The prostaglandin E EP3 receptor has disparate effects on islet insulin secretion and content in β-cells in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model of obesity.

Signaling through prostaglandin E EP3 receptor (EP3) actively contributes to the β-cell dysfunction of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In T2D models, full-body EP3 knockout mice have a significantly worse metabolic phenotype than wild-type controls due to hyperphagia and severe insulin resistance resulting from loss of EP3 in extra-pancreatic tissues, masking any potential beneficial effects of EP3 loss in the β cell. We hypothesized β-cell-specific EP3 knockout (EP3 βKO) mice would be protected from high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance, phenocopying mice lacking the EP3 effector, Gα, which is much more limited in its tissue distribution.

Does Lactate-Guided Threshold Interval Training within a High-Volume Low-Intensity Approach Represent the "Next Step" in the Evolution of Distance Running Training?

The aim of the present study was to describe a novel training model based on lactate-guided threshold interval training (LGTIT) within a high-volume, low-intensity approach, which characterizes the training pattern in some world-class middle- and long-distance runners and to review the potential physiological mechanisms explaining its effectiveness. This training model consists of performing three to four LGTIT sessions and one VO intensity session weekly. In addition, low intensity running is performed up to an overall volume of 150-180 km/week.

Electromyographic Analysis of the Lumbar Extensor Muscles during Dynamic Exercise on a Home Exercise Device.

Resistance exercise with devices offering mechanisms to isolate the lumbar spine is effective to improve muscle strength and clinical outcomes. However, previously assessed devices with these mechanisms are not conducive for home exercise programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lumbar extensor muscles during dynamic exercise on a home back extension exercise device.

Kinetic Asymmetry During a Repetitive Tuck Jump Task in Athletes with a History of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Athletes who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction typically exhibit relatively high/rapid loading of their uninvolved limb during bilateral landing and jumping (vs. their limb that underwent reconstruction), which may place their uninvolved limb at risk for injury. However, previous studies have only examined forces and loading rates for tasks involving an isolated land-and-jump.

Prostaglandin EP3 receptor signaling is required to prevent insulin hypersecretion and metabolic dysfunction in a non-obese mouse model of insulin resistance.

When homozygous for the mutation (Ob), Black-and-Tan Brachyury (BTBR) mice become morbidly obese and severely insulin resistant, and by 10 wk of age, frankly diabetic. Previous work has shown prostaglandin EP3 receptor (EP3) expression and activity is upregulated in islets from BTBR-Ob mice as compared with lean controls, actively contributing to their β-cell dysfunction. In this work, we aimed to test the impact of β-cell-specific EP3 loss on the BTBR-Ob phenotype by crossing floxed mice with the rat insulin promoter (RIP)-Cre driver strain.

Longitudinal Changes of Functional Capacities Among Adolescent Female Basketball Players.

The interpretation of young athletes' performance during pubertal years is important to support coaches' decisions, as performance may be erroneously interpreted due to the misalignment between chronological age (CA), biological age (BA) and sport age (SA). Using a Bayesian multilevel approach, the variation in longitudinal changes in performance was examined considering the influence of CA, BA (age at menarche), SA, body size, and exposure to training among female basketball players. The study had a mixed-longitudinal design.

Changing the Face of Health Education via Health Interventions: Social Ecological Perspectives on New Media Technologies and Elementary Nutrition Education.

The relationship between media use, family dynamics, and school environments on a child's likelihood to be overweight or obese is an area of research with limited empirical evidence; however, reports have indicated that children are increasingly developing more negative habits related to their health. The purpose of the present study was to employ a social ecological perspective in determining the effectiveness of a longitudinal health literacy/health intervention program on children's nutritional knowledge, attitudes toward healthy eating and exercise, food preferences, and eating behavior. Using a sample of elementary school children initially in Grades 2 and 3 and then in Grades 3 and 4, a field experiment was conducted using a new media technology to record their food intake at home and at school.

Progression of Exercise Training in Early Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation: AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND PULMONARY REHABILITATION.

Aerobic and resistance exercise training is a cornerstone of early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and provides impressive benefits for patients. The components of the exercise prescription for patients with cardiovascular diseases are provided in guideline documents from several professional organizations and include frequency (how many sessions per week); intensity (how hard to exercise); time (duration of the exercise training session); type (modalities of exercise training); volume (the total amount or dose of exercise); and progression (the rate of increasing the dose of exercise). The least discussed, least appreciated, and most challenging component of the exercise prescription for CR health care professionals is the rate of progression of the dose of exercise.

Endocrine responses and acute mTOR pathway phosphorylation to resistance exercise with leucine and whey.

Leucine ingestion reportedly activates the mTOR pathway in skeletal muscle, contributing to a hypertrophy response. The purpose of the study was to compare the post-resistance exercise effects of leucine and whey protein supplementation on endocrine responses and muscle mTOR pathway phosphorylation. On visit 1, subjects (X±SD; n=20; age=27.

The accuracy of the functional movement screen to identify individuals with an elevated risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Clinical Scenario: Injuries are somewhat commonplace in highly active populations. One strategy for reducing injuries is to identify individuals with an elevated injury risk before participation so that remediative interventions can be provided. Preparticipation screenings have traditionally entailed strength and flexibility measures thought to be indicative of inflated injury risk.

Lower extremity strength and mechanics during jumping in women with patellofemoral pain.

Context: Lower extremity (LE) weakness might be associated with altered mechanics during weight bearing in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Objective: To analyze LE strength, mechanics, and the association between these variables among women with and without PFPS during a simulated athletic task.

Design: Case control.

The effects of creatine loading on thermoregulation and intermittent sprint exercise performance in a hot humid environment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects creatine (Cr) loading may have on thermoregulatory responses during intermittent sprint exercise in a hot/humid environment. Ten physically active, heat-acclimatized men performed 2 familiarization sessions of an exercise test consisting of a 30-minute low-intensity warm-up followed by 6 x 10 second maximal sprints on a cycle ergometer in the heat (35 degrees C, 60% relative humidity). Subjects then participated in 2 different weeks of supplementation.

A longitudinal study of the learning and retention of task-specific training.

This longitudinal study evaluated the learning and retention of task-specific training during the subjects' classroom performance of a one-person pivot transfer. Twelve subjects were videotaped completing the transfer (pretest). The subjects then participated in a two-hour training session.

Students' perceptions of their acquired knowledge during a problem based learning case study.

Problem based learning (PBL) in occupational therapy education has become very popular, although the efficacy of this teaching method has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a PBL case in meeting faculty generated learning objectives. A pretest/posttest design was utilized to evaluate students' perceptions of content acquisition.

The effectiveness of job specific training on the occupational performance of student nurses.

Body mechanic checklist scores during a one-person pivot transfer, and boosting up in bed were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of training on the work performance of female student nurses from a local college. Thirty subjects participated in the study and were divided into a control group, an experimental group that received basic body mechanic training, and an experimental group that received job specific training. A one-way ANCOVA was calculated to examine the effects of the experimental procedures on the subjects' performance.

Comparison of clinical reasoning skills in occupational therapy students in the USA and Scotland.

Problem-based learning (PBL) in occupational therapy (OT) education has become increasingly important. However, the efficacy in identifying clinical reasoning skills has not been well researched. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization of clinical reasoning by students in the USA and Scotland.

Influence of cup stacking on hand-eye coordination and reaction time of second-grade students.

Cup stacking has been adopted recently by many physical education programs to enhance rudimentary motor skills such as hand-eye coordination and ambidexterity as well as quickness and concentration; however, no empirical evidence has been published to support these claims. We examined the influence of cup stacking on hand-eye coordination and reaction time of 24 boys and 18 girls in second grade as measured by the Soda Pop and Yardstick tests, respectively. Two physical education classes were randomly assigned as treatment and control groups and were pre- and posttested for hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

Effects of walking poles on lower extremity gait mechanics.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether walking with poles reduces loading to the lower extremity during level over ground walking.

Methods: Three-dimensional gait analysis was conducted on 13 healthy adults who completed 10 walking trials using three different poling conditions (selected poles, poles back, and poles front) and without the use of poles (no poles). The inverse dynamics approach was used to calculate kinetic data via anthropometric, kinematic, and kinetic data.

Modified stages of acquisition of gateway drug use: a primary prevention application of the stages of change model.

The purpose of the study was to identify the stages of acquisition of gateway drugs in fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. The Stages of Acquisition model is a primary prevention application of the Stages of Change model. The subjects in the study were 811 students from seventeen elementary schools in Arkansas and Missouri.

Evidence for restricted muscle blood flow during speed skating.

Introduction: We have previously hypothesized restricted muscle blood flow during speed skating, secondary to the high intramuscular forces intrinsic to the unique posture assumed by speed skaters and to the prolonged duty cycle of the skating stroke.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we studied speed skaters (N = 10) during submaximal and maximal cycling and in-line skating, in both low (knee angle = 107 degrees) and high (knee angle = 112 degrees) skating positions (CE vs SkL vs SkH). Supportive experiments evaluated muscle desaturation and lactate accumulation during on-ice speed skating and muscle desaturation during static exercise at different joint positions.

Seat interface pressures of individuals with paraplegia: influence of dynamic wheelchair locomotion compared with static seated measurements.

Objective: To provide a comparison of the seat interface pressures between static seating and dynamic seating during wheelchair locomotion of individuals with paraplegia.

Design: Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) comparing two conditions: static seat and dynamic seat interface pressures.

Setting: University campus and clinic.

Acute responses to using walking poles in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of walking when using 1-lb walking poles in Phase III/IV cardiac rehabilitation patients.

Methods: Following instruction on the proper use of the poles and adequate time to practice, each subject completed two 8-minute walking trials on a level treadmill either with or without walking poles. Each trial was conducted at an identical speed for each subject in a randomized order.

Internships in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Think win-win.

From a student's perspective, completing an internship program is the final, and maybe the most important step in his or her academic career. He or she finally gets a chance to put theory into practice and to see if he or she truly enjoys his or her chosen field. Through hard work and dedication, the efforts should provide her/himself with the practical skills and experiences necessary to propel her/himself into the work force.