Trauma surgical simulation: discussing the replacement of live animals used as human patient simulators.

Background: Despite advances in simulator technology, live anaesthetised animals continue to be used as human patient simulators for medical professionals to practice techniques in the management of surgical trauma. This article describes the process of convening a working group of individuals with a professional interest in simulation to discuss the use of live animals and consider if and how they can be replaced in the future.

Main Body: A working group was formed of voluntary attendees to a workshop held at the SESAM 2023 conference.

The Effects of Smoking on the Diagnostic Characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome: A Review.

Metabolic syndrome is a growing epidemic that increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and mortality. It is diagnosed by the presence of three or more of the following risk factors: 1) obesity, with an emphasis on central adiposity, 2) high blood pressure, 3) hyperglycemia, 4) dyslipidemia, with regard to reduced high-density lipoprotein concentrations, and 5) dyslipidemia, with regard to elevated triglycerides. Smoking is one lifestyle factor that can increase the risk for metabolic syndrome as it has been shown to exert negative effects on abdominal obesity, blood pressure, blood glucose concentrations, and blood lipid profiles.

Higher-protein intake improves body composition index in female collegiate dancers.

Aesthetic athletes strive to attain an ideal body image and the physical demands placed on dancers make their body composition and fitness equally as important as their technique. Body composition has shown positive changes in response to increased protein intake and may improve aesthetics of dance performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which supplemental whey protein (PRO) would improve body composition in female collegiate dancers compared with an isocaloric placebo (PLA).

Cigarette Smoking: An Accessory to the Development of Insulin Resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition characterized by decreased sensitivity of a skeletal or adipose cell to insulin, resulting in decreased glucose uptake by the cell. This can lead to hyperinsulinemia and further reduce insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is one of the primary factors contributing to metabolic syndrome (MetS), causing elevated glucose and fatty acid concentrations in the blood.

Effects of Resistance Training and Protein Supplementation in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate 12 wk of resistance training (RT; n = 16) and protein supplementation (RT + protein; n = 17) on muscular strength, body composition, and blood biomarkers of muscle (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]), fat (adiponectin), and inflammation (human C-reactive protein [CRP]) in breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Methods: Thirty-three BCS (59 ± 8 yr) were measured pre- and posttraining for one-repetition maximum (1-RM) muscular strength (chest press and leg extension), body composition (lean mass [LM] and fat mass [FM]) via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and serum concentrations of IGF-1, adiponectin, and CRP. RT consisted of 2 d·wk using 10 exercises for two sets of 10-12 repetitions and a third set to failure at ~65%-85% of 1-RM.