Sedentary Behaviour-A Target for the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly prevalent and can lead to disability and premature mortality. Sedentary behaviour, defined as a low energy expenditure while sitting or lying down, has been identified as an independent risk factor for CVD. This article discusses (1) the association of total sedentary time and patterns of accumulating sedentary time with CVD risk markers, CVD incidence and mortality; (2) acute experimental evidence regarding the acute effects of reducing and breaking up sedentary time on CVD risk markers; and (3) the effectiveness of longer-term sedentary behaviour interventions on CVD risk.

Cardiac structure and function in resistance-trained and untrained adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Variations in the haemodynamic demands of specific training modalities may explain characteristic differences in cardiac structure and function amongst athletes. However, current consensus regarding these adaptations in highly resistance-trained athletes is yet to be established. The current invetsigation aimed to collate research investigating cardiac structure and function in resistance-trained athletes, exploring the defining characteristics of Athlete's Heart within these individuals.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Hypertension and the Metabolic Syndrome in Police Personnel.

Hypertension and metabolic syndrome (METSYN) are reportedly high in police forces. This may contribute to health deterioration and absenteeism in police personnel. Police forces comprise of staff in 'operational' and 'non-operational' job types but it is not known if job type is associated to hypertension and METSYN prevalence.

The effect of varying intensities of lower limb eccentric muscle contractions on left ventricular function.

Purpose: The effect of eccentric (ECC) resistance exercise (RE) on myocardial mechanics is currently unknown.

Method: This study investigated ECC RE at varying intensities on left ventricular (LV) function using LV strain (ε), wall stress and haemodynamic parameters. Twenty-four healthy male volunteers completed ECC leg extensions at 20%, 50% and 80% of their ECC maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), whilst receiving echocardiograms.

Unilateral Stiffness Interventions Augment Vertical Stiffness and Change of Direction Speed.

Maloney, SJ, Richards, J, Jelly, L, and Fletcher, IM. Unilateral stiffness interventions augment vertical stiffness and change of direction speed. J Strength Cond Res 33(2): 372-379, 2019-It has previously been shown that preconditioning interventions can augment change of direction speed (CODS).

Aerobic Training Protects Cardiac Function During Advancing Age: A Meta-Analysis of Four Decades of Controlled Studies.

Background: In contrast to younger athletes, there is comparatively less literature examining cardiac structure and function in older athletes. However, a progressive accumulation of studies during the past four decades offers a body of literature worthy of systematic scrutiny.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of controlled echocardiography studies comparing left ventricular (LV) structure and function in aerobically trained older athletes (> 45 years) with age-matched untrained controls, in addition to investigating the influence of chronological age.

Global and regional left ventricular circumferential strain during incremental cycling and isometric knee extension exercise.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain responses to incremental cycling and isometric knee extension exercises.

Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants (age = 30 ± 6 years) were used to study LV global (GCS) and regional circumferential strain at the apex (ACS) and base (BCS) during incremental cycling at 30% and 60% work rate maximum (W ) and short-duration (15 seconds contractions) isometric knee extensions at 40% and 75% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Results: During cycling (n = 22), GCS increased progressively from rest to 60% W (-22.

A Comparison of Bilateral and Unilateral Drop Jumping Tasks in the Assessment of Vertical Stiffness.

This study sought to compare vertical stiffness during bilateral and unilateral drop jumping. Specifically, the intersession reliabilities and force-deformation profiles associated with each task were to be examined. On 3 occasions, following familiarization, 14 healthy males (age: 22 [2] y; height: 1.

Left ventricular twist mechanics during incremental cycling and knee extension exercise in healthy men.

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) twist mechanics in response to incremental cycling and isometric knee extension exercises.

Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants (age = 30.42 ± 6.

Left Ventricular Speckle Tracking-Derived Cardiac Strain and Cardiac Twist Mechanics in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Studies.

Background: The athlete's heart is associated with physiological remodeling as a consequence of repetitive cardiac loading. The effect of exercise training on left ventricular (LV) cardiac strain and twist mechanics are equivocal, and no meta-analysis has been conducted to date.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to review the literature pertaining to the effect of different forms of athletic training on cardiac strain and twist mechanics and determine the influence of traditional and contemporary sporting classifications on cardiac strain and twist mechanics.

Do stiffness and asymmetries predict change of direction performance?

Change of direction speed (CODS) underpins performance in a wide range of sports but little is known about how stiffness and asymmetries affect CODS. Eighteen healthy males performed unilateral drop jumps to determine vertical, ankle, knee and hip stiffness, and a CODS test to evaluate left and right leg cutting performance during which ground reaction force data were sampled. A step-wise regression analysis was performed to ascertain the determinants of CODS time.

A comparison of methods to determine bilateral asymmetries in vertical leg stiffness.

Whilst the measurement and quantification of vertical leg stiffness (Kvert) asymmetry is of important practical relevance to athletic performance, literature investigating bilateral asymmetry in Kvert is limited. Moreover, how the type of task used to assess Kvert may affect the expression of asymmetry has not been properly determined. Twelve healthy males performed three types of performance tasks on a dual force plate system to determine Kvert asymmetries; the tasks were (a) bilateral hopping, (b) bilateral drop jumping and (c) unilateral drop jumping.

Reliability of Unilateral Vertical Leg Stiffness Measures Assessed During Bilateral Hopping.

The assessment of vertical leg stiffness is an important consideration given its relationship to performance. Vertical stiffness is most commonly assessed during a bilateral hopping task. The current study sought to determine the intersession reliability, quantified by the coefficient of variation, of vertical stiffness during bilateral hopping when assessed for the left and right limbs independently, which had not been previously investigated.

Magnetic controlled growth rods versus conventional growing rod systems in the treatment of early onset scoliosis: a cost comparison.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost differences between a conventional growth rod system (CGRS) and magnetic controlled growth rods (MCGR) in treating early onset scoliosis (EOS) over a projected 5 year period. We hypothesise that the high initial outlay for MCGR would be recouped from fewer admissions and surgical procedures over the lifetime of the implant.

Methods: The costs of all aspects of treatment for 14 patients undergoing conversion from CGRS to MGRS were collected over a 3 year period.

Mast cells in cutaneous tumors: innocent bystander or maestro conductor?

Background: Evidence favoring a critical role for mast cells (MC) in cutaneous malignancies is conflicting.

Methods: Using the immunohistochemical stain tryptase, MC counts were performed in the following tumor categories: epithelial (basal cell carcinoma [BCC]: nodular [N], n = 10, infiltrative [I], n = 10; squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]: well differentiated [W], n = 9, moderate/poorly differentiated [MP], n = 15); melanocytic (intradermal nevus, n = 10, malignant melanoma in situ [MMIS], n = 8, invasive melanoma, n = 15); vascular (hemangioma [HEM], n = 11, Kaposi's sarcoma [KS], n = 14, angiosarcoma [AS] n = 8); and fibrohistiocytic (dermatofibroma [DF], n = 7, atypical fibroxanthoma [AFX], n = 5, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans [DFSP], n = 5). MC (intra- and peritumoral) were expressed as cells per 10 high-power fields.

An immunohistochemical comparison of cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 15, cytokeratin 19, CAM 5.2, carcinoembryonic antigen, and nestin in differentiating porocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma.

The distinction of porocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma is clinically relevant but can often be a diagnostic dilemma. Current markers reported to be helpful in diagnosing porocarcinoma include carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 7; however, their expression has been demonstrated in 30% to 80% and 13% to 22% of squamous cell carcinoma cases, respectively. In this study, we assessed immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 15, cytokeratin 19, CAM 5.

Mixed versus pure variants of desmoplastic melanoma: a genetic and immunohistochemical appraisal.

Desmoplastic melanoma is subclassified into pure and mixed variants with a higher rate of lymph node metastasis in the latter. Given that reasons for these biological differences are not currently known, we investigated these subtypes with techniques that included genetic and immunohistochemical analyses of 43 cases of desmoplastic melanoma (24 pure, 19 mixed). Direct DNA sequencing was performed on BRAFV600E, RET gene (coding region on exon 11) and KIT (exons 11, 13 and 17).

Lack of correlation between immunohistochemical expression of CKIT and KIT mutations in atypical acral nevi.

Background: Given the correlation between KIT mutations and immunohistochemical expression of CKIT in acral melanoma, our aim was to confirm the utility of CKIT detection as a screening tool for KIT genotyping in atypical acral nevi and to ascertain the frequency of KIT mutations in the same.

Design: Immunohistochemical staining for CKIT was performed and staining criteria were the following: negative = <10%, 1 = 11%-49%, and 2 = >50% of cells. Intensity grading was as follows: negative = 0, weak = 1, moderate = 2, and strong = 3.

Stem cell markers (cytokeratin 15, cytokeratin 19 and p63) in in situ and invasive cutaneous epithelial lesions.

The inherent longetivity of stem cells causes them to be susceptible to multiple genetic hits. Thus, it is not surprising that stem cells are implicated in the etiopathogenesis of select cutaneous neoplasms. However, most studies to date are restricted to the use of a single marker (p63, cytokeratin-15 or cytokeratin-19) and do not appear to compare distribution of stem cell markers in a spectrum of cutaneous in situ versus invasive epithelial malignancies.

Fibroblast-activation protein: a single marker that confidently differentiates morpheaform/infiltrative basal cell carcinoma from desmoplastic trichoepithelioma.

Microscopically, differentiating desmoplastic trichoepithelioma from morpheaform/infiltrative basal cell carcinoma can be difficult as both show 'islands and strands of basaloid cells embedded in a sclerotic stroma'. A superficial shave biopsy further compounds the diagnostic conundrum. Although a plethora of immunohistochemical markers have been touted as being of use as adjunct histologic tools, none thus far appears to be consistent and reliable in terms of specificity and/or sensitivity.

Mechanism by which Mcl-1 regulates cancer-specific apoptosis triggered by mda-7/IL-24, an IL-10-related cytokine.

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), a cytokine belonging to the IL-10 family, selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells without harming normal cells by promoting an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The precise molecular mechanism by which the ER stress response culminates in cell death requires further clarification. The present study shows that in prostate carcinoma cells, the mda-7/IL-24-induced ER stress response causes apoptosis by translational inhibition of the antiapoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1).

The diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry in distinguishing primary skin adnexal carcinomas from metastatic adenocarcinoma to skin: an immunohistochemical reappraisal using cytokeratin 15, nestin, p63, D2-40, and calretinin.

Often the distinction of primary adnexal carcinoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma to skin from breast, lung, and other sites can be a diagnostic dilemma. Current markers purportedly of utility as diagnostic adjuncts include p63 and D2-40; however, their expression has been demonstrated in 11-22% and 5% of metastatic cutaneous metastases, respectively. Both cytokeratin (CK) 15 and nestin have been reported as follicular stem cell markers.

Effects of dairy intake on weight maintenance.

Background: To compare the effects of low versus recommended levels of dairy intake on weight maintenance and body composition subsequent to weight loss.

Design And Methods: Two site (University of Kansas-KU; University of Tennessee-UT), 9 month, randomized trial. Weight loss was baseline to 3 months, weight maintenance was 4 to 9 months.

Development of water soluble derivatives of cis-3, 4', 5-trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene for optimization and use in cancer therapy.

Colchicine site tubulin inhibitors are currently developed as vascular disrupting agents (VDAs). However, they were found to have cardiotoxicity in clinical trials. To overcome the problem, we developed a stilbene derivative, cis-3, 4', 5-trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene (stilbene 5c), which is highly potent and has no bone marrow and cardiac toxicity in mice.

Mechanism of cell death induced by cis-3, 4', 5-trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene in ovarian cancer.

Objective: Stilbene derivative, cis-3, 4', 5-trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene (stilbene 5c), is highly potent to induce cell death in ovarian cancer cells. This study is to investigate its mechanism to induce cell death.

Methods: UCI101 ovarian cancer cells were used for this study.