Development and validation of dynamic bioenergetic model for intermittent ergometer cycling.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a bioenergetic model describing the dynamic behavior of the alactic, lactic, and aerobic metabolic energy supply systems as well as different sources of the total metabolic energy demand.

Methods: The bioenergetic supply model consisted of terms for the alactic, lactic, and aerobic system metabolic rates while the demand model consisted of terms for the corresponding metabolic rates of principal cycling work, pulmonary ventilation, and accumulated metabolites. The bioenergetic model was formulated as a system of differential equations and model parameters were estimated by a non-linear grey-box approach, utilizing power output and aerobic metabolic rate (MR) data from fourteen cyclists performing an experimental trial (P2) on a cycle ergometer.

Validity and Reliability of Hydraulic-Analogy Bioenergetic Models in Sprint Roller Skiing.

To develop a method for individual parameter estimation of four hydraulic-analogy bioenergetic models and to assess the validity and reliability of these models' prediction of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic utilization during sprint roller-skiing. Eleven elite cross-country skiers performed two treadmill roller-skiing time trials on a course consisting of three flat sections interspersed by two uphill sections. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolic rate contributions, external power output, and gross efficiency were determined.

Runners Adapt Different Lower-Limb Movement Patterns With Respect to Different Speeds and Downhill Slopes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of slope and speed on lower-limb kinematics and energy cost of running. Six well-trained runners (VO 72 ± 6 mL·kg·min) were recruited for the study and performed (1) VO and energy cost tests and (2) an experimental running protocol at two speeds, 12 km·h and a speed corresponding to 80% of VO (V80, 15.8 ± 1.

Impact of sleep opportunity on asthma outcomes in adolescents.

Rationale: Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of negative health outcomes; as most adolescents obtain <7 h of sleep per night, it is important to understand how sleep impacts asthma among adolescents.

Objectives: To examine the impact of sleep opportunity on asthma in adolescents.

Methods: In this study, 54 adolescents with asthma (12-17 years, 69% female, 65% Caucasian) participated in a randomized, cross-over sleep manipulation trial, including a sleep stabilization week, five nights of a "Short" sleep opportunity (time in bed: 6.

Retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of isolating bacteria from synovial fluid in dogs with suspected septic arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of synovial fluid culture in obtaining the causative organism from dogs with suspected septic arthritis.

Methods: In this retrospective evaluation, synovial fluid cytology and microbiology submissions from dogs with suspected septic arthritis from March 2007 to August 2011 were reviewed. Synovial fluid cytology consistent with joint sepsis was identified.

Chronic nicotine effects on left ventricular function in healthy middle-aged people: an echocardiographic study.

Aims: Cigarettes and Swedish snuff influence the cardiovascular system in many ways. Cigarette and snuff usage have been linked with an acute impairment in several diastolic cardiac parameters during intake. The aim of this study is to investigate whether long-term usage of Swedish snuff or cigarettes also causes a more permanent impairment of systolic and/or diastolic cardiac parameters in the left ventricle in otherwise healthy middle-aged snuffers and smokers.

Adherence in single-parent households in a long-term asthma clinical trial.

Adherence of participants in a long-term clinical trial is necessary to assure validity of findings. This article examines adherence differences between single-parent and two-parent families in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP). Adherence was defined as the percentage of completed daily diary cards and scheduled study visits during the course of the trial.

Acute effects on the ventricular function in Swedish snuffers: an echocardiographic study.

Aims: Cigarettes and Swedish snuff contain nicotine, which influence the cardiovascular system. Cigarette smoke has been shown to give an acute impairment in diastolic heart parameters. The systolic and diastolic heart function in snuff users is not thoroughly enough investigated.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder in women with epilepsy: relationships to potential epileptic, antiepileptic drug, and reproductive endocrine factors.

The purpose of this prospective observational investigation was to determine whether the frequency of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and the severity of PMDD symptoms differ between women with epilepsy and controls without epilepsy and whether there exists a relationship between the severity of PMDD symptoms and some epileptic, antiepileptic drug, and reproductive endocrine features. The results suggest that epilepsy, antiepileptic drug levels, ovulatory status, and hormone levels and ratios may all influence PMDD in women with epilepsy. PMDD severity scores may be greater in people with right-sided than in those with left-sided epilepsy, and in people with temporal than in those with nontemporal epileptic foci.

Maintenance of correction of first metatarsal closing base wedge osteotomies versus modified Lapidus arthrodesis for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity.

A retrospective radiographic review of 57 feet was conducted to compare maintenance of correction of the modified Lapidus arthrodesis with the first metatarsal closing base wedge osteotomy for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity. Radiographic parameters were measured on the preoperative, early postoperative, and greater than 11-month postoperative weightbearing radiographs. These measurements included the intermetatarsal angle, the hallux abductus angle, and the tibial sesamoid position.

Serum ascorbic acid concentrations in previously unsupplemented greyhounds after administration of a single dose of ascorbic acid intravenously or per os.

Plasma vitamin C concentrations (mean + SD) were measured after a large (1 g) dose of vitamin C was administered orally or intravenously to each of four trained greyhounds in a randomized cross-over design. Concentrations increased (p<0.05) for 2 h but returned to baseline by 6 h after supplementation.

Safety and application of induced sputum analysis in childhood asthma.

Background: The value of sputum induction in pediatric asthma lies in its potential to directly and noninvasively assess airway inflammation in children, because bronchoscopy and biopsy carry some risk. The Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) study was designed to evaluate the long-term effects of budesonide and nedocromil compared with placebo in children with mild to moderate asthma across 8 centers.

Objective: At the Denver CAMP site, we sought to evaluate the safety of sputum induction, to determine differences in airway inflammation between treatment groups by using induced sputum analysis, and to examine correlations between other biomarkers and sputum eosinophils.

A deadly prion disease: fatal familial insomnia.

Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is an inherited disease caused by a mutation in the protein prion gene. Symptoms of FFI closely resemble those of familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, making genetic testing and histological examination of brain tissue the only means to determine a definitive diagnosis. The disease is rare--approximately 60 cases have been detected worldwide since 1986.

Minimizing attrition in a long-term clinical trial of pediatric asthma.

Background: Despite increased attention focused on the need to prevent patient attrition in long-term clinical trials, high dropout rates have threatened the success of numerous studies.

Objective: To evaluate the disease, demographic, and psychological factors associated with missed visits and study dropout to help improve patient management in long-term clinical trials.

Methods: Predictors of attrition were examined within the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), a large, multicenter clinical trial that followed up 1,041 children with asthma for 4 to 6 years.

Relations between exhaled nitric oxide and measures of disease activity among children with mild-to-moderate asthma.

Objective: Exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) was evaluated in children with asthma after 4 to 6 years of treatment with budesonide, nedocromil, or albuterol as needed.

Study Design: FE(NO), spirometry, total eosinophil count, and serum eosinophil cationic protein levels were obtained from 118 children at the Denver site of the Childhood Asthma Management Program upon completion of treatment and after a 2- to 4-month washout.

Results: Budesonide-treated patients had significantly lower median (1st, 3rd quartile) FE(NO) (21.

Supplemental vitamin C appears to slow racing greyhounds.

During strenuous exercise, markers of oxidation increase and antioxidant capacity decreases. Antioxidants such as vitamin C may combat this oxidation stress. The benefits of vitamin C to greyhounds undertaking intense sprint exercise has not been investigated.

Effects of racing and training on serum thyroid hormone concentrations in racing Greyhounds.

Objectives: To determine the effects of racing and training on serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations in Greyhounds.

Animals: 9 adult racing Greyhounds.

Procedure: Serum thyroid hormone concentrations were measured before and 5 minutes after a race in dogs trained to race 500 m twice weekly for 6 months.

Effect of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on vitamin E concentrations in Greyhounds before and after a race.

Objectives: To determine effect of alpha-tocopherol supplementation on serum vitamin E concentrations in Greyhounds before and after a race.

Animals: 8 adult racing Greyhounds.

Procedure: Dogs were given 2 capsules of alpha-tocopheryl acetate (total, 680 units [0.

Effect of increased dietary protein and decreased dietary carbohydrate on performance and body composition in racing Greyhounds.

Objective: To determine effects of increased dietary protein and decreased dietary carbohydrate on hematologic variables, body composition, and racing performance in Greyhounds.

Animals: 8 adult Greyhounds.

Procedure: Dogs were fed a high-protein (HP; 37% metabolizable-energy [ME] protein, 33% ME fat, 30% ME carbohydrate) or moderate-protein (MP; 24% ME protein, 33% ME fat, 43% ME carbohydrate) extruded diet for 11 weeks.

Maintenance energy requirements and the effect of diet on performance of racing Greyhounds.

Objectives: To determine maintenance energy requirements and effect of diet on performance of racing Greyhounds.

Animals: 7 adult racing Greyhounds.

Procedure: Dogs were fed a higher fat and protein (HFP) or a lower fat and protein (LFP) diet for 8 weeks in a crossover design.

Effect of acute induced metabolic alkalosis on the acid/base responses to sprint exercise of six racing greyhounds.

To investigate the effect of acute induced metabolic alkalosis on the haematological, biochemical and metabolic responses to sprint exercise, six greyhound dogs with previously placed carotid arterial catheters were raced four times over a distance of 400 metres. Each dog was raced twice after receiving oral sodium bicarbonate solution (NaHCO3) (400 mg kg-1) or lactated Ringer's solution (LRS). Before, and for intervals of up to one hour after, the exercise arterial blood samples were collected for the measurement of blood gases, packed cell volume, total protein, serum biochemistry and plasma lactate.

Optimization of a pellicular biocatalyst for penicillin G production by Penicillium chrysogenum.

A previously developed immobilization technique involving latex coatings on solid particulate supports was investigated further for penicillin G production by Penicillium chrysogenum. Several modifications were found to decrease the germination lag time, including a higher spore concentration, a thinner latex layer, an increased latex porosity, and a decreased drying time. This approach enabled the development of immobilized mycelial pellets within 2-3 days from the onset of biocatalyst preparation and incubation.

Effect of phorbol esters on the susceptibility of a glioma cell line to lymphokine-activated killer cell activity.

The mechanisms by which lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells exert their cytotoxic effects are not well understood. This study demonstrates that phorbol ester pretreatment of a LAK cell-sensitive glioma cell line (SNB-19) induced a significant decrease in the susceptibility of cells to LAK cell-mediated lysis. This effect was produced by low concentrations of the tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol-12,13-myristate acetate (PMA), and was reversible.

In vitro mechanism of inhibition of bacterial cell growth by allicin.

Diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin) is the agent found in garlic which is responsible for the antibacterial and antifungal activity of extracts of this plant. The effect of bacteriostatic concentrations of allicin (0.2 to 0.