Interval training compared with continuous training in patients with COPD

SummaryThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of interval training (3-min intervals) with continuous training on peak exercise capacity (W peak), physiological response, functional capacity, dyspnoea, mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with moderate or severe COPD.Sixty patients exercised twice weekly for 16 weeks after randomisation to interval- or continuous training. Target intensity was ⩾80% of baseline W peak in the interval group (I-group) and ⩾65% in the continuous group (C-group). Patients were tested by spirometry, ergometer cycle test, cardiopulmonary test and a 12min walk test. Dyspnoea was measured by the dyspnoea scale from Chronic Obstructive Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ), mental health by Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) and HRQoL by the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36).After training, W peak, peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and exhaled carbon dioxide (VCO2 peak) increased significantly in both groups, no significant differences between the groups. Minute ventilation (VE peak) increased only in the C-group. At identical work rates (isotime) VO2, VCO2 and VE were significantly more decreased in the I-group than in the C-group (p<0.05). Functional capacity, dyspnoea, mental health, and HRQoL improved significantly in both groups, no difference between the groups.Interval training and continuous training were equally potent in improving peak exercise capacity, functional exercise capacity, dyspnoea, mental health and HRQoL in patients with moderate or severe COPD. At isotime, the physiological response to training differed between the groups, in favour of the interval training

Migratory Passerine Birds as Reservoirs of Lyme Borreliosis in Europe

Birds host vector ticks and Borrelia species and vary in effectiveness as reservoirs

Pheromone mating disruption of the pine sawfly Neodiprion sertifer : is the size of the treated area important?

Few attempts to control forest insects by means of pheromone mating disruption have been reported. The first such experiments with the European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), resulted in nearly complete trap catch reduction, but no effects on population density or sex ratio were noted. Unmated females lay eggs, which develop into males only. Therefore, if mating disruption would be successful, a more male-biased sex ratio is expected the next generation. One possible explanation for the early results is that mated females disperse into the treated area, and thus obscure the effects of the treatment. In order to reduce the effect of such immigrating females, the treated area was increased in the experiment described here from the earlier used 0.5 – 4 ha to 25 ha. The acetate of erythro-3,7-dimethyl-2- pentadecanol was used for disruption and released from dispensers every 10 m. The influence on male orientation was monitored by pheromone traps, baited with the acetate of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7- dimethyl-2-pentadeanol and placed at 100 m interval along two perpendicular, 1500 m lines intersecting the treated area. The trap catch reduction was near 100% during the first month, but then declined to around 90% during the second month. Mating frequencies were checked by comparing the sex ratio of the next generation from within and outside the treatment area. No effect of the treatment on the sex ratio was detected, and the frequency of mated females could be assumed to be independent of treatment. Alternative hypotheses to explain the failure of pheromone mating disruption in N. sertifer are discussed

Respiratory muscle strength is not decreased in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary impairments are significant complications after cardiac surgery. Decreased respiratory muscle strength could be one reason for impaired lung function in the postoperative period. The primary aim of this study was to describe respiratory muscle strength before and two months after cardiac surgery. A secondary aim was to describe possible associations between respiratory muscle strength and lung function. METHODS: In this prospective observational study 36 adult cardiac surgery patients (67 ± 10 years) were studied. Respiratory muscle strength and lung function were measured before and two months after surgery. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperative respiratory muscle strength was in accordance with predicted values; MIP was 78 ± 24 cmH2O preoperatively and 73 ± 22 cmH2O at two months follow-up (p = 0.19). MEP was 122 ± 33 cmH2O preoperatively and 115 ± 38 cmH2O at two months follow-up (p = 0.18). Preoperative lung function was in accordance with predicted values, but was significantly decreased postoperatively. At two-months follow-up there was a moderate correlation between MIP and FEV1 (r = 0.43, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory muscle strength was not impaired, either before or two months after cardiac surgery. The reason for postoperative lung function alteration is not yet known. Interventions aimed at restore an optimal postoperative lung function should focus on other interventions then respiratory muscle strength training

Pulmonary function in children and adolescents after esophageal atresia repair

Introduction Respiratory morbidity after esophageal atresia (EA) is common. The aims of this study were to assess pulmonary function, to identify risk factors for pulmonary function impairment (PFI), and to investigate the relations between respiratory morbidity, defined as medical treatment for respiratory symptoms or recent pneumonia and PFI after EA repair. Material and Methods Single center retrospective observational study including patients with EA who participated in the follow‐up program for 8‐ or 15‐year old patients from 2014 to 2018 and performed pulmonary function testing by body plethysmography, dynamic spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and diffusing capacity of the lungs. Univariate and multiple stepwise logistic regression with PFI as outcome were performed. Anastomotic leak, episodes of general anesthesia, extubation day, birth weight, age at follow up, gross classification, and abnormal reflux index were independent variables. Results In total, 47 patients were included. PFI was found in 19 patients (41%) and 16 out of 19 patients (84%) had an obstructive pattern. Respiratory morbidity was found in 23 (52%, NA = 3) of the patients with no correlation to PFI. Birth weight, age at follow‐up, and episodes of general anesthesia were identified as risk factors for PFI. Conclusion Respiratory morbidity and PFI were common in children and adolescents after EA repair. The major component of PFI was obstruction of the airways. The risk for PFI increased with lower birth weight and older age at follow up. The poor correlation between respiratory morbidity and PFI motivates the need of clinical follow up including pulmonary function tests

Captures of male European pine sawflies (Hymenoptera : Diprionidae) in pheromone-baited traps in Kentucky

Using sticky traps baited with (2S, 3S, 7S)-3,7-dimethyl-2-pentadecyl acetate, we assessed the seasonal and diurnal flight activity of the European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffrey), in Fayette, Madison, and Livingston counties in Kentucky. At each site, two replicates of individual sticky traps were baited and suspended about 1 m high and spaced at least 20 m apart. Trap catch was affected by site (P = 0.001). A total of 326 European pine sawfly males were captured at the Fayette Co. site during the period 18 September to 12 November, representing 7% of the season total. No males of this species were caught at the other sites. During peak flight activity (1 to 15 October), we monitored traps at 2.5-h intervals over 4 d to determine diurnal flight patterns. Flight activity began after 1100 h and ceased by 1830 h, and was significantly affected by time of day. European pine sawfly flight activity was greatest between 1330 and 1330 h. We captured over 5,200 male sawflies at all three sites, with peak activity occurring in May, July, September and October

Monitoring European pine sawfly population densities with pheromone traps in young pine plantations

Field trials utilizing pheromone traps were evaluated to develop a population monitoring and predicting system for the European pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer). Larval density was censused in a transect across each study site. Three traps per site were baited with 100μg of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethyl-2-pentadecyl (diprionyl) acetate. During a two-year period traps loaded with 1, 10 and 100 μg of diprionyl acetate were compared. Correlations and coefficients of determination between numbers of captured males and larvae of the same or successive generations were seldom high. Between-generation relationships were significant, when population density was increasing. Having years with increasing densities in a row, the present monitoring method might provide warning of an outbreak

Article sex pheromone of the introduced pine sawfly, diprion similis, revisited to define a useful monitoring lure : Deviating chiral composition and behavioural responses compared to earlier reports

Extracts of Diprion similis females contained about 15 ng of the sex pheromone precursor 3,7‐dimethylpentadecan‐2‐ol per female. After derivatisation with (S)‐2‐acetoxypropanoyl chloride, we found that the major stereoisomer in the extract was (2S,3R,7R)‐3,7‐dimethylpentadecan‐2‐ol. Small amounts of other stereoisomers of 3,7‐dimethylpentadecan‐2‐ol were also identified in the extract, namely 1% of (2R,3S,7S), 0.3% (2R,3R,7R) and 0.4% of (2R,3R,7S). An unknown fifth substance showed a very similar spectrum to 3,7‐dimethylpentadecan‐2‐ol, both in SIM and full scan mode. None of the earlier suggested behavioural synergistic isomers ((2S,3S,7S), (2S,3S,7R) and (2S,3R,7S)) were detected in the extracts. In field tests in Ontario, Canada, the earlier identified main pheromone component, viz. the propanoate of (2S,3R,7R)‐3,7‐dimethylpentadecan‐2‐ol, was tested alone and in combination with other stereoisomers, earlier reported to be synergistic. No synergistic effects were detected and the threo four‐isomer blend was as attractive as the pure main compound. Thus, one of the few examples of a diprionid sawfly using more than one substance in its sex pheromone could not be confirmed. The results also suggest that monitoring programs can use the more easily synthesized threo‐blend without losing efficiency. Furthermore, the study suggests that other diprionid pheromones may benefit from a reinvestigation, to clarify possible synergistic effects of stereoisomers