Radio-frequency plasma and heat treatment of human fecal matter

Low temperature ashing of human feces for solid waste management onboard spacecraf

Effect of betaine supplementation on cycling sprint performance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To examine the effect of betaine supplementation on cycling sprint performance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixteen recreationally active subjects (7 females and 9 males) completed three sprint tests, each consisting of four 12 sec efforts against a resistance equal to 5.5% of body weight; efforts were separated by 2.5 min of cycling at zero resistance. Test one established baseline; test two and three were preceded by seven days of daily consumption of 591 ml of a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage as a placebo or a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage containing 0.42% betaine (approximately 2.5 grams of betaine a day); half the beverage was consumed in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. We used a double blind random order cross-over design; there was a 3 wk washout between trials two and three. Average and maximum peak and mean power were analyzed with one-way repeated measures ANOVA and, where indicated, a Student Newman-Keuls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to baseline, betaine ingestion increased average peak power (6.4%; p < 0.001), maximum peak power (5.7%; p < 0.001), average mean power (5.4%; p = 0.004), and maximum mean power (4.4%; p = 0.004) for all subjects combined. Compared to placebo, betaine ingestion significantly increased average peak power (3.4%; p = 0.026), maximum peak power max (3.8%; p = 0.007), average mean power (3.3%; p = 0.034), and maximum mean power (3.5%; p = 0.011) for all subjects combined. There were no differences between the placebo and baseline trials.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>One week of betaine ingestion improved cycling sprint power in recreationally active males and females.</p

Effect of carbohydrate-protein supplement timing on acute exercise-induced muscle damage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To determine if timing of a supplement would have an effect on muscle damage, function and soreness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-seven untrained men (21 ± 3 yrs) were given a supplement before or after exercise. Subjects were randomly assigned to a pre exercise (n = 9), received carbohydrate/protein drink before exercise and placebo after, a post exercise (n = 9), received placebo before exercise and carbohydrate/protein drink after, or a control group (n = 9), received placebo before and after exercise. Subjects performed 50 eccentric quadriceps contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Tests for creatine kinase (CK), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and muscle soreness were recorded before exercise and at six, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post exercise. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyze data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no group by time interactions however, CK significantly increased for all groups when compared to pre exercise (101 ± 43 U/L) reaching a peak at 48 h (661 ± 1178 U/L). MVC was significantly reduced at 24 h by 31.4 ± 14.0%. Muscle soreness was also significantly increased from pre exercise peaking at 48 h.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Eccentric exercise caused significant muscle damage, loss of strength, and soreness; however timing of ingestion of carbohydrate/protein supplement had no effect.</p

Is drinking water a risk factor for endemic cryptosporidiosis? A case-control study in the immunocompetent general population of the San Francisco Bay Area

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium, is an enteric illness that has received much attention as an infection of immunocompromised persons as well as in community outbreaks (frequently waterborne). There are, however, no studies of the risk factors for sporadic community-acquired cryptosporidiosis in the immunocompetent US population. We undertook a case-control study in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of a national study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ascertain the major routes of transmission for endemic cryptosporidiosis, with an emphasis on evaluating risk from drinking water. METHODS: Cases were recruited from a population-based, active surveillance system and age-matched controls were recruited using sequential random-digit dialing. Cases (n = 26) and controls (n = 62) were interviewed by telephone using a standardized questionnaire that included information about the following exposures: drinking water, recreational water, food items, travel, animal contact, and person-to-person fecal contact, and (for adults) sexual practices. RESULTS: In multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses no significant association with drinking water was detected. The major risk factor for cryptosporidiosis in the San Francisco Bay Area was travel to another country (matched odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 24.1 [2.6, 220]). CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that drinking water is an independent risk factor for cryptosporidiosis among the immunocompetent population. These findings should be used to design larger studies of endemic cryptosporidiosis to elucidate the precise mechanisms of transmission, whether waterborne or other

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

EFFECTS OF QUENCHING THIRST VERSUS FULL FLUID REPLENISHMENT ON MOOD AND COGNITIVE CHANGES AFTER MILD HYPOHYDRATION

Brian Hack, Hyun Gyu Suh, Mindy Millard-Stafford, FACSM. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. Dehydration impairs mood and sustained attention; however, evidence regarding the time course that rehydration reverses such effects is limited. Furthermore, whether assuaging thirst reverses cognitive deficits is unclear. Our purpose was to examine effects of partial rehydration (quenching thirst) compared to full rehydration (restoring fluid balance) on cognitive changes induced by exercise-induced dehydration. METHODS: Fifteen physically active men (age: 23.6±4.4 y; weight: 73.7±7.9 kg) participated in a dehydration-rehydration protocol. Mild-hypohydration [-1.7±0.3% change in body mass (%ΔBM)] was achieved via cycling in the heat (35°C; 40%RH) followed by 30 min rehydration (restoring \u3e100% BM). Flanker cognitive task and Brunel Mood scale were administered at baseline (BASE), dehydration (DEH), partial rehydration replacing 50% BM loss (PAR), and immediately following full fluid replacement (FULL0) through 180 min (FULL180). RESULTS: DEH increased (P\u3c0.05) thirst from BASE (4.6 ± 0.7 to 6.2 ± 0.6 cm) but PAR (3.5 ± 1.5 cm) attenuated thirst with no additional changes through FULL180 (3.5 ± 1.6 cm). Plasma osmolality decreased (P\u3c0.05) from DEH to FULL0 (296.5 ± 3.6 to 294.5 ± 2.8 mmol/kg) but continued lower by FULL60 (291.0 ± 3.0 mmol/kg). Copeptin also decreased (P\u3c0.05) from DEH to FULL0 (22.1 ± 9.1 to 14.5 ± 7.3 pmol/L) and continued lower by FULL60 (7.7 ± 3.5 pmol/L). Compared to DEH, FULL0 restored (P\u3c0.05) %ΔBM (0.1 ± 0.3%) similar to BASE. However, %ΔBM became lower (P\u3c0.05) than BASE by FULL60 (-0.5 ± 0.3%) through FULL180 (-1.0 ± 0.4%) although %ΔBM remained above DEH. Flanker incongruent reaction time decreased (P\u3c0.05) from BASE (0.46±0.02s) due to DEH (0.42 ± 0.02s) and persisted through FULL180 (0.42 ± 0.02s). Accuracy (%correct) decreased (P\u3c0.05) from BASE (93.7 ± 4.7%) to DEH (87.0 ± 6.7%) and remained lower through FULL180 (87.6 ± 4.0%). Fatigue ratings decreased (P\u3c.05) from DEH (6.9 ± 3.1) with PAR (4.7 ± 2.6) and remained lower through FULL180 (3.2 ± 3.5) similar to BASE (3.1 ± 1.7). CONCLUSION: Partial rehydration attenuated thirst and improved perceived fatigue but did not reverse cognitive changes. Fully restoring fluid balance after dehydration also did not reverse cognitive changes. Effects of fluid imbalance versus thirst on cognitive deficits remains unclear. Funded by a grant from The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA

Does Caffeine Increase Fat Metabolism?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Whether caffeine (CAF) increases fat metabolism remains debatable. Using systematic review coupled with meta-analysis, our aim was to determine effects of CAF on fat metabolism and the relevant factors moderating this effect. Electronic databases PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched using the following string: CAF AND (fat OR lipid) AND (metabolism OR oxidation). A meta-analytic approach aggregated data from 94 studies examining CAF’s effect on fat metabolism assessed by different biomarkers. The overall effect size (ES) was 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.30, 0.47], p \u3c .001), indicating a small effect of CAF to increase fat metabolism; however, ES was significantly higher (p \u3c .001) based on blood biomarkers (e.g., free fatty acids, glycerol) (ES = 0.55, 95% CI [0.43, 0.67]) versus expired gas analysis (respiratory exchange ratio, calculated fat oxidation) (ES = 0.26, 95% CI [0.16, 0.37]), although both were greater than zero. Fat metabolism increased to a greater extent (p = .02) during rest (ES = 0.51, 95% CI [0.41, 0.62]) versus exercise (ES = 0.35, 95% CI [0.26, 0.44]) across all studies, although ES was not different for studies reporting both conditions (ES = 0.49 and 0.44, respectively). There were no subgroup differences based on participants’ fitness level, sex, or CAF dosage. CAF ingestion increases fat metabolism but is more consistent with blood biomarkers versus whole-body gas exchange measures. CAF has a small effect during rest across all studies, although similar to exercise when compared within the same study. CAF dosage did not moderate this effect

EFFECTS OF GUARANA COMPARED TO MATCHED DOSE CAFFEINE: EXERCISE PERFORMANCE BENEFITS?

Alec Harp1, Eduardo Marcedo Penna2, Brian Hack1, Tyler Talik1, Mindy Millard-Stafford, FACSM1. 1Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. 2Federal University of Pará, Belem. BACKGROUND: Effects of guarana (Paullinia cupana) seed extract, a Brazilian plant containing caffeine but with additional bioactive compounds, has been observed to positively affect cognitive tasks but evidence on exercise performance is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess acute effects of guarana (GUA) compared to a matched dose of caffeine (CAF) on exercise performance. METHODS: Eleven endurance athletes (age: 20 ± 4.7 y, ht: 180.2 ± 7.2 cm, body mass: 73.9 ± 8.8 kg, V̇O2max: 54.6 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover experiment. All subjects completed three trials ingesting capsules containing: 1) 100 mg CAF; 2) 100 mg GUA, or 3) placebo (P) 60-min prior to a 75-min cycling trial (fixed load 60-min steady state [SS] + self-paced 15-min time trial [TT]). Maximal isometric quadriceps strength was assessed before and after cycling. RESULTS: During SS, no differences (p \u3e0.05) in oxygen consumption (15 min blocks averaging ~70-75% V̇O2max), heart rate (HR), or respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were observed among trials. During SS, blood glucose tended to be higher (p=0.13) with CAF (4.6 ± 0.5 mmol) versus P (4.4 ± 0.4 mmol), and lactate higher (p=0.054) with GUA (2.7 ± 1.0 mmol) versus P (2.2 ± 0.9 mmol). During the TT, %HRpeak, (96.3 ± 2.3 vs. 94.1± 2.2 bt/min) and %V̇O2max (93.3 ± 8.6 vs. 89.1 ± 7.6%) tended to be higher (p=0.053, p= 0.11) with GUA versus P, respectively. Mean power was 6% higher (p=0.012) (269.4 ± 47.1 vs. 253.8 ± 51.5 W) averaged over the TT and 4% more work accumulated (241.3 ± 39.9 vs. 232.1 ± 46.6 kJ) with GUA vs. P, respectively. Post-exercise strength loss was not attenuated with GUA (-5.6% ± 8.5) or CAF (-8.3% ± 9.4) compared to P (-10.3% ± 5.1). An order effect was not found (p=0.88) for total work across trial 1 (236.2 ± 42.4 kJ), trial 2 (233.6 ± 46.2 kJ), and trial 3 (235.9 ± 41.1 kJ). CONCLUSION: High intensity cycling performance following ingestion of GUA is improved compared to P but not different from CAF. The potential ergogenicity of GUA does not appear related to changes in substrate oxidation or the maintenance of muscle strength related to fatigue and merits further investigation. Supported in part by the Fulbright Scholar Fellowship Program