Psychological Markers of the Overtraining Syndrome

The overtraining (OT) syndrome is characterized by performance plateaus and decrements and is manifested through various physiological and psychological variables. A qualitative review will summarize specific factors associated with OT to better understand this syndrome. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review is to summarize psychological aspects associated with the OT syndrome. METHODS: This study reviewed 13 articles that qualified for the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The variables measured include tension, anger, fatigue, confusion, depression, vigor, sleep, stress, and self-perceptions of physical status. Participants were measured during a normal (N) phase, midway phase (MW), and OT phase. In the review, selected variables (i.e., anger, depression, etc.) were noted in terms of direction (+, -) of change in the OT state compared to the N state. RESULTS: Combined sample size (N) was 238 subjects with the mean time in OT of 6.6 (weeks). The following are mean (SD) demographics of subjects from the selected studies: height (cm) 175.4 (2.4); weight (kg) 71.7 (2.6); body fat (%) 11.8 (0.9); age (y) 23.5 (2.03); VO2max (ml*kg -1*min -1) 55.4 (0.8). Three articles reported decreases in tension at OT, and one noted increases at MW. Fatigue increased at OT in 6 studies and showed no change in a separate study. Confusion did not change in two studies, increased at OT in another, and increased at MW then declined at OT in a final article. Vigor reportedly remained stable in two studies and decreased in two other studies. Anger did not change in 2 articles, decreased in another, and increased in a different study with its peak at MW. There was no change in depression in three studies, but a decrease was reported in a separate article at OT with an increase at MW. Studies reported impaired sleep patterns, increased wakefulness, and decrements and stability in sleep quality. Two studies indicated increased levels of stress with one specifying stress related to training, sleep, and health. Findings showed a decreased perception of strength, decreased perception of recovery, and no change in perception of muscle soreness. CONCLUSION: From this review, athletes in an OT state may experience disturbances in various sleep, self-perception, and mood factors

A Meta-Analysis of Biomarkers Associated with the Overtraining Syndrome

Overtraining (OT) syndrome has been investigated extensively with little agreement as to reliable markers for detection. A meta-analytic review is a procedure designed to compile studies in an area with hopes of reaching a consensus view. PURPOSE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide summary quantitative findings of biomarkers (i.e., blood) associated with the overtraining syndrome. METHODS: A meta-analytic research design was utilized to investigate selected studies allowing for a coding process to record data. Thirteen studies met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biomarkers included samples taken with subjects in normal (N) condition and during OT. These biomarkers were the following: glutamine (um), glutamate (um), cortisol (nmo*l-1), IL-6 (nm), testosterone (mg*dL-1), total cholesterol (mg*dL-1), glucose (mg*dL-1), leptin (ng*mL-1), hematocrit (%), hemoglobin (g*L-1), norepinephrine (pg*mL-1), epinephrine (pg/ml), creatine kinase (u*L-1) To determine magnitude of difference between N and OT, the effect size calculation of M2-M1/SD1 was used where M2 is the mean of the OT sample, M1 was the mean of the N sample and SD1 is the standard deviation of the N sample. RESULTS: Combined sample size (N) was 238 subjects with the mean time in OT of 6.6 (weeks). The following are mean (SD) of combined subject demographics: height (cm) 175.4 (2.4); weight (kg) 71.7 (2.6); body fat (%) 11.8 (0.9); age (y) 23.5 (2.03); VO2max (ml*kg -1*min -1) 55.4 (0.8). Mean (SD) biomarker changes from N to OT were the following: Glutamine -56.3 (-2); glutamate 49.7 (2); cortisol -89.7 (-12.2); IL 6 -0.52 (0.12); testosterone -88.9 (-30); cholesterol 4.6 (-1.6); glucose -13.3 (1.9); leptin 0.15 (-0.11); hematocrit -0.83 (-0.4); hemoglobin -20; norepinephrine 36 (-4.1); epinephrine -2.2 (-3.5); creatine kinase 29.2 (8.5). Effect size calculations for the above biomarkers were considered large for the following: glutamine (-4.02), glutamate (8), cortisol, (-1.4), IL 6 (-5.2), glucose (-1.1). CONCLUSION: From this analysis, the noted biomarker changes and direction of change (+, -) indicates considerable immune-suppression and increased stress with athletes experiencing the OT syndrome

Warm Debris Disks Candidates in Transiting Planets Systems

We have bandmerged candidate transiting planetary systems (from the Kepler satellite) and confirmed transiting planetary systems (from the literature) with the recent Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) preliminary release catalog. We have found 13 stars showing infrared excesses at either 12 and/or 22 microns. Without longer wavelength observations it is not possible to conclusively determine the nature of the excesses, although we argue that they are likely due to debris disks around the stars. If confirmed, our sample ~ doubles the number of currently known warm excess disks around old main sequence stars. The ratios between the measured fluxes and the stellar photospheres are generally larger than expected for Gyr-old stars, such as these planetary hosts. Assuming temperature limits for the dust and emission from large dust particles, we derive estimates for the disk radii. These values are comparable to the planet's semi-major axis, suggesting that the planets may be stirring the planetesimals in the system.Comment: Submitted to A&A: 21 October 2011 / Accepted for publication in A&A: 27 February 201

Living Dangerously: Culture of Honor, Risk-Taking, and the Nonrandomness of “Accidental” Deaths

Collin D. Barnes is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Institute for U.S.-China Issues at the University of Oklahoma.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Enhancing patient and organizational readiness for cardiovascular risk reduction among Black and Latinx patients living with HIV: Study protocol.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH) now that HIV is a manageable chronic disease. Identification and treatment of comorbid medical conditions for PLWH, including CVD and its risk factors, typically lack a critical component of care: integrated care for histories of trauma. Experiences of trauma are associated with increased HIV infection, CVD risk, inconsistent treatment adherence, and poor CVD outcomes. To address this deficit among those at greatest risk and disproportionately affected by HIV and trauma-i.e., Black and Latinx individuals-a novel culturally-congruent, evidence-informed care model, "Healing our Hearts, Minds and Bodies" (HHMB), has been designed to address patients' trauma histories and barriers to care, and to prepare patients to engage in CVD risk reduction. Further, in recognition of the need to ensure that PLWH receive guideline-concordant cardiovascular care, implementation strategies have been identified that prepare providers and clinics to address CVD risk among their Black and Latinx PLWH. The focus of this paper is to describe the hybrid Type 2 effectiveness/implementation study design, the goal of which is to increase both patient and organizational readiness to address trauma and CVD risk among 260 Black and Latinx PLWH recruited from two HIV service organizations in Southern California. This study is expected to produce important information regarding the value of the HHMB intervention and implementation processes and strategies designed for use in implementing HHMB and other evidence-informed programs in diverse, resource-constrained treatment settings, including those that serve patients living in deep poverty. Clinical trials registry: NCT04025463

The Kuiper Belt and Other Debris Disks

We discuss the current knowledge of the Solar system, focusing on bodies in the outer regions, on the information they provide concerning Solar system formation, and on the possible relationships that may exist between our system and the debris disks of other stars. Beyond the domains of the Terrestrial and giant planets, the comets in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud preserve some of our most pristine materials. The Kuiper belt, in particular, is a collisional dust source and a scientific bridge to the dusty "debris disks" observed around many nearby main-sequence stars. Study of the Solar system provides a level of detail that we cannot discern in the distant disks while observations of the disks may help to set the Solar system in proper context.Comment: 50 pages, 25 Figures. To appear in conference proceedings book "Astrophysics in the Next Decade