Effects of exercise induced muscle damage on cardiovascular responses to isometric muscle contractions and post-exercise circulatory occlusion

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) influences cardiovascular responses to isometric exercise and post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO). We hypothesized that EIMD would increase muscle afferent sensitivity and, accordingly, increase blood pressure responses to exercise and PECO. Methods: Eleven male and nine female participants performed unilateral isometric knee extension at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 3-min. A thigh cuff was rapidly inflated to 250 mmHg for two min PECO, followed by 3 min recovery. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored beat-by-beat, with stroke volume and cardiac output estimated from the Modelflow algorithm. Measurements were taken before and 48 h after completing eccentric knee-extension contractions to induce muscle damage (EIMD). Results: EIMD caused 21% decrease in MVC (baseline: 634.6 ± 229.3 N, 48 h: 504.0 ± 160 N), and a 17-fold increase in perceived soreness using a visual-analogue scale (0–100 mm; VASSQ) (both p < 0.001). CV responses to exercise and PECO were not different between pre and post EIMD. However, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was higher during the recovery phase after EIMD (p < 0.05). Significant associations were found between increases in MAP during exercise and VASSQ, Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Pain after EIMD only (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The MAP correlations with muscle soreness, RPE and Pain during contractions of damaged muscles suggests that higher afferent activity was associated with higher MAP responses to exercise

Mapeamento genético de marcadores AFLP ligados ao gene de resistência do híbrido de timor à Hemileia vastatrix.

A ferrugem alaranjada do cafeeiro causada por Hemileia vastatrix é tida como a mais devastadora doença do cafeeiro. Este trabalho objetivou estudar a herança gênica e a identificação de marcadores moleculares ligados ao gene que confere resistência a esta doença. Para este estudo foram utilizados a população F2 (160 indivíduos), o retrocruzamento resistente (RCr, 20 indivíduos) e o suscetível (RCs, 135 indivíduos), derivados do cruzamento entre o Híbrido de Timor UFV 427-15, genitor resistente e o suscetível Catuai amarelo UFV 2143-236. A análise da segregação das populações, em estudo, indicou que um único gene dominante, presente no acesso do Híbrido de Timor UFV 427-15, é responsável pela resistência. Foram utilizadas as metodologias de BSA (Bulked Segregant Analysis) e AFLP, e analisadas 852 combinações de primers, que permitiram identificar três marcadores ligados ao gene de resistência localizados flanqueando ambos os lados, e distantes a 8.69, 20.50 e 25.10 cM. Estes são os primeiros marcadores identificados para o gene de resistência a ferrugem presente no Híbrido de Timor, e auxiliarão na seleção em programas de melhoramento para a resistência a ferrugem no Brasil

Performance and operational effectiveness of evacuated flat plate solar collectors compared with conventional thermal, PVT and PV panels

The concept of an evacuated flat plate (EFP) collector was proposed over 40 years ago but, despite its professed advantages, very few manufacturers have developed commercial versions. This situation suggests both technical difficulties in manufacturing a competitively-priced sealed for life panel and a lack of awareness of the bene fits of such panels. This paper demonstrates an evacuated flat plate simulation that closely models experimental efficiency measurements. Having established the validity of the model, it compares published data for a commercial EFP collector with predictions for an optimal design to investigate whether any further efficiency improvement might be possible. The optimised design is then evaluated against alternative solar energy devices by modelling a number of possible applications. These comparisons should inform choices about solar options for delivering heat: EFP collectors are well-suited to some of these applications. Evacuated flat plate collectors are a possible alternative to concentrating collectors for Organic Rankine Cycle power generation. The annual output for all the modelled collectors was found to be a quadratic function of delivery temperature: this enabled a novel optimisation of ORC source temperature. Predictions for concentrating and non-concentrating ORC plant are compared with a PV/thermal alternative. The ORC output is significantly less than a PV panel would achieve; applications needing both heat and power are better served by PVT panels. This is an original and novel result

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services

[Intrinsic ureteral endometriosis: description of a striking instance.]

Intrinsic ureteral endometriosis is a very rare condition. A 41 y. o. woman with right hydroureteronephrosis and other aspecific symptoms came to our attention. The CT scan showed an ureteral obstacle causing the hydroureteronephrosis. She underwent ureterorenoscopy with biopsies of the lesion that did not result to be diriment. Suspecting a ureteral neoplasm, the patient then underwent ureteral resection and ureterocystoneostomy, and the extemporary histological examination resulted as endometriosis. The abdominal exploration showed a parametrial and a peritoneal growth - both compatible with the extemporary histological examination - that were also excised. The post-operative course was uneventful. The definitive hystological examination confirmed the perioperatory diagnosis. Intrinsic ureteral endometriosis is confirmed as a rare pathology with an indefinite clinical presentation; its typical presentation, namely cyclic hematuria, seems to be an anecdotal feature. Therefore the diagnostics of intrinsic ureteral endometriosis is still difficult even despite such a striking presentation