Predatory midges of the genus Schizohelea Kieffer, 1917 in Europe and North Africa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Five species of the Holarctic genus Schizohelea occurring in Europe and North Africa are reviewed, diagnosed and illustrated. These are S. leucopeza (Meigen, 1804), S.

Evaluation of Clobetasol and Tacrolimus Treatments in an Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis Rat Model.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, inflammation, and aberrant differentiation. Imiquimod-induced psoriasis in rodent models has been widely used to study the pathogenesis of the disease and evaluate potential therapeutic interventions. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of two commonly used treatments, Clobetasol and Tacrolimus, in ameliorating psoriatic symptoms in an Imiquimod-induced psoriasis Wistar rat model.

Adding a sustained attention task to a physically demanding cycling exercise exacerbates neuromuscular fatigue and impairs cognitive performance in both normoxia and hypoxia.

Purpose: Both cognitive motor dual-tasks (CMDT) protocols and hypoxic environments have been associated with significant impairments in cognitive and physical performance. We aimed to determine the effects of hypoxia on cognitive performance and neuromuscular fatigue during a highly physically demanding CMDT.

Methods: Fifteen young adults completed a first session involving a cognitive task (CTL) followed by cycling exercise (CTL) in normoxia.

Massage Therapy Utilization in the Military Health System.

Introduction: Massage therapy is an evidence-based approach for pain management. Information regarding its utilization in the Military Health System (MHS) is lacking. The goal of this study is to evaluate massage therapy utilization patterns across the MHS to include who receives (patient characteristics and diagnoses) and provides (e.

Chemical imitation of yeast fermentation by the drosophilid-pollinated deceptive trap-flower Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae).

Deceptive flowers, unlike in mutualistic pollination systems, mislead their pollinators by advertising rewards which ultimately are not provided. Although our understanding of deceptive pollination systems increased in recent years, the attractive signals and deceptive strategies in the majority of species remain unknown. This is also true for the genus Aristolochia, famous for its deceptive and fly-pollinated trap flowers.

Effects of Auriculo-Acupuncture on Sleep and Emotional Stress in Hispanic Immigrants: A Small Randomized Clinical Trial.

To investigate whether Hispanic immigrants with sleep disturbance showed improvements with auriculo-acupuncture mediated by emotional stress. Single-blind randomized clinical trial. Community.

Evaluation of Temozolomide and Fingolimod Treatments in Glioblastoma Preclinical Models.

Glioblastomas are malignant brain tumors which remain lethal due to their aggressive and invasive nature. The standard treatment combines surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy using Temozolomide, albeit with a minor impact on patient prognosis (15 months median survival). New therapies evaluated in preclinical translational models are therefore still required to improve patient survival and quality of life.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Demonstrates the Benefit of Erythracytapheresis in Sickle Cell Disease Adult Patients with Cerebral Vasculopathy.

Background: Cerebral vasculopathy can induce chronic cerebral hypoperfusion leading to stroke in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is treated by blood exchange transfusion (BET). However, no prospective clinical study has demonstrated the benefit of BET in adults with SCD and cerebral vasculopathy. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a recent non-invasive method complementary to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Brain-muscle interplay during endurance self-paced exercise in normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia.

Hypoxia is one major environmental factor, supposed to mediate central motor command as well as afferent feedbacks at rest and during exercise. By using a comparison of normobaric (NH) and hypobaric (HH) hypoxia with the same ambient pressure in oxygen, we examined the potential differences on the cerebrovascular and muscular regulation interplay during a self-paced aerobic exercise. Sixteen healthy subjects performed three cycling time-trials (250 kJ) in three conditions: HH, NH and normobaric normoxia (NN) after 24 h of exposure.

Therapeutic Potential of Fingolimod and Dimethyl Fumarate in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Preclinical Models.

New therapies are required for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for which the current standards of care poorly affect the patient prognosis of this aggressive cancer subtype. In this preclinical study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of Fingolimod, a described inhibitor of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)/S1P receptors axis, and Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF), a methyl ester of fumaric acid, both already approved as immunomodulators in auto-immune diseases with additional expected anti-cancer effects. The impact of both drugs was analyzed with in vitro cell survival analysis and in vivo graft models using mouse and human NSCLC cells implanted in immunocompetent or immunodeficient mice, respectively.

A Face-To-Face Comparison of Tumor Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (TCAM) In Ovo with Murine Models for Early Evaluation of Cancer Therapy and Early Drug Toxicity.

Ethical considerations, cost, and time constraints have highlighted the need to develop alternatives to rodent in vivo models for evaluating drug candidates for cancer. The tumor chicken chorioallantoic membrane (TCAM) model provides an affordable and fast assay that permits direct visualization of tumor progression. Tumors from multiple species including rodents and human cell lines can be engrafted.

Beneficial effects of denosumab on muscle performance in patients with low BMD: a retrospective, propensity score-matched study.

Unlabelled: This study examined the effects of denosumab compared to bisphosphonates and vitamin D alone on muscle performance in patients with low BMD. While grip force improved in both the denosumab and bisphosphonate group, a superior increase in chair rising test force was observed in the denosumab group.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the anti-resorptive agent denosumab (Dmab) on upper and lower limb muscle performance compared to bisphosphonate (BP) treatment and vitamin D supplementation alone (i.

Left ventricular function and mechanics in backs and forwards elite rugby union players.

Unlabelled: Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess left ventricular (LV) morphological and regional functional adaptations in backs and forwards elite rugby union (RU) players.

Methods: Thirty-nine elite male RU players and twenty sedentary controls have been examined using resting echocardiography. RU players were divided into two groups, forwards ( = 22) and backs ( = 17).

Anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 immunotherapies repress tumor progression in preclinical breast and colon model with independent regulatory T cells response.

The recent development of immunotherapy represents a significant breakthrough in cancer therapy. Several immunotherapies provide robust efficacy gains in a wide variety of cancers. However, in some patients the immune checkpoint blockade remains ineffective due to poor therapeutic response and tumor relapse.

Performance Determinants in Trail-Running Races of Different Distances.

Purpose: While the physiological determinants of road running have been widely studied, there is a lack of research in trail-running racing performance. The aim of our study was to determine the physiological predictors of trail-running performance in races of different distances in similar terrain and weather conditions.

Methods: Seventy-five trail runners participating in one of the races of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc were recruited.

Neuromuscular fatigability during repeated sprints assessed with an innovative cycle ergometer.

Purpose: Repeated sprint ability is an integral component of team sports. This study aimed to evaluate fatigability development and its aetiology during and immediately after a cycle repeated sprint exercise performed until a given fatigability threshold.

Methods: On an innovative cycle ergometer, 16 healthy males completed an RSE (10-s sprint/28-s recovery) until task failure (TF): a 30% decrease in sprint mean power (Pmean).

Anabolic Steroids Use Is Associated with Impairments in Atrial and Ventricular Cardiac Structure and Performance in Athletes.

Purpose: Despite potential severe cardiac side effects, anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are increasingly used by strength athletes. However, previous echocardiographic studies focused on the left ventricular (LV) strains but did not assess LV twist and untwist mechanics. Moreover, left atrial (LA) function has been often neglected, and its stiffness, an important determinant of LA reservoir function, has never been challenged.

Effect of ground technicity on cardio-respiratory and biomechanical parameters in uphill trail running.

The goal of this study was to analyse the effects of ground technicity on cardio-respiratory and biomechanical responses during uphill running. Ten experienced male trail-runners ran ∼10.5 min at racing pace on two trails with different (high and low) a priori technicity levels.

MEDEX 2015: Prophylactic Effects of Positive Expiratory Pressure in Trekkers at Very High Altitude.

Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) breathing has been shown to increase arterial oxygenation during acute hypoxic exposure but the underlying mechanisms and consequences on symptoms during prolonged high-altitude exposure remain to be elucidated. Twenty-four males (41 ± 16 years) were investigated, at sea level and at 5,085 m after 18 days of trekking from 570 m. Participants breathed through a face-mask with PEP = 0 cmHO (PEP, 0-45 min) and with PEP = 10 cmHO (PEP, 46-90 min).

Left ventricular dyssynchrony and post-systolic shortening in young bodybuilders using anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling, characterized by increased LV hypertrophy and depressed systolic and diastolic function, is observed in strength-trained athletes who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). Previous studies suggested a pathological remodeling with an increase in cardiac fibrosis in these athletes, which could promote intraventricular dyssynchrony. In this context, this study evaluated LV dyssynchrony in strength-trained athletes using AAS, hypothesizing that the use of AAS would lead to an increase in post-systolic shortening.