RELATIONSHIP OF CORE STRENGTH AND ISOKINETIC KNEE STRENGTH WITH VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE IN VOLLEYBALL

Background: The game of Volleyball requires the players to perform dynamic movements in receiving the ball and performing explosive movements in spiking and blocking. Vertical jump (VJ) becomes one of the basic motor ability in volleyball owing to its frequent involvement during spiking, blocking, and setting the ball for attack. Although considerable work has been done, the relationship between core strength (Trunk Flexion (TF) & Back Extension (BE)) and vertical jump remains unclear. Thus, the present study was aimed at finding relationship between core strength-endurance and vertical jump performance. Method: 20 male players (Age=18.05±0.76 years; Height=192.75±5.88cm; Weight=77.67±7.37kg) from Indian National U-20 Volleyball team were tested on an Isokinetic Dynamometer at 600*s-1, 900*s-1 and 1200*s-1 angular speeds for strength testing, on DAVID systems for trunk flexion and back extension and on sergeant test for vertical jump. Results: Core strength-endurance (TF & BE) and isokinetic concentric Quadriceps strength at 1200*s-1 (CDQ120) for dominant leg were significantly positively correlated to vertical jump (TF vs VJ: r=0.507, p=0.023; BE vs VJ: r=0.453, p=0.045; CDQ120 vs VJ: r=0.595, p=0.006) while isokinetic strength for non-dominant leg approximated significance with increasing velocities. Also, core strength (TF & BE) was significantly positively related with FlightTime (FT) (TF vs FT: r=0.497, p=0.026; BE vs FT: r=0.568, p=0.009). Conclusion: The significant positive correlation of core strength with vertical jump and FlightTime establishes core strength as an integral component of sports training in Volleyball. Although, eccentric quadriceps strength and hamstring strength were not positively correlated to vertical jump, they help in safe landing mechanism and reduce injury-risks. The small sample size of the study warrants further investigations with larger sample size to confirm the findings.  Article visualizations

RNAi-based conditional gene knockdown in mice using a U6 promoter driven vector

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool widely used for studying gene function in a number of species. We have previously developed an approach that allows conditional expression of a polymerase III promoter based small hairpin RNA (shRNA) in mice using the Cre-LoxP system. This approach uses a U6 promoter, which is inactive due to the presence of a ploxPneo cassette in the promoter; this promoter can be activated after excision of the neo gene in transgenic mice that express a Cre recombinase transgene. As a proof of principle, we have previously knocked down over 95% of Fgfr2 transcripts in mouse germlines, leading to embryonic lethality, while restricting the knockdown to the progress zone of the limb results in live animals with malformation of digits of both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. We now provide a detailed protocol, including a simplified single-step cloning procedure for vector construction. This method provides a fast yet efficient way to decipher gene functions in vivo in a tissue specific manner

Facebook Role Play Addiction – A Comorbidity with Multiple Compulsive–Impulsive Spectrum Disorders

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is an emerging entity with varied contents. Behavioral addictions have high comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders. Social networking site (SNS) addiction and role playing game (RPG) addiction are traditionally studied as separate entities. We present a case with excessive Internet use, with a particular focus on phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities. Case presentation Fifteen-year-old girl with childhood onset attention deficit disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, adolescent onset trichotillomania, and disturbed family environment presented with excessive Facebook use. Main online activity was creating profiles in names of mainstream fictional characters and assuming their identity (background, linguistic attributes, etc.). This was a group activity with significant socialization in the virtual world. Craving, salience, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict were clearly elucidated and significant social and occupational dysfunction was evident. Discussion This case highlights various vulnerability and sociofamilial factors contributing to behavioral addiction. It also highlights the presence of untreated comorbidities in such cases. The difference from contemporary RPGs and uniqueness of role playing on SNS is discussed. SNS role playing as a separate genre of PIU and its potential to reach epidemic proportions are discussed. Conclusions Individuals with temperamental vulnerability are likely to develop behavioral addictions. Identification and management of comorbid conditions are important. The content of PIU continues to evolve and needs further study

Detection of ALDH1 activity in rabbit hepatic VX2 tumors and isolation of ALDH1 positive cancer stem cells

Abstract Background Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity has been implicated in the therapeutic drug resistance of many malignancies and has been widely used as a marker to identify stem-like cells, including in primary liver cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to play a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. In order to clarify the validity of the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model, we questioned if it expresses ALDH1 as a potential marker of CSCs. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy worldwide and has poor prognosis. Most of the animal models used to study hepatocellular carcinoma are rodent models which lack clinical relevance. The rabbit VX2 model is a large animal model useful for preclinical and for developing drugs targeting cancer stem cells. Materials and methods We used flow cytometry to identify rabbit VX2 liver tumor cells that express ALDH1A1 activity at a high level and confirmed the results with RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses. Further, mRNA and protein expression analysis of tumor samples also express the markers for stemness like klf4, oct3/4, CD44 and nanog as well as the differentiation marker α-fetoprotein. Results We used Aldefluor flow cytometry-based assay to identify cells with high ALDH1 activity in the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model. We used the brightest 4.39 % of the total cancer cell population in our study. We performed semi-quantitative as well as real time PCR to characterize the stemness derived from VX2 tumors and tissues from normal rabbit liver. We demonstrated that VX2 tumors have higher expression of cancer stem cell markers such as AlDH1A1 and CD44 in comparison to normal rabbit liver cells. Additionally, real time PCR analysis of the same samples using syber-green demonstrated the significant change (p > 0.05) in the expression of genes. We validated the gene expression of the stemness markers by performing western blot and immunofluorescence. We showed that cancer stem cell markers (AlDH1A1, CD44) and the differentiation marker α-fetoprotein were upregulated in VX2 tumor cells. The same extent of upregulation was observed in stemness markers (klf4, oct3/4 and nanog) in VX2 tumors in comparison to normal rabbit liver. Conclusion The overall results of this study indicate that ALDH1 is a valid CSC marker for VX2 cancer. This finding suggests that the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model is useful in studying drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma and may be useful for basic and preclinical studies of other types of human cancer.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117332/1/12967_2016_Article_785.pd

Determination of the presence of metabolic syndrome in patients of erectile dysfunction and assess correlation of its components with erectile dysfunction in a tertiary care hospital in central India

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common medical condition that affects approximately 100 million men worldwide and is currently recognized as a major public health problem. Metabolic syndrome (Met S) is a complex entity consisting of multiple interrelated factors including insulin resistance, central adiposity, dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic disease, low-grade inflammation, and in males, low testosterone levels. we aimed to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and ED presence and severity.Methods: Patient who came to urology OPD with c/o of ED and were evaluated for it with physical examination, questionnaire, investigations>after confirmation of ED were evaluated for presence of metabolic syndrome and its individual componentsResults: Out of these 202 patients, 98 patients were found to have metabolic syndrome. The mean age of participating patients in this study was 47.2±5.6 years. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 98 (34.78%) of 202 patients. Statistically significant association was found between ED and metabolic syndrome, waist circumference and fasting blood glucose (p<0.001 with each parameter). We also found a significant correlation between hypertension and ED but no significant correlation with triglyceride levels or HDL levels.Conclusions: ED is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and the efforts for treatment of erectile dysfunction must be made in the context of metabolic syndrome and its constituents with a low threshold to diagnose the cardiovascular disease