Physiological Responses at 15 Minutes of Recovery after a Session of Functional Fitness Training in Well-Trained Athletes

The aim of this study was to analyse muscle fatigue and metabolic stress at 15 min of recovery after performing two independent sessions of functional fitness training (FFT): a session of strength functional fitness training (FFTstrength) and a session of endurance functional fitness training (FFTendurance). Methods: eighteen well-trained men conducted two protocols, separated by one week of rest: FFTstrength (3 sets of 21, 15 and 9 repetitions of Thruster with bar + Pull ups) and FFTendurance (3 sets × (30 kcal rowing + 15 kcal assault air bike)). Neuromuscular fatigue and metabolic stress were measured right before, right after and at 10 and 15 min after completing the FFT workout, as well as the mean heart rate (HRmean) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) at the end of the FFT. Results: FFTendurance recovered the velocity loss values after 15 min of recovery. On the other hand, FFTstrength only recovered velocity in the 1 m·s−1 Tests in squat (SQ), since the velocity levels were 7% lower in the 1 m·s−1 Tests in military press exercise (MP) after 15 min. Conclusions: These data indicate that there are specific recovery patterns not only as a function of the exercise and the body regions involved, but also regarding the recovery of neuromuscular and metabolic factors, since both FFT workouts obtained high blood lactate concentrations.Sección Deptal. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia (Enfermería)Fac. de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y PodologíaTRUEAlfonso X el Sabio University Foundationpu

Diseño, aplicación y evaluación de animaciones Flash como material docente no presencial en prácticas de Bioquímica

El Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular ha desarrollado un conjunto de animaciones Flash interactivas específicamente diseñadas para reforzar la comprensión de conceptos, técnicas y aplicaciones instrumentales de las sesiones de prácticas de las asignaturas que imparte el Área. Las animaciones han sido incluidas en el servidor web de la Universidad de Jaén y los alumnos han dispuesto permanentemente de este material de apoyo a través de enlaces web desde la plataforma Docencia Virtual. Para valorar el grado de satisfacción, se han realizado encuestas de valoración de este material en alumnos de diferentes Grados de Ciencias durante el curso académico 2009/2010

Muscle Recovery after a Single Bout of Functional Fitness Training

Background: Functional fitness training (FFT) is a new exercise modality that targets functional multi-joint actions via both muscle-strengthening exercises and aerobic training intervals. The aim of the study was to examine muscle recovery over a 20 min period after an FFT workout in trained adults. Materials and methods: Participants were 28 healthy trained subjects. In a single session, a countermovement jump (CMJ) was performed to determine several mechanical variables (jump height, maximum velocity, power) before (preFFT) and 4, 10, and 20 min after the FFT workout (postFFT). In parallel, capillary blood lactate concentrations were measured pre- and 3 min postFFT. Heart rate was also measured before and after the workout, and perceived exertion was measured postFFT. Results: Significant differences between the time points preFFT and 4 min and 10 min postFFT, respectively, were produced in jump height (p = 0.022, p = 0.034), maximum velocity (p = 0.016, p = 0.005), average power relative (p = 0.018, p = 0.049), and average power total (p = 0.025, p = 0.049). No differences were observed in any of the variables recorded preFFT and 20 min postFFT. Conclusions: While mechanical variables indicating muscle fatigue were reduced 4 and 10 min postFFT, pre-exercise jump ability only really started to recover 20 min after FFT although not reaching pre-exercise levels. This means that ideally intervals of around 20 min of rest should be implemented between training bouts.Sección Deptal. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia (Enfermería)Fac. de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y PodologíaTRUEAlfonso X el Sabio University Foundationpu

ABP: aplicación del "Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas" a la docencia de las asignaturas del Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Se ha aplicado el sistema de Aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP) como una herramienta formativa más en la docencia de las asignaturas impartidas por nuestra Área de Conocimiento. El ABP obliga al alumno a diseñar una estrategia para afrontar un determinado problema, buscar información específica sobre el mismo y aplicarla de forma práctica en su resolución. Para poner en práctica este sistema se han ideado una serie de problemas adecuados a los contenidos y nivel de cada una de las asignaturas. El objetivo ha sido el de formar a los alumnos mediante situaciones similares a las que se encontrarán en el futuro ejercicio de su actividad profesional, estimulando así su implicación y participación en las asignaturas. Se ha desarrollado mediante exposiciones en clase y tutorías con grupos de trabajo. Se incluyen ejemplos de ABP de las distintas asignaturas. Para evaluar los resultados de este sistema se ha realizado una encuesta a los alumnos participantes cuyos resultados también se muestran

Effects of Creatine Supplementation after 20 Minutes of Recovery in a Bench Press Exercise Protocol in Moderately Physically Trained Men

The aims of this study were to analyse the effect of creatine supplementation on the performance improvement in a bench pressing (BP) strength test of muscle failure and to evaluate muscle fatigue and metabolic stress 20 min after the exercise. Methods: Fifty young and healthy individuals were randomly assigned to a creatine group (n = 25) or a placebo group (n = 25). Three exercise sessions were carried out, with one week of rest between them. In the first week, a progressive load BP test was performed until the individuals reached the one repetition maximum (1RM) in order to for us obtain the load-to-velocity ratio of each participant. In the second week, the participants conducted a three-set BP exercise protocol against 70% 1RM, where they performed the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) until muscle failure occurred, with two minutes of rest between the sets. After one week, and following a supplementation period of 7 days, where half of the participants consumed 0.3 g·kg−1·day−1 of creatine monohydrate (CR) and the other half consumed 0.3 g·kg−1·day−1 of placebo (PLA, maltodextrin), the protocol from the second week was repeated. After each set, and up to 20 min after finishing the exercise, the blood lactate concentrations and mean propulsive velocity (MPV) at 1 m·s−1 were measured. Results: The CR group performed a significantly higher number of repetitions in Set 1 (CR = 14.8 repetitions, PLA = 13.6 repetitions, p = 0.006) and Set 2 (CR = 8 repetitions, PLA = 6.7 repetitions, p = 0.006) after supplementation, whereas no significant differences were seen in Set 3 (CR = 5.3 repetitions, PLA = 4.7 repetitions, p = 0.176). However, there was a significant increase in blood lactate at minute 10 (p = 0.003), minute 15 (p = 0.020), and minute 20 (p = 0.015) after the exercise in the post-supplementation period. Similarly, a significant increase was observed in the MPV at 1 m·s−1 in the CR group with respect to the PLA group at 10, 15, and 20 min after the exercise. Conclusions: Although the creatine supplementation improved the performance in the strength test of muscle failure, the metabolic stress and muscle fatigue values were greater during the 20 min of recovery

The hypoxic preconditioning agent deferoxamine induces poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-dependent inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain

We previously reported that treatment with a single dose of deferoxamine (DFO), which acts as a hypoxic-mimetic agent, only induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the presence of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1). Given that mitochondria are one of the main sources of ROS, the present study was designed to assess the effect of DFO treatment on the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, and more importantly, to determine whether this effect is modulated by PARP-1. We found that DFO treatment induced a progressive decline in complex II and IV activity, but that this activity was preserved in PARP-1 knock-out cells, demonstrating that this decrease is mediated by PARP-1. We also confirmed that complex II inhibition after DFO treatment occurs in parallel with poly-ADP ribosylation. Consequently, we recommend that PARP-1 activation be taken into account when using DFO as a hypoxia-mimetic agent, because it mediates alteration of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.This study was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI052020), the University of Jaén (UJA-07-16-37), and the Junta de Andalucía (BIO-0184).Peer reviewe

Prolongevity effects of olive oil phenolic compounds: C. elegans as a model system

Trabajo presentado al 4th Spanish Worm Meeting, celebrado en Carmona (Sevilla) del 14 al 15 de marzo de 2013.Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, in simple forms or in conjugates, are the main phenolic compounds present in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), with reported protective effects in human health such as inhibition of LDL oxidation and platelet aggregation, among others. Nevertheless, the potential effects of these compounds on longevity in a whole organism had not been studied before. In order to investigate the effects of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol on longevity, we decided to use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a well characterized model organism which facilitates lifespan assays and molecular analyses. Our results demonstrate that one of the specific tyrosol concentrations assayed was able to induce a significant increase in the median lifespan of C. elegans. This phenol also delayed the onset of a typical marker of aging in these nematodes and increased survival to heat and oxidative stress. We also found that tyrosol induces a significant up-regulation of a small Heat Shock Protein (sHSPs) family gene, whose expression is highly controlled by the Insulin/Igf-1 (IIS) signaling pathway, known to modulate longevity in this and other organisms. In addition, we have performed lifespan assays with mutant strains which have provided useful information regarding the specific genetic requirements or molecular pathways involved in tyrosol effects in this model organism. In particular, the heat shock transcription factor (HSF-1) and the insulin pathway (DAF-2 and DAF-16) might be implicated in mediating tyrosol effects in lifespan. Together, our results suggest hormesis as a possible mechanism to explain the effects of tyrosol on longevity in C. elegans. Moreover, we have performed a proteomics analysis in order to identify C. elegans proteins that are differentially expressed in response to tyrosol treatment. In this sense, our preliminary data suggests additional mechanisms affected by this phenolic compound that might account for some of the described effects on longevity. In conclusion, our results so far demonstrate that a single phenolic compound from EVOO is able to promote longevity in an animal model. Our results suggest that this effect may be related to the ability of tyrosol to induce the expression of specific genes directly involved in key longevity regulation pathways.This work was funded by the Instituto de Estudios Giennenses (RFC/IEG 2009) and the University of Jaén (R1/13/2010/02).Peer Reviewe

Tyrosol, a main phenol present in extra virgin olive oil, increases lifespan and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consumption has been traditionally related to a higher longevity in the human population. EVOO effects on health are often attributed to its unique mixture of phenolic compounds with tyrosol and hydroxityrosol being the most biologically active. Although these compounds have been extensively studied in terms of their antioxidant potential and its role in different pathologies, their actual connection with longevity remains unexplored. This study utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the possible effects of tyrosol in metazoan longevity. Significant lifespan extension was observed at one specific tyrosol concentration, which also induced a higher resistance to thermal and oxidative stress and delayed the appearance of a biomarker of ageing. We also report that, although tyrosol was efficiently taken up by these nematodes, it did not induce changes in development, body length or reproduction. In addition, lifespan experiments with several mutant strains revealed that components of the heat shock response (HSF-1) and the insulin pathway (DAF-2 and DAF-16) might be implicated in mediating tyrosol effects in lifespan, while caloric restriction and sirtuins do not seem to mediate its effects. Together, our results point to hormesis as a possible mechanism to explain the effects of tyrosol on longevity in C. elegans.This study was supported by the Instituto de Estudios Giennenses (RFC/IEG 2009), the University of Jaén (R1/13/2010/02) and the Junta de Andalucía (BIO-0184) and (FQM-323). A.M.-V. was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Projects PI050065 and PI080557, co-financed by the Fondo Social Europeo, FEDER) and Junta de Andalucía (Projects P07-CVI-02697 and P08-CVI-03629), Spain.Peer Reviewe

MCPH1 Lack of Function Enhances Mitotic Cell Sensitivity Caused by Catalytic Inhibitors of Topo II

The capacity of Topoisomerase II (Topo II) to remove DNA catenations that arise after replication is essential to ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Topo II activity is monitored during G2 by a specific checkpoint pathway that delays entry into mitosis until the chromosomes are properly decatenated. Recently, we demonstrated that the mitotic defects that are characteristic of cells depleted of MCPH1 function, a protein mutated in primary microcephaly, are not a consequence of a weakened G2 decatenation checkpoint response. However, the mitotic defects could be accounted for by a minor defect in the activity of Topo II during G2/M. To test this hypothesis, we have tracked at live single cell resolution the dynamics of mitosis in MCPH1 depleted HeLa cells upon catalytic inhibition of Topo II. Our analyses demonstrate that neither chromosome alignment nor segregation are more susceptible to minor perturbation in decatenation in MCPH1 deficient cells, as compared with control cells. Interestingly, MCPH1 depleted cells were more prone to mitotic cell death when decatenation was perturbed. Furthermore, when the G2 arrest that was induced by catalytic inhibition of Topo II was abrogated by Chk1 inhibition, the incidence of mitotic cell death was also increased. Taken together, our data suggest that the MCPH1 lack of function increases mitotic cell hypersensitivity to the catalytic inhibition of Topo II