The Effect of Caloric Restriction and Exercise on Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Concentration

The independent and combined effects of exercise training and caloric restriction on the plasma concentration of lipid and lipoprotein was studied. Thirty-two female volunteers were assigned to one of three treatment groups; exercise only, diet only or diet plus exercise. The exercise only group participated in a walk/jog program three days per week. For 30 to 45 minutes these individuals either walked or jogged at a intensity which elicited a heart rate that was 70% of the max heart rate reserve. The diet only group participated in a behavior modification weight loss program which restricted caloric intake to 1200 kcals per day. The combined diet and exercise group participated in both of the above programs. Only 38% of the of the initial 32 subjects fully completed the 12 week study. The diet and diet plus exercise treatments elicited the greatest (p \u3c 0.05) amount of weight loss. Weight loss for these two groups averaged 7.3 and 4.4 kgs respectively. The amount of fat weight in these two groups was also significantly reduced (p \u3c 0.05), while no change was observed in lean body mass for any of the treatment groups. Maximal oxygen consumption (L/min) was only increased in the exercise only group. This group demonstrated an 11% increase from pretreatment values. However, when oxygen consumption was expressed per kilogram of body weight, significant (p \u3c 0.05) increases in maximal oxygen consumption were observe in all three treatment groups. The effects of exercise, caloric restriction, or a combination of these two treatments on the blood lipid profile were minimal. No changes in the plasma concentration of cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein from pretreatment values were observed. In conclusion, exercise (70% max HR reserve) and weight loss (1200 kcal/day) independently and combined produced changes in body weight and maximal aerobic capacity. However, these three treatments were not sufficient enough to produce changes in the blood lipid profiles of 12 female volunteers

Examining physiological roles of adipose derived VEGF: Consequences in substrate availability and endurance exercise capacity in adipocyte specific VEGF deficient mice

Reducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in adipose tissue alters adipose vascularity and metabolic homeostasis. We hypothesized that this would also affect metabolic responses during exercise-induced stress, and that adipocyte-specific VEGF deficient (adipoVEGF-/-) mice would have impaired endurance capacity. Endurance exercise capacity in adipoVEGF-/- (n=10) and littermate control (n=11) mice was evaluated every 4 weeks between 6 & 24 weeks of age using a submaximal endurance run to exhaustion at 20 m/min, 10-degree incline. Maximal running speed, using incremental increases in speed at 30-second intervals, was tested at 25 weeks of age. Beginning at 6 weeks, and continuing with all time points, endurance run time to exhaustion was 30% lower in adipoVEGF-/- compared to controls (p\u3c0.001). The age-associated rate of decline in endurance capacity was similar in adipoVEGF-/- vs. control mice and there was no difference in maximal running speed between the groups. Following 1 hour of running at 50% maximum running speed, adipoVEGF-/- mice displayed decreased circulating insulin, (p\u3c0.001), glycerol (p\u3c0.05), and a tendency for decreased glucose (p=0.06) compared to controls. These data suggest that deficits in adipose tissue vasculature are mediated by adipose VEGF and that deficiency of VEGF blunts the availability of lipid-derived substrates during endurance exercise and affects insulin secretion and glucose metabolism

Filter size not the anticoagulation method is the decisive factor in continuous renal replacement therapy circuit survival

Background/Aim: As continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has emerged as a standard therapy in pediatric intensive care units (PICU), many related issues that may have an impact on circuit survival have gained in importance. Objective of the study was an evaluation of factors associated with circuit survival, including anticoagulation (ACG). Methods: Retrospective study that included 40 patients, who in total received 7636 hours of CRRT during 150 sessions (84 filters, 4260 hours with heparin anticoagulation (Hep-ACG); 66 filters, 3376 hours with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA)). Results: The Kaplan-Meier analysis of the total circuit survival time depending on the type of ACG did not demonstrate a significant difference between Hep-ACG and RCA. The percentage of clotted filters was significantly higher in case of smaller filters (HF20: 58.8%; ST60: 29.5%; ST100: 15.8%), and their lifetime was significantly lower regardless of ACG (the mean and median lifetime for HF20: 38.7/27.0 h; for ST60: 54.1/72.0 h., for ST100: 62.1/72.0 h, respectively). Conclusions: Irrespectively of filter size, filter clotting occurs within the first 24 hours after the initiation of CRRT. Most commonly, clotting affects small filters, and their lifetime is significantly shorter as compared to larger filters regardless of the type of the ACG

Niesteroidowe leki przeciwzapalne a powikłania sercowo-naczyniowe i gastroenterologiczne — algorytm wyboru

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are characterized by high efficacy both in anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapy. Unfortunately this group of medications is burdened with numerous side effects, including severe. Main mechanism of action is through blockade of cyclooxygenase which is also a basis for majority of their side effects. Through years attempts have been made in order to establish algorithm of choosing the best NSAID in individual situations according to the risk of side effects. Following elaboration is a review of current knowledge on the subject including the results of the newest PRECISION study and presents an algorithm of choice of the NSAID depending on gastroenterological and cardiovascular risk using a concept of so called “golden mean” NSAID and taking into account the interaction between some NSAID and acetylsalicylic acid in cardioprotective dose.Niesteroidowe leki przeciwzapalne (NLPZ) wykazują wysoką skuteczność w terapii przeciwzapalnej i przeciwbólowej. Leki z tej grupy są obarczone dość licznymi działaniami niepożądanymi, często również poważnymi. Działanie NLPZ wiąże się z blokowaniem cyklooksygenaz. Mechanizm ten stanowi podstawę występowania większości działań niepożądanych NLPZ. Przez lata podejmowano próby opracowania algorytmu wyboru NLPZ, zależnie od ryzyka rozwoju powikłań związanych z lekami z tej grupy, w indywidualnych przypadkach. Niniejsze opracowanie stanowi kolejną próbę podsumowania tego zagadnienia przy zaktualizowanym stanie wiedzy wynikającym z opublikowania wyników badania PRECISION i przedstawiono w nim algorytm wyboru NLPZ w zależności od ryzyka gastroenterologicznego i sercowo-naczyniowego, z wykorzystaniem tak zwanej koncepcji NLPZ „złotego środka” oraz z uwzględnieniem interakcji między niektórymi NLPZ a kwasem acetylosalicylowym stosowanym kardioprotekcyjnie

A multi-proxy approach to exploring Homo sapiens’ arrival, environments and adaptations in Southeast Asia

The capability of Pleistocene hominins to successfully adapt to different types of tropical forested environments has long been debated. In order to investigate environmental changes in Southeast Asia during a critical period for the turnover of hominin species, we analysed palaeoenvironmental proxies from five late Middle to Late Pleistocene faunas. Human teeth discoveries have been reported at Duoi U’Oi, Vietnam (70–60 ka) and Nam Lot, Laos (86–72 ka). However, the use of palaeoproteomics allowed us to discard the latter, and, to date, no human remains older than ~ 70 ka are documented in the area. Our findings indicate that tropical rainforests were highly sensitive to climatic changes over that period, with significant fluctuations of the canopy forests. Locally, large-bodied faunas were resilient to these fluctuations until the cooling period of the Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4; 74–59 ka) that transformed the overall biotope. Then, under strong selective pressures, populations with new phenotypic characteristics emerged while some other species disappeared. We argue that this climate-driven shift offered new foraging opportunities for hominins in a novel rainforest environment and was most likely a key factor in the settlement and dispersal of our species during MIS 4 in SE Asia

The influence of a pre-exercise sports drink (PRX) on factors related to maximal aerobic performance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pre-exercise sports drinks (PRX) are commonly used as ergogenic aids in athletic competitions requiring aerobic power. However, in most cases, claims regarding their effectiveness have not been substantiated. In addition, the ingredients in PRX products must be deemed acceptable by the athletic governing bodies that regulate their use in training and competition. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a modified PRX formulation (known as EM·PACT™) from earlier investigations on factors related to maximal aerobic performance during a graded exercise test. The modification consisted of removing creatine to meet the compliance standards set forth by various athletic organizations that regulate the use of nutritional supplements.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-nine male and female college students varying in levels of aerobic fitness participated in a randomized crossover administration of PRX (containing 14 g/serving of fructose, medium-chain triglycerides, and amino acids mixed with 8 oz. of water) and placebo (PL) 30 minutes prior to performing a treadmill test with approximately one week separation between the trials. VO₂max, maximal heart rate (HR), time to exhaustion (Time), and percentage estimated non-protein fat substrate utilization (FA) during two <it>a priori </it>submaximal stages of a graded exercise testing were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The VO₂max mean value of the PRX trial was significantly greater than the PL trial (P < 0.01). The mean value for Time was also observed to be greater for the PRX trial compared to PL (P < 0.05). Additionally, percentage of FA during submaximal stages of the exercise test was greater for PRX trial in comparison to PL (P < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The modified PRX formulation utilized in this investigation supports the findings of the previous investigation and its efficacy for enhancing indices of aerobic performance (specifically VO₂max, Time, & FA) during graded exercise testing.</p

Nutrition aspects in children receiving maintenance hemodialysis: impact on outcome

Children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have rates of mortality estimated to be 30-times higher than expected for age compared with those of healthy children. Physical manifestations of under-nutrition, such as body mass index (BMI) and low height standard deviation score (SDS), have been associated with increased risk of mortality. Traditional measures, such as height, weight and serum albumin concentration, may not be accurate indicators to assess the nutritional status of children receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) has emerged as a better marker of nutritional status of such children. Meeting the special nutritional needs of these children often requires nutritional supplementation, by either the enteral or the parenteral route. Recently, in children receiving maintenance hemodialysis who are malnourished, intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) has been utilized as a means to provide additional protein and calories. This article is a state-of-the-art review of malnutrition in children receiving maintenance hemodialysis, with special focus on outcome, nPCR and IDPN