373 research outputs found
Vertical Jumping as a Monitoring Tool in Endurance Runners: A Brief Review
Jumping performance (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ]), as a measure of neuromuscular performance, has been suggested as an easy-to-use tool which simultaneously provides neuromuscular and metabolic information and, thereby, allows coaches to confidently monitor the status of their athletes during a workout. This hypothesis has been satisfactorily tested with sprint athletes. However, the rationale for the use of CMJ height loss as an index to monitor the workload during an endurance running session is not sufficiently evidence-based. First, it is assumed that a CMJ height loss occurs during typical interval training for endurance runners. Second, it is also assumed that a significant relationship between metabolic stress and the neuromuscular strain induced during these endurance workouts exists. These two assumptions will be questioned in this review by critically analyzing the kinetics of CMJ performance during and after running workouts, and the relationship between neuromuscular and physiological stress induced during different protocols in endurance runners. The current evidence shows that fatigue induced by common running workouts for endurance runners does not counterbalance the potentiation effect in the CMJ height. Additionally, the findings reported among different studies are consistent regarding the lack of association between CMJ height loss and physiological stress during interval sessions in endurance runners. In practical terms, the authors suggest that this marker of neuromuscular fatigue may not be used to regulate the external training load during running workouts in endurance runners. Nevertheless, the analysis of CMJ height during running workouts may serve to monitor chronic adaptations to training in endurance runners
AVOCADO: A Virtual Observatory Census to Address Dwarfs Origins
Dwarf galaxies are by far the most abundant of all galaxy types, yet their
properties are still poorly understood -especially due to the observational
challenge that their intrinsic faintness represents. AVOCADO aims at
establishing firm conclusions on their formation and evolution by constructing
a homogeneous, multiwavelength dataset for a statistically significant sample
of several thousand nearby dwarfs (-18 < Mi < -14). Using public data and
Virtual Observatory tools, we have built GALEX+SDSS+2MASS spectral energy
distributions that are fitted by a library of single stellar population models.
Star formation rates, stellar masses, ages and metallicities are further
complemented with structural parameters that can be used to classify them
morphologically. This unique dataset, coupled with a detailed characterization
of each dwar's environment, allows for a fully comprehensive investigation of
their origins and to track the (potential) evolutionary paths between the
different dwarf types.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of IAU Symposium 277,
"Tracing the Ancestry of Galaxies on the Land of our Ancestors", Carignan,
Freeman, and Combes, ed
Modelo pedagógico para el asesoramiento académico en entornos virtuales de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México
La relevancia que han adquirido los debates y análisis sobre la pedagogía en el marco de los nuevos escenarios educativos conduce a preguntarse por las características que asume actualmente la asesoría en modalidades alternativas y la gestión de entornos virtuales en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en nivel superior. Un problema central sobre la discusión de formación de profesores en la universidad es la calidad de los procesos de actualización y el papel de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, observándolas desde la perspectiva de incorporación como herramientas en el marco del modelo pedagógico y no sólo como transformaciones en sí mismas. A partir de septiembre 2007, la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, a través de los programas educativos en modalidad a distancia, enfrenta la necesidad de transformar la formación de profesores en esta particularidad, lo cual, de acuerdo con el modelo de innovación curricular vigente desde 2003, exige la apertura de modalidades alternativas que permitan la transformación del proceso académico y formativo, así como la ampliación de las posibilidades de egreso mediante una educación productiva, competitiva y de calidad en el ámbito nacional e internacional
Dynamic Edematous Response of the Human Heart to Myocardial Infarction Implications for Assessing Myocardial Area at Risk and Salvage
BACKGROUND: Clinical protocols aimed to characterize the post-myocardial
infarction (MI) heart by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) need to be
standardized to take account of dynamic biological phenomena evolving
early after the index ischemic event. Here, we evaluated the time course
of edema reaction in patients with ST-segment-elevation MI by CMR and
assessed its implications for myocardium-at-risk (MaR) quantification
both in patients and in a large-animal model.
METHODS: A total of 16 patients with anterior ST-segment-elevation MI
successfully treated by primary angioplasty and 16 matched controls were
prospectively recruited. In total, 94 clinical CMR examinations were
performed: patients with ST-segment-elevation MI were serially scanned
(within the first 3 hours after reperfusion and at 1, 4, 7, and 40
days), and controls were scanned only once. T2 relaxation time in the
myocardium (T2 mapping) and the extent of edema on T2-weighted short-tau
triple inversion-recovery (ie, CMR-MaR) were evaluated at all time
points. In the experimental study, 20 pigs underwent 40-minute
ischemia/reperfusion followed by serial CMR examinations at 120 minutes
and 1, 4, and 7 days after reperfusion. Reference MaR was assessed by
contrast-multidetector computed tomography during the index coronary
occlusion. Generalized linear mixed models were used to take account of
repeated measurements.
RESULTS: In humans, T2 relaxation time in the ischemic myocardium
declines significantly from early after reperfusion to 24 hours, and
then increases up to day 4, reaching a plateau from which it decreases
from day 7. Consequently, edema extent measured by T2-weighted short-tau
triple inversion-recovery (CMR-MaR) varied with the timing of the CMR
examination. These findings were confirmed in the experimental model by
showing that only CMR-MaR values for day 4 and day 7 postreperfusion,
coinciding with the deferred edema wave, were similar to values measured
by reference contrast-multidetector computed tomography.
CONCLUSIONS: Post-MI edema in patients follows a bimodal pattern that
affects CMR estimates of MaR. Dynamic changes in
post-ST-segment-elevation MI edema highlight the need for
standardization of CMR timing to retrospectively delineate MaR and
quantify myocardial salvage. According to the present clinical and
experimental data, a time window between days 4 and 7 post-MI seems a
good compromise solution for standardization. Further studies are needed
to study the effect of other factors on these variables.This study was partially supported by a competitive grant from the
Spanish Society of Cardiology (Proyectos de Investigacion Traslacional
en Cardiologia de la Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia 2015, for the
project Caracterizacion tiSUlar miocaRdica con resonancia magnetica en
pacientes tras inFarto agudo de mioCardio con elevacioN de ST sometidos
a angloplastia Coronaria primaria. Estudio SURF-CNIC), by a competitive
grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health-Fondo de Investigacion
Sanitaria- and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER)
(PI10/02268 and PI13/01979), the Spanish Ministry of economy, industry,
and competitiveness (MEIC) and ERDF/FEDER SAF2013-49663-EXP. Dr
Fernandez-Jimenez holds a FICNIC fellowship from the Fundacio Jesus
Serra, the Fundacion Interhospitalaria de Investigacion Cardiovascular,
and the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III
(CNIC), and Dr Aguero is a FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN-Cardionext fellow. This
study forms part of a Master Research Agreement between the CNIC and
Philips Healthcare, and is part of a bilateral research program between
Hospital de Salamanca Cardiology Department and the CNIC. This research
program is part of an institutional agreement between FIIS-Fundacion
Jimenez Diaz and CNIC. The CNIC is supported by the MEIC and the Pro
CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (MEIC award
SEV-2015-0505).S
Current Advances Research in Nutraceutical Compounds of Legumes, Pseudocereals and Cereals
The increase of the Western-type diet and life-style, with high content of highly processed fats, salt and sugar, as well as sedentary life, is directly linked to an increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases or stroke, and inflammatory-related diseases, which are a great challenge in global health and are usually associated with negative effects of globalization: rapid urbanization, diet and increased sedentary life worldwide. This has brought new interest and increased research into plant-based diets. In this context, the implementation in the diet of legumes, cereals and pseudo-cereals, due to their nutraceutical properties, which is interesting as well as advisable. These foods, in addition of having a high nutritional value themselves, have synergistic properties as part of a balanced diet. For example, most legumes are rich in lysine which is scarce in cereals, and these are rich in sulphur amino acids, such as methionine, while these amino acids are scarce in legumes and are of great importance for the central nervous system development. These foods or part of a food, due to their qualities, and that they provide health benefits can be classified as nutraceuticals. In addition, due to their health benefits beyond nutritional properties, can be classified as functional foods, promoting prevention and treatment for the above mentioned diseases, among others. This double function is due mainly to the proteins and the presence of various secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds in these foods of plant (grain and seed) origin. Last discovered knowledge and research features will be described in the present book chapter
Taphonomic and spatial analyses from the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena 4 (Orce, Guadix-Baza Basin, southern Spain)
Venta Micena is an area containing several palaeontological sites marking the beginning of the Calabrian stage (Early Pleistocene). The richness of the fossil accumulation including species of Asian, African and European origin, makes Venta Micena a key site for the the palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental study of southern Europe during the Early Pleistocene. Thus, research has been focused on Venta Micena 3, which was originally interpreted as a single palaeosurface associated with a marshy context, in which most of the fauna was accumulated by Pachycrocuta brevirostris. Recent excavations have unearthed a new site, Venta Micena 4, located in the same stratigraphic unit (Unit C) and in close proximity to Venta Micena 3. Here we show the first analyses regarding the taphonomic and spatial nature of this new site, defining two stratigraphic boundaries corresponding to two different depositional events. Furthermore, the taphonomic analyses of fossil remains seem to indicate a different accumulative agent than Pachycrocuta, thus adding more complexity to the palaeobiological interpretation of the Venta Micena area. These results contribute to the discussion of traditional interpretations made from Venta Micena 3.Peer reviewe
Intracoronary Administration of Allogeneic Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Myocardial Perfusion But Not Left Ventricle Function, in a Translational Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Background-Autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs) therapy is a promising strategy to improve post-myocardial infarction outcomes. In a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction, we studied the long-term effects and the mechanisms involved in allogeneic ATMSCs administration on myocardial performance. Methods and Results-Thirty-eight pigs underwent 50 minutes of coronary occlusion; the study was completed in 33 pigs. After reperfusion, allogeneic ATMSCs or culture medium (vehicle) were intracoronarily administered. Follow-ups were performed at short (2 days after acute myocardial infarction vehicle-treated, n=10; ATMSCs-treated, n=9) or long term (60 days after acute myocardial infarction vehicle-treated, n=7; ATMSCs-treated, n=7). At short term, infarcted myocardium analysis showed reduced apoptosis in the ATMSCs-treated animals (48.6 +/- 6\% versus 55.9 +/- 5.7\% in vehicle; P=0.017); enhancement of the reparative process with up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and stromal-derived factor-1 alpha gene expression; and increased M2 macrophages (67.2 +/- 10\% versus 54.7 +/- 10.2\% in vehicle; P=0.016). In long-term groups, increase in myocardial perfusion at the anterior infarct border was observed both on day-7 and day-60 cardiac magnetic resonance studies in ATMSCs-treated animals, compared to vehicle (87.9 +/- 28.7 versus 57.4 +/- 17.7 mL/min per gram at 7 days; P=0.034 and 99 +/- 22.6 versus 43.3 +/- 14.7 22.6 mL/min per gram at 60 days; P=0.0001, respectively). At day 60, higher vascular density was detected at the border zone in the ATMSCs-treated animals (118 +/- 18 versus 92.4 +/- 24.3 vessels/mm(2) in vehicle; P=0.045). Cardiac magnetic resonance-measured left ventricular ejection fraction of left ventricular volumes was not different between groups at any time point. Conclusions-In this porcine acute myocardial infarction model, allogeneic ATMSCs-based therapy was associated with increased cardioprotective and reparative mechanisms and with better cardiac magnetic resonance-measured perfusion. No effect on left ventricular volumes or ejection fraction was observed.This work was supported by grants from Fundacion la Marato de TV3 (122230); Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FIS PI14/01682), (RD12/0042/0006), (RD12/0042/0047), (RD12/0019/0029) (TerCel RD16/0011/0006), CIBER Cardiovascular (CB16/11/00403) projects and Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (SAF2011-30067-C02-01) (SAF2014-59892). Fernaandez-Jimenez was the recipient of nonoverlapping grants from the Ministerio de Economia, Industria, y Competitividad through the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Rio Hortega fellowship); and the Fundacion Jesus Serra, the Fundacion Interhospitalaria de Investigacion Cardiovascular (FIC), and the CNIC (FICNIC fellowship). The use of QMass software was partly supported by a scientific collaboration between the CNIC and Medis Medical Imaging Systems BV. The CNIC is supported by the Ministerio de Economia, Industria, y Competitividad (MINECO) and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (MINECO award SEV-2015-0505). This work was also funded by ``la Caixa Banking Foundation, and the Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR 2014, CERCA Programme). This work has been developed in the context of AdvanceCat with the support of ACCIO (Catalonia Trade \& Investment; Generalitat de Catalunya) under the Catalonian ERDF operational program (European Regional Development Fund) 2014-2020.S
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