in a sedentary population while under an 8-week resistance training program. Suggestions for future studies should focus on long term intervention such as a twelve to fifteen week study

Curso de IRPF

Divulgação dos SUMÁRIOS das obras recentemente incorporadas ao acervo da Biblioteca Ministro Oscar Saraiva do STJ. Em respeito à Lei de Direitos Autorais, não disponibilizamos a obra na íntegra.Localização na estante: 336.215(81) M169

Effectiveness of a clinical pathway for acute stroke care in a district general hospital: an audit

BACKGROUND: Organised stroke care saves lives and reduces disability. A clinical pathway might be a form of organised stroke care, but the evidence for the effectiveness of this model of care is limited. METHODS: This study was a retrospective audit study of consecutive stroke admissions in the setting of an acute general medical unit in a district general hospital. The case-notes of patients admitted with stroke for a 6-month period before and after introduction of the pathway, were reviewed to determine data on length of stay, outcome, functional status, (Barthel Index, BI and Modified Rankin Scale, MRS), Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) sub-type, use of investigations, specific management issues and secondary prevention strategies. Logistic regression was used to adjust for differences in case-mix. RESULTS: N = 77 (prior to the pathway) and 76 (following the pathway). The median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 78 years (67.75–84.25), 88% were European NZ and 37% were male. The median (IQR) BI at admission for the pre-pathway group was less than the post-pathway group: 6 (0–13.5) vs. 10 (4–15.5), p = 0.018 but other baseline variables were statistically similar. There were no significant differences between any of the outcome or process of care variables, except that echocardiograms were done less frequently after the pathway was introduced. A good outcome (MRS<4) was obtained in 66.2% prior to the pathway and 67.1% after the pathway. In-hospital mortality was 20.8% and 23.1%. However, using logistic regression to adjust for the differences in admission BI, it appeared that admission after the pathway was introduced had a significant negative effect on the probability of good outcome (OR 0.29, 95%CI 0.09-0.99). CONCLUSION: A clinical pathway for acute stroke management appeared to have no benefit for the outcome or processes of care and may even have been associated with worse outcomes. These data support the conclusions of a recent Cochrane review

Hydroquinone-Based Anion Receptors for Redox-Switchable Chloride Binding

A series of chloride receptors has been synthesized containing an amide hydrogen bonding site and a hydroquinone motif. It was anticipated that oxidation of the hydroquinone unit to quinone would greatly the diminish chloride binding a nity of these receptors. A conformational switch is promoted in the quinone form through the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the amide and the quinone carbonyl, which blocks the amide binding site. The reversibility of this oxidation process highlighted the potential of these systems for use as redox-switchable receptors. 1H-NMR binding studies confirmed stronger binding capabilities of the hydroquinone form compared to the quinone; however, X-ray crystal structures of the free hydroquinone receptors revealed the presence of an analogous inhibiting intramolecular hydrogen bond in this state of the receptor. Binding studies also revealed interesting and contrasting trends in chloride a nity when comparing the two switch states, which is dictated by a secondary interaction in the binding mode between the amide carbonyl and the hydroquinone/quinone couple. Additionally, the electrochemical properties of the systems have been explored using cyclic voltammetry and it was observed that the reduction potential of the system was directly related to the expected strength of the internal hydrogen bond.AR

Exile Vol. XXII No. 1

PROSE Dust by Katie Tight 4-13 The Masculine Cure by Elizabeth Thomas 14-19 The Rats Still Sleep At Night by Wolfgang Borchert (translated from the German by Eric Fridman) 20-22 Largo for a Pelican by Morgan Wills 23-25 Role by Anne Tomfohrde 26-29 Goody Two-Shoes Meets the Cincinnati Kid by Kim McMullen 30-38 In the Final Analysis (Psychological or Otherwise): A Review of Carl Jung\u27s Theory of Art by Issa Christian Halabi 39-42 POETRY Here by Fayad Jamis (translated from the Spanish by Joseph R. deArmas) 44 No. 236 by Dawn Patnode 45 No. 237 by Dawn Patnode 46 In my Room by Ulf Miehe 47 Saturday Night Lament by Woodrow Jones 48-49 Basho\u27s Hut by Lenore Mayhew 50 From a Train: Ireland by Kim McMullen 51 Suggested by One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Martin Cloran 52 (to L. Martynov) by Yevgeny Yevtushenko 53 At Sea by Paul Bennett 54 Words In A Line by Lawrence Weber 55 a leave-taking by Debra Allbery 56 untitled by Alison Orleans 57 As The Water Whittles in Colour by Lawrence Weber 58-59 Falconsong or Falcon Song by The Man from Kurenben (translated from the German by John Kessler) 60 POUND Introduction 62 Response from Hugh Kenner 63 Response from Mary de Rachewiltz 64 The Cantos: The Vision of Ezra Pound by William McNaughton 65-78 CONTRIBUORS 79-80 Cover sketch by Lisa Rope Pound Photograph Courtesy of Bill McNaughto

Exile Vol. XXIII No. 2

PROSE The End of East by Libby Thomas 3-12 Lilt by Andrew Calabrese 13 The Egg Lady by Nancy Jones 14-20 The International Man by Chip Finefrock 21-31 MUSIC Theme and Variations Op.2, No 1. by J. J. Fuerst 32-38 POETRY Thrown Out Of The Game by Herberto Padilla to Yannis Ritzos in a Greek jail (Translated from the Spanish by José de Armas) 39 Plumb-Creek In Late Sunlight by Lenore Mayhew 40 untitled by Sharon Singleton 41 untitled by Sharon Singleton 42 A Dance Of Stones by Lawrence Weber 43-44 Carp and Crane by William McNaughton 45 Mountain Ash by Dawn Patnode 46-49 untitled by Mary de Rachewiltz 50 Kai Gar Onar Ek Dios Estin by William McNaughton 51 acute angles by Gay Parks 52 Annihilating All Made To A Thought by Tony Stoneburner 53 Dead Fish by Deneise Deter 54 Changing by Deb Allbery 54 Finish Lines by David A. Goldblatt 55 Malinche\u27s Sister by Tona Dickerson 56 Tarde en el hospital by Carlos Peoza Veliz 57 Afternoon in the Hospital by Carlos Peoza Veliz (Tanslated from the Spanish by Joan Straub) 57 Cuadrados Y Angulos by Alfonaina Storni 58 Squares and Angles by Alfonaina Storni (Translated from the Spanish by Joan Straub) 58 INK DRAWINGS untitled by Susan Hoagman 2 Self-Portrait or Darla by Julia Weatherford 59 untitled by Katy Booth 70 ESSAYS On As For Poets by Gary Snyder 60-61 Joseph Heller\u27s Something Happened and the Problem of Community in Modern America by Jack Kirby 62-68 EDITOR\u27S NOTE by Lawrence Weber 69-70 CONTRIBUTORS 71-72 The cover ink drawing by Cathy Ries is entitled, Exercise In Exaggerated Contours

Exile Vol. XXIII no. 1

PROSE The White Butterfly by Dalton Trevisan (translated from the Portugese by Alexis Levitin) 5-6 Natural Selection by Anne Tomfohrde 7-14 Stuck a Feather in His Cap... (for Boo) by Tim Cockey 15-18 An Act of Violence by William McNaughton 19-22 Shall We Now Praise Famous Men? by Lawrence Weber 23-24 POETRY Wake by Dawn Patnode 26 Pebble by Lenore Mayhew 27 Bien: yo respeto... by José Mártí 28 Yes: I respect by José Mártí (translated from the Spanish by Joan Straub) 29 untitled by Mary Schloss 30 Nursing Home by Tim Cockey 31 Maia by Betsy Sloan 32 untitled by Loranna Franz 33 Momento Num Cafe by Manuel Banderia 34 Moment in a Café by Manuel Banderia (translated from the Portoguese by Alexis Levitin) 35 Pleiades by Dawn Patnode 36-37 untitled by Sharon Singleton 39 Travel by Libby Thomas 40 untitled by José Pretlow 41 Melancolía by Rubén Darío 42 Melancholy by Rubén Darío (translated from the Spanish by Joan Straub) 43 Lake Shore Drive by Alison Orleans 44 Repudiation by Tona Dickerson 45 Auvers 1889 by Dawn Patnode 47 Retreat by Deb Allbery 48 An Illusion Of Dancing Figures by Lawrence Weber 50-58 Cloud by Lenore Mayhew 59 ESSAYS Climbing \u27earth\u27s undying monument\u27 by Richard H. Soaper, Jr. 61-71 A Program for the American Land by Lindy Davies 72-77 Kerouac and His Critics (For Amy) by John Kralik 80-82 Cover photograph from a late nineteenth century glass negative found in an Ohio antique shop and used with the permission of its owner

Environmental stability modulates the role of path integration in human navigation

Path integration has long been thought of as an obligatory process that automatically updates one's position and orientation during navigation. This has led to the hypotheses that path integration serves as a back-up system in case landmark navigation fails, and a reference system that detects discrepant landmarks. Three experiments tested these hypotheses in humans, using a homing task with a catch-trial paradigm. Contrary to the back-up system hypothesis, when stable landmarks unexpectedly disappeared on catch trials, participants were completely disoriented, and only then began to rely on path integration in subsequent trials (Experiment 1). Contrary to the reference system hypothesis, when stable landmarks unexpectedly shifted by 115° on catch trials, participants failed to detect the shift and were completely captured by the landmarks (Experiment 2). Conversely, when chronically unstable landmarks unexpectedly remained in place on catch trials, participants failed to notice and continued to navigate by path integration (Experiment 3). In the latter two cases, they gradually sensed the instability (or stability) of landmarks on later catch trials. These results demonstrate that path integration does not automatically serve as a back-up system, and does not function as a reference system on individual sorties, although it may contribute to monitoring environmental stability over time. Rather than being automatic, the roles of path integration and landmark navigation are thus dynamically modulated by the environmental context

The Prostate Care Questionnaire for Patients (PCQ-P): Reliability, validity and acceptability

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In England, prostate cancer patients report worse experience of care than patients with other cancers. However, no standard measure of patient experience of prostate cancer care is currently available. This paper describes an evaluation of the reliability, validity and acceptability of the PCQ-P, a newly developed instrument designed to measure patient experience of prostate cancer care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The reliability, acceptability and validity of the PCQ-P were tested through a postal survey and interviews with patients. The PCQ-P was posted to 1087 prostate cancer patients varying in age, occupation, and overall health status, sampled from five hospitals in England. Nonresponders received one reminder. To assess criterion validity, 935 patients were also sent sections of the National Centre for Social Research Shortened Questionnaire; and to assess test-retest reliability, 296 patients who responded to the questionnaire were resent it a second time three weeks later. A subsample of 20 prostate cancer patients from one hospital took part in qualitative interviews to assess validity and acceptability of the PCQ-P. Acceptability to service providers was evaluated based on four hospitals' experiences of running a survey using the PCQ-P.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Questionnaires were returned by 865 patients (69.2%). Missing data was low across the sections, with the proportion of patients completing less than 50% of each section ranging from 4.5% to 6.9%. Across the sections of the questionnaire, internal consistency was moderate to high (Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.63 to 0.80), and test-retest stability was acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.57 to 0.73). Findings on criterion validity were significant. Patient interviews indicated that the PCQ-P had high face validity and acceptability. Feedback from hospitals indicated that they found the questionnaire useful, and highlighted important considerations for its future use as part of quality improvement initiatives.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The PCQ-P has been found to be acceptable to patients and service providers, and is ready for use for the measurement of patient experience in routine practice, service improvement programmes, and research.</p