New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves high-intensity intermittent running performance.

New Zealand blackcurrant (BC) intake showed reduced blood lactate during low and moderate intensity cycling and improved 16.1 km cycling time trial performance. We examined the effect of BC on high-intensity intermittent treadmill running and post-running lactate clearance. Thirteen active males (age: 25±4 yrs, stature: 1.82±0.07 m, body mass: 81±14 kg, V̇O2max: 56±4 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, velocity at V̇O2max: 17.6±0.8 km∙h-1, mean±SD) visited the laboratory three times. In the 1st visit, a ramp protocol (0.1 km∙h-1 every 5 sec) was completed to establish V̇O2max and velocity at V̇O2max, and subjects were familiarised with the protocols. In visits 2 and 3, subjects completed an high intensity intermittent running capability test which consisted of six 19 s high-intensity running bouts, each interspersed by 15 s of low-intensity running, followed by 1 minute of rest, this was repeated at increasing speeds, until exhaustion. Prior to visits 2 and 3, subjects consumed either New Zealand BC extract (300 mg∙day-1 CurraNZ™; containing 105 mg anthocyanin) or placebo (P) (300 mg∙day-1 microcrystalline cellulose M102) for 7 days in capsules (double blind, randomised, cross-over design, wash-out at least 14 days). Blood lactate was collected for 30 min post-exhaustion. Two-tailed paired t-tests were used and significance accepted at p< .05. BC increased total running distance by 10.6% (BC: 4282±833 m, P: 3871±622 m, p = .023, 10 out of 13 subjects improved), with the distance during the high-intensity running bouts by 10.8% (p= .024). Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and oxygen uptake were not different between conditions for each stage. At exhaustion, lactate tended to be higher for BC (BC: 6.01±1.07 mmol∙L-1, P: 5.22±1.52 mmol∙L-1, p = .066, 9 out of 13 subjects). There was a trend towards improved lactate clearance following 15 min (BC: -2.89±0.51 mmol∙L-1, P: -2.46±0.39 mmol∙L-1, p = .07) and 30 minutes of passive recovery (BC: -4.12±0.73 mmol∙L-1, P: -3.66±1.01 mmol∙L-1, p = 0.11). It is concluded that New Zealand blackcurrant extract (CurraNZ™) may enhance performance in team sports characterised by high-intensity intermittent exercise as with BC intake greater distances were covered during high-intensity running, there was higher lactate tolerance, and increased lactate clearance after high-intensity exercise

Photoactivated cell-killing involving a low molecular weight, donor–acceptor diphenylacetylene

Photoactivation of photosensitisers can be utilised to elicit the production of ROS, for potential therapeutic applications, including the destruction of diseased tissues and tumours. A novel class of photosensitiser, exemplified by DC324, has been designed possessing a modular, low molecular weight and ‘drug-like’ structure which is bioavailable and can be photoactivated by UV-A/405 nm or corresponding two-photon absorption of near-IR (800 nm) light, resulting in powerful cytotoxic activity, ostensibly through the production of ROS in a cellular environment. A variety of in vitro cellular assays confirmed ROS formation and in vivo cytotoxic activity was exemplified via irradiation and subsequent targeted destruction of specific areas of a zebrafish embryo

Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Substrate Oxidation and Cycling Performance in Normobaric Hypoxia

Blackcurrant is high in anthocyanin content. We have shown enhanced whole-body fat oxidation and increased time trial performance during cycling, in addition to increased femoral artery diameter during a sustained submaximal isometric contraction of the m.quadriceps with intake of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract in normobaric normoxia (Cook et al., 2015, 2017). The effect of blackcurrant on metabolic and physiological responses and performance during cycling in normobaric hypoxia are not known. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of NZBC extract on intensity-dependent physiological and metabolic responses and 16.1-km cycling time trial in trained cyclists in normobaric hypoxia. METHODS: The study used a double-blind randomized cross-over design. Eleven healthy men from cycling and triathlon clubs with at least 3 yrs experience and cycling 8-10 hr·wk−1 (age: 38±11 yrs, height: 179±4 cm, body mass: 76±8 kg, V̇O2max: 47±5 mL·kg−1·min−1, maximum power: 398±38 W, mean±SD) ingested NZBC extract (600 mg·day−1 containing 220 mg anthocyanins) or placebo (PL) for 7 days (washout 14 days). Participants performed bouts of 10 min at 45, 55 and 65% V̇O2max, using indirect calorimetry and blood sampling, followed by a 16.1 km timetrial on a SRM ergometer (SRM International, Germany). Participants were familiarized for the time-trial. All testing took place in a temperature controlled (15°C) normobaric hypoxic chamber set at an altitude of ~2500 m (15% FiO2) (TIS Services, Medstead, UK) in morning sessions. Data was analysed using paired t-tests. RESULTS: At each intensity, NZBC extract had no effect on metabolic and physiological responses (e.g. at 65% V̇O2max, heart rate - PL: 133±12, NZBC; 132±12 beats·min-1); fat oxidation - PL: 0.24±0.12, NZBC: 0.20±0.16 g·min-1; carbohydrate oxidation - PL: 2.34±0.42, NZBC: 2.48±0.35 g·min-1; lactate - PL: 1.37±0.45, NZBC: 1.56±0.57 mmol·L-1). No improvements in 16.1 km time-trial performance were observed (PL: 1685±92, NZBC: 1685±99 sec). CONCLUSION: Seven day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract does not change whole-body fat oxidation and 16.1 km time-trial performance during cycling in normobaric hypoxia

Anthocyanin-Rich Supplementation: Emerging Evidence of Strong Potential for Sport and Exercise Nutrition

Dark-coloured fruits, especially berries, have abundant presence of the polyphenol anthocyanin which have been show to provide health benefits. Studies with the berry blackcurrant have provided notable observations with application for athletes and physically active individuals. Alterations in exercise-induced substrate oxidation, exercise performance of repeated high-intensity running and cycling time-trial and cardiovascular function at rest and during exercise were observed with intake of New Zealand blackcurrant. The dynamic plasma bioavailability of the blackcurrant anthocyanins and the anthocyanin-derived metabolites must have changed cell function to provide meaningful in-vivo physiological effects. This perspective will reflect on the research studies for obtaining the applied in-vivo effects by intake of anthocyanin-rich supplementation, the issue of individual responses, and the emerging strong potential of anthocyanins for sport and exercise nutrition. Future work with repeated intake of known amount and type of anthocyanins, gut microbiota handling of anthocyanins, and coinciding measurements of plasma anthocyanin and anthocyanin-derived metabolites and in-vivo cell function will be required to inform our understanding for the unique potential of anthocyanins as a nutritional ergogenic aid for delivering meaningful effects for a wide range of athletes and physically active individuals

A Hybridised Optimisation of an Automated Photochemical Continuous Flow Reactor

A new hybridized algorithm that combines process optimisation with response surface mapping was developed and applied in an automated continuous flow reaction. Moreover, a photochemical cascade CSTR was developed and characterised by chemical actinometry, showing photon flux density of ten times greater than previously reported in batch. The success of the algorithm was then evaluated in the aerobic oxidation of sp3 C–H bonds using benzophenone as photosensitizer in the newly developed photo reactor

Acute Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cycling Time-Trial Are Performance Dependent in Endurance-Trained Cyclists: A Home-Based Study

The intake of anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract (300 mg per day) over a week enhanced 16.1 km cycling time trial (TT) performance in endurance-trained cyclists without acute performance effects. In the present study, the acute effects of an intake of 900 mg of NZBC extract 2 h before performing the 16.1 km cycling TT were examined. A total of 34 cyclists (26 males; 8 females) (age: 38 ± 7 years, V˙O2max: 57 ± 5 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed 4 16.1 km TTs (2 familiarization and 2 experimental trials) over 4 mornings on a home turbo-trainer connected with the online training simulator ZWIFT. There was no difference in time to complete the 16.1 km TT between conditions (placebo: 1422 ± 104 s; NZBC extract: 1414 ± 93 s, p = 0.07). However, when participants were split between faster (1400 s; 7 females; 10 males) cyclists based on average familiarization TTs, a difference in TT performance was observed only in the slower group (placebo: 1499 ± 91 s; NZBC extract: 1479 ± 83 s, p = 0.02). At 12 km (quartile analysis), power output (p = 0.04) and speed (p = 0.04) were higher compared to the placebo with no effects on heart rate and cadence. The acute effects of 900 mg of NZBC extract on a 16.1 km cycling time-trial may depend on the performance ability of male endurance-trained cyclists. More work is needed to address whether there is a sex-specific time-trial effect of NZBC extract independent of performance ability

Diabetes causes marked inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism in pancreatic β-cells

Diabetes is a global health problem caused primarily by the inability of pancreatic β-cells to secrete adequate levels of insulin. The molecular mechanisms underlying the progressive failure of β-cells to respond to glucose in type-2 diabetes remain unresolved. Using a combination of transcriptomics and proteomics, we find significant dysregulation of major metabolic pathways in islets of diabetic βV59M mice, a non-obese, eulipidaemic diabetes model. Multiple genes/proteins involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis are upregulated, whereas those involved in oxidative phosphorylation are downregulated. In isolated islets, glucose-induced increases in NADH and ATP are impaired and both oxidative and glycolytic glucose metabolism are reduced. INS-1 β-cells cultured chronically at high glucose show similar changes in protein expression and reduced glucose-stimulated oxygen consumption: targeted metabolomics reveals impaired metabolism. These data indicate hyperglycaemia induces metabolic changes in β-cells that markedly reduce mitochondrial metabolism and ATP synthesis. We propose this underlies the progressive failure of β-cells in diabetes.Peer reviewe

Time-resolved fluorescence and FCS studies of dye-doped DNA

Fluorescence lifetime, anisotropy and intensity dependent single molecule fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (I-FCS) are used to investigate the mechanism of fluorescence saturation in a free and nucleotide bound fluorophore (NR6104) in an antioxidising ascorbate buffer. Nucleotide attachment does not appreciably affect the fluorescence lifetime of the probe and there is a decrease in the rate of intersystem crossing relative to that of triplet state deactivation. The triplet state fraction is seen to plateau at 72% (G-attached) and 80% (free fluorophore) in agreement with these observations. Measurements of translational diffusion times show no intensity dependence for excitation intensities between 1 and 105kW cm-2 and photobleaching is therefore negligible. The dominant mechanism of fluorescence saturation is thus triplet state formation. I-FCS measurements for Rhodamine 6G in water were compared with those in the ascorbate buffer. In water the triplet fraction was saturated at considerably higher powers (45% at ca. 1.5 × 103kW cm-2) than in the ascorbate buffer (55%ca. 1 1kW cm-2)

Enhanced error estimator based on a nearly equilibrated moving least squares recovery technique for FEM and XFEM

In this paper a new technique aimed to obtain accurate estimates of the error in energy norm using a moving least squares (MLS) recovery-based procedure is presented. We explore the capabilities of a recovery technique based on an enhanced MLS fitting, which directly provides continuous interpolated fields, to obtain estimates of the error in energy norm as an alternative to the superconvergent patch recovery (SPR). Boundary equilibrium is enforced using a nearest point approach that modifies the MLS functional. Lagrange multipliers are used to impose a nearly exact satisfaction of the internal equilibrium equation. The numerical results show the high accuracy of the proposed error estimator