Influence of endogenous and exogenous hormones on the cardiovascular response to lower extremity exercise and group III/IV activation in young females.

Oral contraceptive (OC) use can increase resting blood pressure (BP) in females as well as contribute to greater activation of group III/IV afferents during upper body exercise. It is unknown, however, whether an exaggerated BP response occurs during lower limb exercise in OC users. We sought to elucidate the group III/IV afferent activity-mediated BP and heart rate responses while performing lower extremity tasks during early and late follicular phases in young, healthy females.

Menstrual phase does not influence ventilatory responses to group III/IV afferent signaling in eumenorrheic young females.

Estrogen can reduce sympathetic activity, but its effects on minute ventilation (V) with group III/IV afferent activation remain unclear. This study examined the influence of estrogen on V during lower-extremity exercise with group III/IV activation. Females completed two identical visits in follicular and ovulatory menstrual phases.

Cardiovascular Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Bimanual Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose: To determine the influence of combined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the motor cortex (M1) and bimanual training on cardiovascular function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability (HRV) were measured immediately before and after 20 minutes of cathodal tDCS to contralesional M1 and bimanual training on days 1, 6, and 10 of a 10-day trial in 8 participants (5 females, 7-19 years).

Results: Baseline MAP and HR were similar across days (93 ± 10 mm Hg and 90 ± 10 bpm, P > .

Slow-Paced Breathing and Autonomic Function in People Post-stroke.

: To determine if acute slow breathing at 6 breaths/min would improve baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV), and lower blood pressure (BP) in adults after stroke. : Twelve individuals completed two randomized study visits where they performed a 15-min bout of breathing exercises at 6 breaths/min (slow) and at 12 breaths/min (control). Continuous BP and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout, and BRS, BRS response to elevations in blood pressure (BRSup), BRS response to depressions in blood pressure (BRSdown), and HRV were calculated and analyzed before (pre), during, and after (post) breathing exercises.

V/VCO slope in lean and overweight women and its relationship to lean leg mass.

Unlabelled: Ventilation/carbon dioxide production (V/VCO) is used clinically to determine cardiorespiratory fitness and morbidity in heart failure (HF). Previously, we demonstrated that lower lean leg mass is associated with high V/VCO during exercise in HF. In healthy individuals, we evaluated 1) whether V/VCO differed between lean and overweight women and 2) the relationship between lean leg mass and V/VCO in overweight sedentary (OWS), overweight trained (OWTR) and lean, trained (LTR) women.

Age-Related Decline of Wrist Position Sense and its Relationship to Specific Physical Training.

Perception of limb and body positions is known as proprioception. Sensory feedback, especially from proprioceptive receptors, is essential for motor control. Aging is associated with a decline in position sense at proximal joints, but there is inconclusive evidence of distal joints being equally affected by aging.

Biochemical Characterization of WbkC, an N-Formyltransferase from Brucella melitensis.

It has become increasingly apparent within the last several years that unusual N-formylated sugars are often found on the O-antigens of such Gram negative pathogenic organisms as Francisella tularensis, Campylobacter jejuni, and Providencia alcalifaciens, among others. Indeed, in some species of Brucella, for example, the O-antigen contains 1,2-linked 4-formamido-4,6-dideoxy-α-d-mannosyl groups. These sugars, often referred to as N-formylperosamine, are synthesized in pathways initiating with GDP-mannose.

The psychological and physiological effects of acute occupational stress in new anesthesiology residents: a pilot trial.

Background: Occupational stress in resident physicians has profound implications for wellness, professionalism, and patient care. This observational pilot trial measured psychological and physiological stress biomarkers before, during, and after the start of anesthesia residency.

Methods: Eighteen physician interns scheduled to begin anesthesia residency were recruited for evaluation at three time points: baseline (collected remotely before residency in June 2013); first-month visit 1 (July); and follow-up visit 2 (residency months 3 to 5, September-November).

Structural and biochemical characterization of a bifunctional ketoisomerase/N-acetyltransferase from Shewanella denitrificans.

Unusual N-acetylated sugars have been observed on the O-antigens of some Gram-negative bacteria and on the S-layers of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. One such sugar is 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-α-d-galactose or Fuc3NAc. The pathway for its production requires five enzymes with the first step involving the attachment of dTMP to glucose-1-phosphate.