The Effect of Varying High-Intensity Interval Training Style Warm-Ups on Hemodynamic, Power, and Flexibility Responses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) style warm-up on hemodynamic, power, and flexibility responses. METHODS: Twelve male subjects (age: 24.15 ± 3.1 yr. & weight: 78.78 ± 16.83 kg) completed the study. On the first day, initial screening, anthropometric measures, and familiarization with testing procedures were completed. There were a total of 6 randomized testing sessions (separated by at least 48 hours.). The testing sessions were as follows: 3-min warm-up session with 20 sec work followed by 10 sec (C1), 3-min warm-up session with 30 sec work followed by 10 sec (C2), 5-min warm-up session with 20 sec work followed by 10 sec (C3), 5-min warm-up session with 30 sec work followed by 10 sec (C4), 8-min warm-up session with 20 sec work followed by 10 sec (C5), and 8-min warm-up session with 30 sec work followed by 10 sec (C6). The warm-up sessions included timed interval body weight squats. Hemodynamics (heart rate (HR) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure), a countermovement jump, and flexibility values were recorded before and after warm-up protocols. RESULTS: There was a significant duration*time interaction for flexibility (pCONCLUSION: The findings of the study indicate that a 3-min duration of HIIT style warm-up may be enough to physically prepare individuals to improve flexibility and vertical jump. In addition, the data also suggests that the required/recommended duration for the warm-up to prepare body may be shortened with HIIT style warm-up. Future studies should compare and contrast the efficacy of varying work to rest ratio of HIIT style warm-up with other warm-up protocols to determine the most effective warm-up protocol

Susceptibility to glaucoma: differential comparison of the astrocyte transcriptome from glaucomatous African American and Caucasian American donors

Comparison of gene expression in normal and glaucomatous eyes from Caucasian American and African American donors reveals differences that might reflect different susceptibility to glaucoma

Gene Expression and Functional Studies of the Optic Nerve Head Astrocyte Transcriptome from Normal African Americans and Caucasian Americans Donors

To determine whether optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes, a key cellular component of glaucomatous neuropathy, exhibit differential gene expression in primary cultures of astrocytes from normal African American (AA) donors compared to astrocytes from normal Caucasian American (CA) donors.We used oligonucleotide Affymetrix microarray (HG U133A & HG U133A 2.0 chips) to compare gene expression levels in cultured ONH astrocytes from twelve CA and twelve AA normal age matched donor eyes. Chips were normalized with Robust Microarray Analysis (RMA) in R using Bioconductor. Significant differential gene expression levels were detected using mixed effects modeling and Statistical Analysis of Microarray (SAM). Functional analysis and Gene Ontology were used to classify differentially expressed genes. Differential gene expression was validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Protein levels were detected by Western blots and ELISA. Cell adhesion and migration assays tested physiological responses. Glutathione (GSH) assay detected levels of intracellular GSH.Multiple analyses selected 87 genes differentially expressed between normal AA and CA (P<0.01). The most relevant genes expressed in AA were categorized by function, including: signal transduction, response to stress, ECM genes, migration and cell adhesion.These data show that normal astrocytes from AA and CA normal donors display distinct expression profiles that impact astrocyte functions in the ONH. Our data suggests that differences in gene expression in ONH astrocytes may be specific to the development and/or progression of glaucoma in AA

Consensus recommendations on rater training and certification

There is currently no accepted standard for the clinical research industry to follow when selecting and training raters to administer rating scales in clinical neuroscience trials. This article offers guidelines, based on expert recommendations of the CNS Summit Rater Training and Certification Committee, for selecting, training, and evaluating raters. The article also defines terminology and offers recommendations for considering raters with prior training and certification. These guidelines are intended for investigators, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and other entities involved in clinical neuroscience trials