Analytical strategy coupled with response surface methodology to maximize the extraction of antioxidants from ternary mixtures of green, yellow, and red teas (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).

This work aimed at using a simplex-centroid design to model the effects of green, yellow, and red tea mixtures (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) on metal chelation activity, phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, and instrumental taste profile. The regression models that described the extraction of flavan-3-ols, o-diphenols, total phenolic compounds (TPC), free radical scavenging activity toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), cupric ion reducing antioxidant activity (CUPRAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were significant, and data were fit satisfactorily (R(2) > 80%).

Bronchodilation improves endurance but not muscular efficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We hypothesized that bronchodilator treatment not only improves hyperinflation and endurance capacity but also muscular efficiency in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to demonstrate that tiotropium and salmeterol improve muscular efficiency compared with placebo. Twenty-five COPD patients were studied, including 20 males of mean (standard deviation) age 62 years (7 years) with baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 41% (10%) predicted, and maximal workload of 101 Watt (36 Watt).

[Two patients with mitochondrial respiratory chain disease].

A 23-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy were diagnosed with mitochondrial respiratory chain disease. The woman had muscle pain, fatigue and bilateral ophthalmoplegia--symptoms consistent with Kearns-Sayre syndrome. The boy had aspecific symptoms; eventually, reduced activity of complex 1 was found to be the cause of the mitochondrial respiratory chain disease in the boy and his mother, who had suffered from unexplained fatigue and muscle pain for 15 years.

Limiting factors of exercise performance 1 year after lung transplantation.

Background: After lung transplantation (LTx) exercise capacity frequently remains limited, despite significantly improved pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to evaluate maximal exercise capacity and peripheral muscle force before and 1 year after LTx, and to determine whether peripheral muscle force and lactate threshold (LT) limit exercise capacity 1 year after LTx.

Methods: Twenty-five subjects (mean age 43 years, 8 women and 17 men, 4 single-lung transplantations) were included in the study.

Lung function and exercise capacity in young adults born prematurely.

Rationale: Limited information is available about the long-term outcome of lung function and exercise capacity in young adults born prematurely.

Objective: To determine long-term effects of prematurity on lung function (volumes, diffusing capacity) and exercise capacity in ex-preterms compared with healthy peers.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, children born with a gestational age of less than 32 wk and/or a birth weight under 1,500 g were followed up for 19 yr.