Comparison of transabdominal ultrasound and electromagnetic transponders for prostate localization.

The aim of this study is to compare two methodologies of prostate localization in a large cohort of patients. Daily prostate localization using B-mode ultrasound has been performed at the Nebraska Medical Center since 2000. More recently, a technology using electromagnetic transponders implanted within the prostate was introduced into our clinic (Calypso(R)). With each technology, patients were localized initially using skin marks. Localization error distributions were determined from offsets between the initial setup positions and those determined by ultrasound or Calypso. Ultrasound localization data was summarized from 16619 imaging sessions spanning 7 years; Calypso localization data consists of 1524 fractions in 41 prostate patients treated in the course of a clinical trial at five institutions and 640 localizations from the first 16 patients treated with our clinical system. Ultrasound and Calypso patients treated between March and September 2007 at the Nebraska Medical Center were analyzed and compared, allowing a single institutional comparison of the two technologies. In this group of patients, the isocenter determined by ultrasound-based localization is on average 5.3 mm posterior to that determined by Calypso, while the systematic and random errors and PTV margins calculated from the ultrasound localizations were 3 - 4 times smaller than those calculated from the Calypso localizations. Our study finds that there are systematic differences between Calypso and ultrasound for prostate localization

Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 39

Part 1: The nature of the barriers separating the Lake Malawi and Zambezi fish faunas: The nature of the barrier separating the ‘Lake Malawi’ from the ‘Lower Zambezi’ fish faunas was investigated by electrofishing the 145 km stretch of the Shire River surrounding the Murchison cataracts. The study shows that the lowermost element of the cataracts, the Kapachira Falls, is an absolute physical barrier to upstream movement of ‘Lower Zambezi’ species. The barrier to downstream movement by ‘Lake Malawi’ species is largely ecological and has two components, the fluviatile nature of the Upper and Middle Shire and especially the torrential nature of the cataracts, which are unsuitable for lacustrine species, and competition with the ‘Lower Zambezi’ fauna of the Lower Shire by the few species which succeed in negotiating the cataracts.Part 2: An annotated checklist of the fish fauna of the River Shire south of Kapachira Falls, Malawi: The Shire River drains Lake Malawi and is a major tributary of the Lower Zambezi River. Sixty-one species of fish have been recorded in the lower reaches which are separated from the lower Shire basin by the Kapachira Falls and from the ‘East Coast River’ fauna present in the Upper Ruo River by the Zoa Falls. The fauna is essentially similar to that of the Lower Zambezi, although some Lake Malawi endemics occur sporadically in the upper part of the flood plain.Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation

Effects of ingesting JavaFit Energy Extreme functional coffee on aerobic and anaerobic fitness markers in recreationally-active coffee consumers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ingesting JavaFit™ Energy Extreme (JEE) on aerobic and anaerobic performance measures in recreationally-active male and female coffee drinkers. Five male (27.6 ± 4.2 yrs, 93.2 ± 11.7 kg, 181.6 ± 6.9 cm) and five female (29 ± 4.6 yrs, 61.5 ± 9.2 kg, 167.6 ± 6.9 cm) regular coffee drinkers (i.e., 223.9 ± 62.7 mg·d(-1 )of caffeine) participated in this study. In a cross-over, randomized design, participants performed a baseline (BASELINE) graded treadmill test (GXT) for peak VO(2 )assessment and a Wingate test for peak power. Approximately 3–4 d following BASELINE testing, participants returned to the lab for the first trial and ingested 354 ml of either JEE or decaffeinated coffee (DECAF), after which they performed a GXT and Wingate test. Criterion measures during the GXT included an assessment of peakVO(2 )at maximal exercise, as well as VO(2 )at 3 minutes and 10 minutes post-exercise. Additionally, time-to-exhaustion (TTE), maximal RPE, mean heart rate (HR), mean systolic pressure (SBP), and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured during each condition. Criterion measures for the Wingate included mean HR, SBP, DBP, peak power, and time to peak power (TTP). Participants then returned to the lab approximately one week later to perform the second trial under the same conditions as the first, except consuming the remaining coffee. Data were analyzed using a one way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that JEE significantly increased VO(2 )at 3 minutes post-exercise when compared to BASELINE (p = 0.04) and DECAF (p = 0.02) values, which may be beneficial in enhancing post-exercise fat metabolism

Introduction

What are the strategies, modalities and aspirations of island-based, stateless nationalist and regionalist parties in the twenty-first century? Political independence is now easier to achieve, even by the smallest of territories; yet, it is not so likely to be pursued with any vigour by the world's various persisting sub-national (and mainly island) jurisdictions. Theirs is a pursuit of different expressions of sub-national autonomy, stopping short of independence. And yet, a number of independence referenda are scheduled, including one looming in Scotland in autumn 2014

Ubiquitin Proteasome System Activity is Suppressed by Curcumin Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Human Skeletal Muscle

PURPOSE: Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In vitro and in vivo animal studies have demonstrated that exposure to curcumin leads to dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). However, to date, no study has investigated curcumin’s ability to influence UPS activity in a human model. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation on markers of UPS activity in the presence of elevations in UPS activity due to exercise-induced muscle damage. METHODS: Twenty-three recreationally active male and female participants between the ages of 18-30 were randomized into a curcumin (CUR; n=11) or placebo (PLA; n=12) group. Both groups were instructed to consume 2 g of their respective supplement and 20 mg of piperine for 11 consecutive days. Following 8 consecutive days of supplementation, participants performed a 45 minute eccentrically-biased muscle damaging treadmill protocol at 60% VO2max. Muscle biopsies and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) analyses were performed 30 minutes prior and 3, 24, 48, and 72 hours following exercise-induced muscle damage. Skeletal muscle ubiquitin, MAFbx/Atrogin-1, ubiquitin specific peptidase 19 (USP19), and chymotrypsin-like protease concentrations were measured using ELISA. A 3-way repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise comparisons was conducted with significance set at p≤0.05. RESULTS: Both groups had a significant time effect for DOMS (p \u3c .001). Pairwise comparisons indicated DOMS was significantly greater from baseline at all time points except 72 hours following muscle damage. No significant differences were found for USP19 between groups. Regardless of time, a significant main effect for condition was observed for ubiquitin (p=.016) and MAFbx/Atrogin-1 (p=.006) where CUR was significantly lower than PLA. Additionally, a significant main effect for gender was observed for MAFbx/Atrogin-1 (p=.013) where females were greater than males. A significant group x gender interaction was found for chymotrypsin-like protease (p = .049) where males had lower values with curcumin supplementation while females had slightly higher. CONCLUSION: Curcumin supplementation in humans does appear to dysregulate UPS activity in the presence of exercise-induced muscle damage. Specifically, curcumin’s ability to suppress protein ubiquination provides preliminary evidence of curcumin supplementation’s potential therapeutic role in decreasing protein degradation associated with skeletal muscle damage and perhaps other atrophic scenarios

Wnt/β-Catenin and Androgen Receptor Signaling Increase Following High Load Resistance Exercise Without Elevations in Serum/Muscle Testosterone or Androgen Receptor Content

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was 1) to determine the effect of single bouts of volume- and intensity-equated low (LL) and high load (HL) full-body resistance exercise (RE) on AR-DNA binding, serum/muscle testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, muscle androgen receptor (AR), and AR-DNA binding and 2) to determine the effect of RE on sarcoplasmic and nucleoplasmic β-catenin concentrations in order to determine their impact on mediating AR-DNA binding in the absence/presence of serum/muscle androgen and AR protein. METHODS: In a cross-over design, ten resistance-trained males completed volume- and intensity-equated LL and HL full-body RE. Blood and muscle samples were collected at pre-, 3h-, and 24h post-exercise. Separate 2x3 factorial ANOVAs with repeated measures and pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni adjustment were used to analyze main effects. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in muscle AR, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or serum total testosterone in either condition (p \u3e.05). Serum free testosterone was significantly decreased 3h post-exercise and remained significantly less than baseline 24h post-exercise in both conditions (p.05). Moreover, sarcoplasmic β-catenin was significantly greater in HL (p.05). CONCLUSION: Increases in AR-DNA binding in response to HL indicates AR signaling may be load-dependent. Furthermore, despite the lack of increase in serum and muscle androgens or AR content following HL RE, elevations in AR-DNA binding with elevated sarcoplasmic β-catenin suggests β-catenin may be facilitating this response

Cross-Country Transportation Efficacy and Clinical Outcomes of Preloaded Large-Diameter Ultra-Thin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty Grafts

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of preloaded large-diameter ultra-thin grafts for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) after cross-country shipment. METHODS: A laboratory study in an eye bank and a clinical cohort study in an academic tertiary care center were performed. UT-DSAEK (9.5 mm diameter) grafts (n = 7) were prepared, loaded into a commercial device (iGlide; Eurobio, Les Ulis, France), preserved for 4 days at room temperature in transport medium, and analyzed. In a retrospective study, preloaded tissues (n = 39) for clinical use were prepared, transported from Italy to the United Kingdom, and surgically delivered into the eyes of patients undergoing UT-DSAEK. Central and peripheral endothelial cell density (ECD) and viability were measured before and after loading and storage of the grafts in the laboratory study. Clinically, best-corrected visual acuity, ECD before and at final follow-up, dislocation rate, primary graft failure, and surgical time were recorded. RESULTS: In the laboratory study, postcut central graft thickness was 93.3 ± 17.2 μm. ECD and cell mortality did not change significantly before and after preservation (P = 0.8). Cell loss after 4 days of preservation was 1.7% ± 1.6%. Clinically, 39 eyes of 39 patients at final follow-up showed a mean central graft thickness of 88 ± 22 μm and a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.34 ± 0.24 logMAR. Nine of 39 cases (23%) needed rebubbling, and 28% cell loss was observed at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Large-diameter UT-DSAEK grafts can be prepared and preloaded in the eye bank using the iGlide and transported to the surgical center facilitating surgery for patients undergoing UT-DSAEK, potentially reducing tissue wastage, surgical time, and costs related to surgery

Attenuated platelet aggregation in patients with septic shock is independent from the activity state of myosin light chain phosphorylation or a reduction in Rho kinase-dependent inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase

BACKGROUND: Impaired coagulation contributes to the morbidity and mortality associated with septic shock. Whether abnormal platelet contraction adds to the bleeding tendency is unknown. Platelets contract when Ca(2+)-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates Ser19 of myosin light chain (MLC20), promoting actin-myosin cross-bridge cycling. Contraction is opposed when myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) dephosphorylates MLC20. It is thought that Rho kinase (ROK) inhibits MLCP by phosphorylating Thr855 of the regulatory subunit MYPT, favouring platelet contraction. This study tested the hypotheses that in septic shock, (i) platelet function is inversely correlated with illness severity and (ii) ROK-dependent MLCP inhibition and myosin light chain phosphorylation are reduced. METHODS: Blood was sampled from non-septic shock patients and patients in the first 24 h of septic shock. Platelet function was assessed using whole blood impedance aggregation induced by 1) ADP (1.6 and 6.5 μM), 2) thrombin receptor-activating protein (TRAP; 32 μM), 3) arachidonic acid (500 μM) and 4) collagen (3.2 μg/ml). Arachidonic acid-induced aggregation was measured in the presence of the ROK inhibitor Y27632. Illness severity was evaluated using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores. Western blot analysis of [Ser19]MLC20 and [Thr855]MYPT phosphorylation quantified activation and inhibition of platelet MLC20 and MLCP, respectively. Data were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test; p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Agonist-induced aggregation was attenuated in septic shock patients (n = 22 to 34; p < 0.05). Aggregation correlated inversely with SOFA and APACHE II scores (n = 34; p < 0.05). Thr855 phosphorylation of MYPT from unstimulated platelets was not decreased in patients with septic shock (n = 22 to 24). Both septic shock and ROK inhibition attenuated arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation independent of changes in [Ser19]MLC20 and [Thr855]MYPT phosphorylation (n = 14). CONCLUSIONS: Impairment of whole blood aggregation in patients within the first 24 h of septic shock was correlated with SOFA and APACHE II scores. Attenuated aggregation was independent of molecular evidence of diminished platelet contraction or reduced ROK inhibition of MLCP. Efforts to restore platelet function in septic shock should therefore focus on platelet adhesion and degranulation.Benjamin AJ Reddi, Samantha M Iannella, Stephanie N O, Connor, Adam M Deane, Scott R Willoughby, and David P Wilso