13 research outputs found

    Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters

    Get PDF
    BACKGROUND: Previous researchers have studied circadian changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) on small sample sizes and in a strictly controlled environment. This study was undertaken to investigate these changes during the late second and third trimesters, using a portable fetal electrocardiogram recording device (Monica AN24) in pregnant women in home and hospital environments with unrestricted mobility. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 54 pregnant women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between 25 and 40 weeks gestation. FHR recordings were made up to 16 h at home or in the hospital setting in the United Kingdom. FHR data over 90 min periods were averaged and the day (7:00 am-11:00 pm) and night (11:00 pm-7:00 am) data from the same individual were compared. Data were examined for evidence of sex-related differences. RESULTS: During the night, there was a significant reduction in basal heart rate (bFHR) and a significant increase in short term variation (STV) and long term variation (LTV) (P < 0.05). Basal FHR decreased (P < 0.002), whereas LTV increased (P = 0.014) with advancing gestation. Male fetuses showed greater day: night variation than females regardless of gestation (P = 0.014). There was a higher bFHR in fetuses monitored during the day in hospital (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there are sex-, environment and time-related differences in the FHR parameters measured. These differences may need to be considered taken when interpreting FHR data

    p53 status and response to radiotherapy in rectal cancer: a prospective multilevel analysis

    Get PDF
    The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a prospective study, the predictive role of p53 status analysed at four different levels in identifying the response to preoperative radiotherapy in rectal adenocarcinoma. Before treatment, 70 patients were staged and endoscopic forceps biopsies from the tumour area were taken. p53 status was assessed by total cDNA sequencing, allelic loss analysis, immunohistochemistry, and p53 antibodies. Neoadjuvant treatment was based on preoperative radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. Response to therapy was evaluated after surgery by both pathologic downstaging and histologic tumour regression grade. In all, 35 patients (50.0%) had p53 gene mutations; 44.4% of patients had an allelic loss; nuclear p53 overexpression was observed in 39 patients (55.7%); and p53 antibodies were detected in 11 patients (16.7%). In the multilevel analysis of p53 status, gene mutations correlated with both nuclear protein overexpression (P<0.0001) and loss of heterozygosity (P=0.013). In all, 29 patients (41.4%) were downstaged by pathologic analysis, and 19 patients (29.2%) were classified as tumour regression grade 1. Whatever the method of evaluation of treatment response, no correlation between p53 alterations and response to radiotherapy was observed. Our results do not support the use of p53 alterations alone as a predictive marker for response to radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma

    Affective response to acute resistance exercise: a comparison among machines and free weights

    No full text
    Purpose This study aimed at investigating enjoyment, affective states (affective valence and perceived activation), and perceived exertion during acute resistance exercise with machines or free weights. Methods Thirty recreationally strength-trained males performed two training sessions on 2 separate days using a descending pyramid training system, one performed with three machines (chest press, shoulder press machine and leg press) and the other with three free weight exercises (bench press, front military press and squat). The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, the Borg Scale for Rating of Perceived Exertion, the Feeling Scale, and the Felt Arousal Scale were administered at the end of each session. Results Analyses revealed higher scores on all the variables when participants exercised with free weights (p < 0.001). Enjoyment was positively related to perceived exertion only in the free weight session (r = 0.45; p < 0.01). When looking at the circumplex model of affect, results showed that resistance exercise performed with free weights resulted in a pleasant activation feeling for all participants, while the machine training condition determined high-activation pleasant state for the majority but also cases of low-activation, displeasure state. Conclusions Resistance training with free weights resulted in increased pleasantness and activation compared with machine training. The establishment of resistance training programmes should consider, close to physiological and technical aspects, also the affective response to different modalities of exercise, particularly when the aim is improving the general fitness
    corecore