Post-Exercise Hydrotherapy; Improving Cardiometabolic Health

Purpose: To determine whether the addition of warm or cold hydrotherapy to exercise training can provide similar or greater benefits for cardiometabolic health compared to time-matched exercise training. Primary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training coupled with warm (WWI) or cold water-immersion (CWI), and time-matched exercise alone, on improving exercise capacity and fitness outcomes. It was hypothesised that post-exercise WWI would improve V̇O2max to a similar extent to time-matched exercise, and greater extent than CWI. Secondary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training with post-exercise WWI or CWI, and time-matched exercise alone, on enhancing glucose uptake and improving metabolism. It was hypothesised that post-exercise WWI would improve glucose regulation to a similar extent to time-matched exercise, and greater extent than CWI. Methods: 24 healthy participants (18-40 years) were randomised to complete two of three training interventions (12 x sessions; 4-week washout between): i) EXS - 60 min of steady state cycling at 70% of max heart rate (HR), ii) WWI – 30 min of steady state cycling at 70% max HR followed by 30 min warm water (~38-40°C) immersion, and/or iii) CWI - 30 min of steady state cycling at 70% max HR followed by 30 min cold water (~10-12°C) immersion. A pre and post Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT; blood glucose measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) and Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER via indirect calorimetry), determined post-prandial (PP) glucose and metabolic flexibility, defined as the slope of fasting to PP. A pre and post 20-min time trial (max distance) and V̇O2max test measured cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Exercise for 60 minutes increased V̇O2max significantly more than when the second half of exercise was substituted with cold water immersion but not more than warm water immersion. Exercise performance, indicated by work trial distance and power, increased with all interventions. No metabolic indices were improved differentially by the three interventions, although the addition of warm water immersion to shorter duration exercise may attenuate peak postprandial glucose responses to an oral glucose challenge

Concussion Knowledge and Prior Concussion Experience of Theater Personnel

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional research abstracts, as well as Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics. Thank you for viewing this 3rd Annual OATA Special Edition

Human dose response relation for airborne exposure to Coxiella burnetii

Background: The recent outbreak of Q fever in the Netherlands between 2007 and 2009 is the largest recorded Q fever outbreak. Exposure to Coxiella burnetii may cause Q fever but the size of the population exposed during the outbreak remained uncertain as little is known of the infectivity of this pathogen. The quantification of the infectiousness and the corresponding response is necessary for assessing the risk to the population. Methods: A human challenge study was published in the 1950s but this study quantified the dose of C. burnetii in relative units. Data from a concurrent guinea pig challenge study were combined with a recent study in which guinea pigs were challenged with a similar aerosol route to quantify human exposure. Concentration estimates for C. burnetii are made jointly with estimates of the dose response parameters in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Results: The dose for 50% infection (InfD50%) in human subjects is 1.18 bacteria (95% credible interval (CI) 0.76-40.2). The dose for 50% illness (IllD50) in challenged humans is 5.58 (95%CI 0.89-89.0) bacteria. The probability of a single viable C. burnetii causing infection in humans is 0.44 (95%CI 0.044-0.59) and for illness 0.12 (95%CI 0.0006-0.55). Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first human dose–response model for C. burnetii. The estimated dose response relation demonstrates high infectivity in humans. In many published papers the proportion of infected individuals developing illness is reported to be 40%. Our model shows that the proportion of symptomatic infections may vary with the exposure dose. This implies that presence of these bacteria in the environment, even in small numbers, poses a serious health risk to the population

Identification of a multidrug efflux pump in Flavobacterium johnsoniae

In this study, the mechanism conferring multiple drug resistance in several strains of flavobacteria isolated from the ovarian fluids of hatchery reared 3-year old brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis was investigated. Metabolic fingerprinting and 16S rRNA gene sequences identified the isolates as Flavobacterium johnsoniae. The isolates exhibited multiple resistances to a wide range of antimicrobial classes including penicillin, cephem, monobactam, aminoglycoside, and phenicol. Although plasmids and other transposable elements containing antimicrobial resistance genes were not detected, the isolates did contain a genomic sequence for a chloramphenicol-inducible resistance-nodulation-division family multidrug efflux pump system. Efflux pumps are non-specific multidrug efflux systems. They are also a component of cell-cell communication systems, and respond specifically to cell membrane stressors such as oxidative or nitrosative stress. Understanding of efflux pump mediated antibiotic resistances will affect efficacy of clinical treatments of fishes associated with F. johnsoniae epizootics

Effects of Fusion Tack Welds on Self-Reacting Friction Stir Welds

In order to know whether fusion tack welds would affect the strength of self-reacting friction stir seam welds in 2195-T87 aluminum alloy, the fracture stresses of 144 tensile test coupons cut from 24 welded panels containing segments of friction stir welds were measured. Each of the panels was welded under unique processing conditions. A measure of the effect of the tack welds for each panel was devised. An analysis of the measures of the tack weld effect supported the hypothesis that fusion tack welds do not affect the strength of self-reacting friction stir welds to a 5% level of confidence

The role of Periostin in regulating the biomechanical properties of cushion tissue

Abstract only availableDuring embryonic heart development the atrio-ventricular (AV) cushions swell and fuse to form the valves and septa of the adult heart. Initially, the cushions appear as swellings on the interior wall of the AV canal and eventually fuse to form the septum and valvular leaflets. The morphogenetic event that the cushions undergo during the fusion process is, in part, driven by the cohesive energy of the tissue, which can be described by the tissue's surface tension. It has been shown earlier that many properties of embryonic tissues can be interpreted by using the analogy that they behave as liquids and it is this analogy that gives rise to apparent tissue surface tension. Periostin is hypothesized to affect cushion tissue surface tension, through its possible binding of the extracellular matrix of the tissue. In this study virus containing the sense strand of Periostin DNA is introduced into hanging drops containing living explants of AV cushion tissue. Overnight the tissue explants rounded up to form spheroids allowing their surface tension to be measured and compared to the surface tension of AV cushion tissue explants exposed to a LacZ promoter control virus. The surface tension was determined using a specifically designed apparatus that measures the viscoelastic response of spherical explants due to a compressive force. It was expected that the increased production of Periostin in the cushion explants due to exposure to the virus will result in an increased surface tension compared to that of explants exposed to the control virus. The preliminary results of the experiment have displayed no significant difference of surface tension between the control virus and the Periostin virus. Since earlier research has shown a significant difference in the rate of fusion of cushions exposed to Periostin DNA virus and those exposed to the control virus, and because fusion time is characterized by the ratio of the surface tension and the viscosity of the tissue, we believe that Periostin may be affecting the viscosity of the tissue explants instead of the surface tension.NSF-REU Program in Biosystems Modeling and Analysi

Sociodemographic Background Characteristics of Patients Who Participate in a Lung Cancer Screening Program

Introduction: Despite decreasing lung cancer incidence and mortality rates, disparities in prevalence and outcomes persist between Black and White patients. Secondary analysis of the National Lung Screening Trial found screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduced lung cancer mortality more in Blacks than Whites. However, it is unknown if racial disparities exist in screening results, and the involved sociodemographic factors. Objective: The study aims to analyze characteristics that may predict screening outcomes (Lung-RADS category) in patients who received LDCT through the Jefferson Lung Cancer Screening Program (LCSP). Methods: Retrospective data (n=733, May 2015 to July 2017) were merged with prospective data (n=292, January to September 2018). Lung-RADS scores were categorized into a binary variable (negative=1 and 2 vs. positive=3, 4A, 4B, and 4X). Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to examine risk factors (race, gender, age, marital status, smoking status, COPD, and BMI). Results: Of 1025 total participants, 688 met eligibility criteria and underwent LDCT. In adjusted analysis, age and marital status were associated with Lung-RADS result. Older patients (aOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.08) and never-married patients (aOR=1.88, 95% CI=1.09-3.26) had significantly higher odds of a positive screen. An interaction between race and gender was also identified. Compared to White women, White men (aOR=2.13, 95% CI=1.08-4.19) and Black men (aOR=2.10, 95% CI=1.01-4.42) had higher odds of positive screening results. Discussion: Despite no main effect of race on screening results, an interaction existed between race and gender. These findings can be further explored to develop education programs for earlier detection and treatment, increasing screening awareness in vulnerable populations

Optical data of meteoritic nano-diamonds from far-ultraviolet to far-infrared wavelengths

We have used different spectroscopic techniques to obtain a consistent quantitative absorption spectrum of a sample of meteoritic nano-diamonds in the wavelength range from the vacuum ultraviolet (0.12 $\mu$m) to the far infrared (100 $\mu$m). The nano-diamonds have been isolated by a chemical treatment from the Allende meteorite (Braatz et al.2000). Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) extends the optical measurements to higher energies and allows the derivation of the optical constants (n & k) by Kramers-Kronig analysis. The results can be used to restrain observations and to improve current models of the environment where the nano-diamonds are expected to have formed. We also show that the amount of nano-diamond which can be present in space is higher than previously estimated by Lewis et al. (1989).Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Climate Action In Megacities 3.0

"Climate Action in Megacities 3.0" (CAM 3.0) presents major new insights into the current status, latest trends and future potential for climate action at the city level. Documenting the volume of action being taken by cities, CAM 3.0 marks a new chapter in the C40-Arup research partnership, supported by the City Leadership Initiative at University College London. It provides compelling evidence about cities' commitment to tackling climate change and their critical role in the fight to achieve global emissions reductions