Search

BackgroundThe Asian bush mosquitoAedes japonicusis rapidly invading North America and Europe. Due to its potential to transmit multiple pathogenic arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses including Zika virus, West Nile virus and chikungunya virus, it is important to understand the biology of this vector mosquito in more detail. In addition to arboviruses, mosquitoes can also carry insect-specific viruses that receive increasing attention due to their potential effects on host physiology and arbovirus transmission. In this study, we characterized the collection of viruses, referred to as the virome, circulating inAe. japonicuspopulations in the Netherlands and France.ResultsApplying a small RNA-based metagenomic approach toAe. japonicus, we uncovered a distinct group of viruses present in samples from both the Netherlands and France. These included one known virus,Ae. japonicusnarnavirus 1 (AejapNV1), and three new virus species that we namedAe. japonicustotivirus 1 (AejapTV1),Ae. japonicusanphevirus 1 (AejapAV1) andAe. japonicusbunyavirus 1 (AejapBV1). We also discovered sequences that were presumably derived from two additional novel viruses:Ae. japonicusbunyavirus 2 (AejapBV2) andAe. japonicusrhabdovirus 1 (AejapRV1). All six viruses induced strong RNA interference responses, including the production of 21 nucleotide sized small interfering RNAs, a signature of active replication in the host. Notably, AejapBV1 and AejapBV2 belong to different viral families, however, no RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequence has been found for AejapBV2. Intriguingly, our small RNA-based approach identified a ∼1 kb long ambigrammatic RNA that is associated with AejapNV1 as a secondary segment but showed no similarity to any sequence in public databases. We confirmed the presence of AejapNV1 primary and secondary segments, AejapTV1, AejapAV1 and AejapBV1 by reverse-transcriptase PCR in wild-caughtAe. japonicusmosquitoes. AejapNV1 and AejapTV1 were found at high prevalence (87-100%) in adult females, adult males and larvae.ConclusionsUsing a small RNA-based, sequence-independent metagenomic strategy, we uncovered a conserved and prevalent virome amongAe. japonicusmosquito populations. The high prevalence of AejapNV1 and AejapTV1 across all tested mosquito life stages suggests that these viruses are intimately associated withAe. japonicusand may affect different aspects of the physiology of this vector mosquito.

Does the peripheral chemoreflex play a role in cardiac baroreflex dysfunction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)? Here we provide new evidence of cardiac baroreflex dysfunction under spontaneous and, most notably, provoked blood pressure fluctuations in patients with nonhypoxemic PAH. Importantly, impaired cardiac baroreflex effectiveness during provoked blood pressure fluctuations was independently associated with poorer functional capacity. Finally, our results indicated that the peripheral chemoreflex did not mediate cardiac baroreflex dysfunction among those patients.

Fatiguing expiratory muscle work in otherwise resting humans elicits an increase in sympathetic motor outflow; whether limb blood flow ([Formula: see text]) and leg vascular resistance (LVR) are affected remains unknown. We found that fatiguing expiratory resistive loaded breathing (ERL) did not affect group mean [Formula: see text] or LVR. However, within-breath oscillations in [Formula: see text] may reflect a sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction that was counteracted by transient increases in [Formula: see text] due to the mechanical effects of high intra-abdominal pressure during ERL.

BackgroundThe identification of central sensitization (CS) is an important aspect in the management of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Several methods have been developed, including clinical indicators and psychophysical measures. However, whether clinical indicators coincide with the psychophysical test of CS-related sign and symptoms is still unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical indicators in identifying CS-related sign and symptoms in patients with musculoskeletal pain.MethodsOne-hundred consecutive patients with musculoskeletal pain were included. Clinical indicators (index method) based on a combination of patient self-report pain characteristics and physical examination were used to identify the phenotype of patients with musculoskeletal pain and the predominance of the CS-related sign and symptoms. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was assessed by the Cold Pressor Test (reference standard), which is a psychophysical test used to detect impairment of CPM. Measurements of the diagnostic accuracy were performed.ResultsTwenty-seven patients presented predominance of CS-related sign and symptoms in the assessment of the clinical indicators, and 20 had impairment of CPM. Clinical indicators showed high accuracy (75.0%; 95% confidence interval = 65.3 to 83.1), high specificity (80.0%; 95% confidence interval = 69.6 to 88.1), high negative predictive value (87.7%; 95% confidence interval = 81.2 to 92.1), and a relevant positive likelihood ratio (2.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.5 to 5.0) when compared to the Cold Pressor Test.ConclusionClinical indicators demonstrated a valuable tool for detecting the impaired CPM, which is a remarkable feature of the CS-related sign and symptoms. Clinicians are encouraged to use the clinical indicators in the management of patients with musculoskeletal pain.

The Brazilian Cerrado stands out in relation to grain production, however, in this region the occurrence of summer and irregular rainfall, drastically harm the non-irrigated production. Conservationist managements favor the soil physical quality and, consequently, the efficiency of soil water consumption. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil physical quality, as a function of the conservation managements adopted, by using physical soil quality indicators, and to verify its relation with the soil organic carbon stocks and the grain yield in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. For that, six treatments were evaluated: soybean (1) and maize (2) monocultures crop systems at medium level of investment in soil fertilization, soybean-maize crop succession at medium (3) and high (6) level of investment in soil fertilization, and crop succession of soybean-maize and intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis at medium (4) and high (5) level of investment in soil fertilization, during the initial stage of no-tillage system. The treatments 3, 4, 5 and 6 showed improvement in the soil physical quality in relation to the monoculture. Pore distribution and soil organic carbon content were the main responsible for discriminating the intensified crop systems. Attributes related to water availability were important for plant growth in the 0-0.05 m layer, while for the 0.15-0.20 m layer, the highest soil aeration stood out. Productivity did not correlate with the evaluated attributes. RESUMO O Cerrado brasileiro se destaca com relação à produção de grãos, no entanto, nesta região a ocorrência de veranicos e pluviosidade irregular prejudica drasticamente a produção não irrigada. Manejos conservacionistas favorecem a qualidade física do solo e, por consequência, a eficiência do consumo de água do solo. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade física do solo, em função dos manejos conservacionistas adotados, por meio do uso de indicadores de qualidade física do solo, e verificar sua relação com o estoque de carbono no solo e a produtividade de grãos no Cerrado mineiro. Para tal, foram avaliados seis tratamentos: sistemas de monocultura de soja (1) e de milho (2) em nível médio de investimento em adubação, sucessão soja-milho em nível médio (3) e alto (6) de investimento em adubação, e sucessão soja-milho consorciado com braquiária (Urochloa ruziziensis) em nível médio (4) e alto (5) de investimento em adubação, na fase de implantação do plantio direto. Os tratamentos 3, 4, 5 e 6 apresentaram melhoria na qualidade física do solo em relação ao monocultivo. Indicadores da distribuição dos poros e carbono orgânico foram os principais responsáveis por discriminarem os sistemas intensificados. Atributos relacionados à disponibilidade de água foram importantes para o crescimento vegetal na camada de 0-0,05 m, enquanto que para a camada de 0,15-0,20 m destacou-se a maior aeração do solo. A produtividade não se correlacionou com os atributos avaliados.

Structural biology is a field that enables a better understanding of proteins from scratch. From the available techniques, solution NMR is one well established that provides structure, dynamics and protein-molecules interaction. In a NMR lab routine, from data acquisition until protein/mechanisms elucidation comes a process that can undergo months. During the past decades, different tools were developed for NMR data processing, peaks assignment, structure elucidation and data submission. Since many of these programs demand great computational skills, a few groups have tried to combine those programs and make them more friendly and useful, what can possibilite a faster process. Here we highlight CCPNMR2.4 analysis and ARIA2.3, responsible for peak assignment and structure calculation, respectively, and can work associated. Although being academic free and the possibility of working with a GUI interface, the common N-terminal acetylation and C-terminal amidation modifications are not implemented in a way that possibilities to work with them in combination, what results in a dilemma. This work brings visual data that evidences the low usability of CCPN and ARIA with N-terminal acetylated and C-terminal amidated proteins and propose a workflow to overcome this problem, which may improve the usage of both software in the mentioned versions and facilitate the lab users already used to these programs. As a proof of concept, we have chosen a N-terminal amidated peptide, L-Phenylseptin, whose structure has already been solved with other programs. Statistical data shows that no significant difference was found with the structure obtained with the new protocol. In conclusion, we exhibit a new protocol that can be used in combination with CCPNMR2.4 and ARIA2.3 for protein with the mentioned modifications and it successfully works and manipulates these molecules.

Introduction: The Portuguese National Registry of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation records prospectively the characteristics and outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures in Portugal. Objectives: To assess the 30-day and one-year outcomes of TAVI procedures in Portugal. Methods: We compared TAVI results according to the principal access used (transfemoral (TF) vs. non-transfemoral (non-TF)). Cumulative survival curves according to access route, other procedural and clinical variables were obtained. The Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) composite endpoint of early (30-days) safety was assessed. VARC-2 predictors of 30-days and 1-year all-cause mortality were identified. Results: Between January 2007 and December 2018, 2346 consecutive patients underwent TAVI (2242 native, 104 valve-in-valve; mean age 81±7 years, 53.2% female, EuroSCORE-II - EuroS-II, 4.3%). Device success was 90.1% and numerically lower for non-TF (87.0%). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 4.8%, with the TF route rendering a lower mortality rate (4.3% vs. 10.1%, p=0.001) and higher safety endpoint (86.4% vs. 72.6%, p5% (p5% (p

International audience

Purpose Some evidence suggests that sedentary women may be more vulnerable to cognitive task-induced mental fatigue. Mental fatigue, in turn, may worse aerobic exercise performance, presumably via increased perceived effort. However, it remains unclear whether acute mental fatigue induction increases perceived effort and worsens endurance performance in high-level professional athletes and whether such effects are influenced by sex. Methods We studied 30 athletes (15 women and 16 men) in a single-blinded, randomized, controlled and crossover protocol. In separate visits, athletes either performed a 45-min cognitive task (Stroop's color-word conflict test) to induce mental fatigue or watched a 45-min documentary as control. Then athletes performed a time-to-exhaustion test on a treadmill. Results Perceptual measures and cognitive performance indicated that the prolonged cognitive task induced a similar mental fatigue state in women and men. Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to the TEE did not change with mental fatigue in both sexes. Mental fatigue increased perceived effort during the time-to-exhaustion test, anticipated attainment of maximal effort, and shortened time to exhaustion similarly in women and men (mean ± SE, -27.3 ± 20.9 s for women vs -26.7 ± 15.1 s for men; P = 0.98). Conclusions The prolonged cognitive task provoked mental fatigue, anticipated attainment of maximal perceived effort, and worsened aerobic performance in professional runners with no sex differences. Although we did not contrasted athletes with nonathletes, our results suggest that being an athlete may somehow prevent women from developing greater mental fatigue and suffering more from its underlying effects compared with men.

Synergism among reflexes probably contributes to exercise hyperventilation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Thus, we investigated whether the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle metaboreflex interact to the regulation of ventilation (V˙E) in HFrEF. Ten patients accomplished 4‐min cycling at 60% peak workload and then recovered for 2 min under either: (a) 21% O2 inhalation (tonic carotid chemoreflex activity) with legs’ circulation free (inactive muscle metaboreflex); (b) 100% O2 inhalation (suppressed carotid chemoreflex activity) with legs’ circulation occluded (muscle metaboreflex activation); (c) 21% O2 inhalation (tonic carotid chemoreflex activity) with legs’ circulation occluded (muscle metaboreflex activation); or (d) 100% O2 inhalation (suppressed carotid chemoreflex activity) with legs’ circulation free (inactive muscle metaboreflex) as control. V˙E, tidal volume (VT) and respiratory frequency (f R) were similar between each separated reflex (protocols a and b) and control (protocol d). Calculated sum of separated reflexes effects was similar to control. Oppositely, V˙E (mean ± SEM: Δ vs. control = 2.46 ± 1.07 L/min, p = .05) and f R (Δ = 2.47 ± 0.77 cycles/min, p = .02) increased versus control when both reflexes were simultaneously active (protocol c). Therefore, the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle metaboreflex interacted to V˙E regulation in a f R‐dependent manner in patients with HFrEF. If this interaction operates during exercise, it can have some contribution to the HFrEF exercise hyperventilation., Our results support that the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle metaboreflex interact to the regulation of ventilation in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which may have implication for exercise hyperventilation in this population. Furthermore, the effect mediated by separated reflexes was not associated with the effect yielded when both reflexes were simultaneously active. Hence, reflexes interaction should be further explored to advance the understanding of exercise hyperventilation in HFrEF.

NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Water drinking increases muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and it increases arterial blood pressure (ABP) in older populations but not in young healthy subjects. Does an increase in gain of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA contribute to maintenance of ABP after water drinking in healthy young subjects? What is the main finding and its importance? The gain of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA was increased and remained elevated 60 min after water drinking (500 ml) but remained unchanged after saline intake. An enhancement in gain of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA contributes to the maintenance of ABP after water drinking in young healthy subjects, probably via osmosensitive mechanisms. ABSTRACT Water drinking increases muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), which is accompanied by a profound pressor response in patients with impaired arterial baroreflex function and in older populations, but not in healthy young subjects. We tested the hypothesis that an enhancement in the gain of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA contributes to the maintenance of arterial blood pressure after water drinking in healthy young subjects. The MSNA, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured in 10 healthy men (24 ± 2 years old; mean ± SD) before and for 60 min after ingestion of 500 ml of bottled water or saline solution. Weighted linear regression analysis between MSNA and diastolic blood pressure was used to determine the gain (i.e. sensitivity) of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA. After water drinking, MSNA was significantly elevated within 15 min and remained above baseline for up to 60 min [e.g. 21 ± 10 bursts (100 heart beats)-1 mmHg-1 at baseline versus 35 ± 14 bursts (100 heart beats)-1 mmHg-1 at 30 min; P < 0.01], whereas mean arterial blood pressure (e.g. 87 ± 7 mmHg at baseline versus 89 ± 7 mmHg at 30 min; P = 0.34) and heart rate were unchanged. The arterial baroreflex-MSNA gain for bursts incidence was increased and remained elevated throughout the protocol [e.g. -2.25 ± 0.99 bursts (100 heart beats)-1 mmHg-1 at baseline versus -4.32 ± 1.53 bursts (100 heart beats)-1 mmHg-1 at 30 min; P < 0.01]. Importantly, saline intake had no effect on arterial baroreflex-MSNA gain or any neurocardiovascular variables. These findings demonstrate that water drinking enhances the gain of arterial baroreflex control of MSNA in healthy young men, which may contribute to buffering the pressor response after water drinking, probably via osmosensitive mechanisms.

Physical exercise potentiates the carotid chemoreflex control of ventilation (VE). Hyperadditive neural interactions may partially mediate the potentiation. However, some neural interactions remain incompletely explored. As the potentiation occurs even during low-intensity exercise, we tested the hypothesis that the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle mechanoreflex could interact in a hyperadditive fashion. Fourteen young healthy subjects inhaled randomly, in separate visits, 12% O2 to stimulate the carotid chemoreflex and 21% O2 as control. A rebreathing circuit maintained isocapnia. During gases administration, subjects either remained at rest (i.e., normoxic and hypoxic rest) or the muscle mechanoreflex was stimulated via passive knee movement (i.e., normoxic and hypoxic movement). Surface muscle electrical activity did not increase during the passive movement, confirming the absence of active contractions. Hypoxic rest and normoxic movement similarly increased VE [change (mean ± SE) = 1.24 ± 0.72 vs. 0.73 ± 0.43 l/min, respectively; P = 0.46], but hypoxic rest only increased tidal volume (Vt), and normoxic movement only increased breathing frequency (BF). Hypoxic movement induced greater VE and mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti) increase than the sum of hypoxic rest and normoxic movement isolated responses (VE change: hypoxic movement = 3.72 ± 0.81 l/min vs. sum = 1.96 ± 0.83 l/min, P = 0.01; Vt/Ti change: hypoxic movement = 0.13 ± 0.03 l/s vs. sum = 0.06 ± 0.03 l/s, P = 0.02). Moreover, hypoxic movement increased both Vt and BF. Collectively, the results indicate that the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle mechanoreflex interacted, mediating a hyperadditive ventilatory response in healthy humans. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The main finding of this study was that concomitant carotid chemoreflex and muscle mechanoreflex stimulation provoked greater ventilation increase than the sum of ventilation increase induced by stimulation of each reflex in isolation, which, consequently, supports that the carotid chemoreflex and the muscle mechanoreflex interacted, mediating a hyperadditive ventilatory response in healthy humans.

A maçã é uma das frutas de maior cultivo em todo o globo, e no Brasil ela tem expressiva parcela produzida, especificamente na região sul do país. Porém, grande quantidade do que é cultivado é perdido na pós-colheita, sendo assim, para contornar este entrave, foi realizado experimento para avaliar a capacidade de diferentes revestimentos, em aumentarem a vida útil do fruto in natura. Os revestimentos empregados foram a proteína 5%, a fécula de mandioca 5% e o ácido cítrico 1,5%, foi utilizado também a testemunha sem nenhuma substância. Foram armazenadas em câmera fria por 13 dias, e avaliadas a cada dois dias quanto à relação pH, sólidos solúveis, acidez, perda de massa, teor de melanoidinas e compostos fenólicos. Os revestimentos se mostraram ineficientes em reduzir o progresso do escurecimento enzimático e perda de massa, além de não manter os valores de acidez titulável, pH e sólidos solúveis.

Patients with COPD present with systemic vascular malfunctioning and their microcirculation is possibly more fragile to overcome an increase in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow during sympathoexcitatory situations. To test the skeletal muscle microvascular responsiveness to sympathoexcitation, we asked patients with COPD and age- and sex-matched controls to immerse a hand in iced water [Cold Pressor Test (CPT)]. Near-infrared spectroscopy detection of the indocyanine green dye in the intercostal and vastus lateralis microcirculation provided a blood flow index (BFI). BFI divided by mean blood pressure (MBP) provided an index of microvascular conductance (BFI/MBP). The CPT decreased BFI and BFI/MBP in the intercostal (P = 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively) and vastus lateralis (P = 0.08 and 0.03, respectively) only in the COPD group, and the per cent BFI and BFI/MBP decrease was similar between muscles (P = 0.78 and 0.85, respectively). Thus, our findings support that sympathoexcitation similarly impairs intercostal and vastus lateralis microvascular regulation in patients with COPD.

Objective Reduced aerobic power is independently associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence and prevalence in adults. This study investigated whether muscle deoxygenation (proxy of microvascular O2 extraction) during incremental exercise is altered in MetS and associated with reduced oxygen consumption ( V˙O2peak). Methods Twelve men with initial MetS (no overt diseases and medication-naive; mean ± SD, age 38 ± 7 years) and 12 healthy controls (HCs) (34 ± 7 years) completed an incremental cycling test to exhaustion, in which pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange (metabolic analyzer), as well as vastus lateralis deoxygenation (near infrared spectroscopy), were measured. Results Subjects with MetS, in contrast to HCs, showed lower V˙O2peak normalized to total lean mass, similar V˙O2 response to exercise, and earlier break point (BP) in muscle deoxygenation. Consequently, deoxygenation slope from BP to peak exercise was greater. Furthermore, absolute V˙O2peak was positively associated with BP in correlations adjusted for total lean mass. Conclusions MetS, without overt diseases, altered kinetics of muscle deoxygenation during incremental exercise, particularly at high-intensity exercise. Therefore, the balance between utilization and delivery of O2 within skeletal muscle is impaired early in MetS natural history, which may contribute to the reduction in aerobic power.

Recent studies have reported ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can acutely improve endurance exercise performance in athletes. However, placebo and nocebo effects have not been sufficiently controlled, and the effect on aerobic metabolism parameters that determine endurance performance (e.g., oxygen cost of running, lactate threshold, and maximal oxygen uptake [V˙O2max]) has been equivocal. Thus, we circumvented limitations from previous studies to test the effect of IPC on aerobic metabolism parameters and endurance performance in well-trained runners.Eighteen runners (14 men/4 women) were submitted to three interventions, in random order: IPC; sham intervention (SHAM); and resting control (CT). Subjects were told both IPC and SHAM would improve performance compared to CT (i.e., similar placebo induction), and IPC would be harmless despite circulatory occlusion sensations (i.e., nocebo avoidance). Next, pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange, blood lactate concentration, and perceived effort were measured during a discontinuous incremental test on a treadmill. Then, a supramaximal test was used to verify the V˙O2max and assess endurance performance (i.e., time to exhaustion).Ventilation, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, lactate concentration, and perceived effort were similar among IPC, SHAM, and CT throughout the discontinuous incremental test (P0.05). Oxygen cost of running, lactate threshold, and V˙O2max were also similar among interventions (P0.05). Time to exhaustion was longer after IPC (mean ± SEM, 165.34 ± 12.34 s) and SHAM (164.38 ± 11.71 s) than CT (143.98 ± 12.09 s; P = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively), but similar between IPC and SHAM (P = 1.00).IPC did not change aerobic metabolism parameters, whereas improved endurance performance. The IPC improvement, however, did not surpass the effect of a placebo intervention.

Remote limb ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has shown to improve dynamic postural control in humans. However, studies on the underlying adaptations of spinal cord networks have never been performed. The present work addresses this issue by investigating parameters from the soleus H-reflex recruitment curve (RC), presynaptic mechanisms of reflex modulation (presynaptic inhibition—PSI, and post activation depression—PAD), and the excursion of the center of pressure (CP) recorded during 1 min in upright stance over a compliant surface. A sham ischemic protocol (partial obstruction of blood flow) was applied to the contralateral thigh along four consecutive days. The same procedure was repeated with full obstruction (RIPC) three days after ending the sham protocol. Data were collected before and after both sham and RIPC protocols. The follow-up data were collected five days after the last ischemic intervention. Significant reduction was detected for both the fast oscillations of the CP (higher frequency components) and the parameter estimated from the RC corresponding to the high amplitude H-reflexes (p

AB Purpose: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been shown to improve performance of exercises lasting 10-90 s (anaerobic) and more than 90 s (aerobic). However, its effect on repeated sprint performance has been controversial, placebo effect has not been adequately controlled, and nocebo effect has not been avoided. Thus, the IPC effect on repeated sprint performance was investigated using a swimming task and controlling placebo/nocebo effects. Methods: Short-distance university swimmers were randomized to two groups. One group (n = 15, 24 +/- 1 yr [mean +/- SEM]) was exposed to IPC (ischemia cycles lasted 5 min) and control (CT) (no ischemia); another (n = 15, 24 +/- 1 yr) to a placebo intervention (SHAM) (ischemia cycles lasted 1 min) and CT. Seven subjects crossed over groups. Subjects were informed IPC and SHAM would improve performance compared with CT and would be harmless despite circulatory occlusion sensations. The swimming task consisted of six 50-m all-out efforts repeated every 3 min. Results: IPC, in contrast with SHAM, reduced worst sprint time (IPC, 35.21 +/- 0.73 vs CT, 36.53 +/- 0.72 s; P = 0.04) and total sprints time (IPC, 203.7 +/- 4.60 vs CT, 206.03 +/- 4.57 s; P = 0.02), moreover augmented swimming velocity (IPC, 1.45 +/- 0.03 vs CT, 1.44 +/- 0.03 m[middle dot]s-1; P = 0.049). Six of seven subjects who crossed over groups reduced total sprints time with IPC versus SHAM (delta = -3.95 +/- 1.49 s, P = 0.09). Both IPC and SHAM did not change blood lactate concentration (P = 0.20) and perceived effort (P = 0.22). Conclusion: IPC enhanced repeated sprint swimming performance in university swimmers, whereas a placebo intervention did not. (C) 2016 American College of Sports Medicine

Effects of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) are still controversial and detraining effects remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we investigated (a) whether IHT improves aerobic capacity; (b) whether aerobic detraining occurs post-IHT; and (c) whether intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) at rest reduces a possible aerobic detraining post-IHT. Twenty eight runners (21 men/7 women; 36 ± 2 years; maximal oxygen uptake [V[Combining Dot Above]O2max] 55.4 ± 1.3 ml·kg·min) participated in a single-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Twice a week, 1 group performed 6 weeks of IHT (n = 11), followed by 4 weeks of IHE (n = 11) at rest (IHT+IHE group). Another group performed 6 weeks of IHT (n = 10), followed by 4 weeks of normoxic exposure (NE, n = 9) at rest (IHT+NE group). A control group performed 6 weeks of normoxic training (NT, n = 7), followed by 4 weeks of NE (n = 6) at rest (NT+NE group). Hematological and submaximal/maximal aerobic measurements were conducted in normoxia at pretraining, posttraining, and postexposure. Hemoglobin concentration did not change, but lactate threshold and running economy improved in all groups at posttraining (p ≤ 0.05 vs. pretraining). Ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point, and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max increased after IHT (IHT+IHE group: 7.3, 5.4, and 9.2%, respectively; IHT+NE group: 10.7, 7.5, and 4.8%; p ≤ 0.05 vs. pretraining), but not after NT (-1.1, -1.0, and -3.8%; p > 0.05 vs. pretraining). Such IHT-induced adaptations were maintained at postexposure (p > 0.05 vs. postexposure). In conclusion, IHT induced further aerobic improvements than NT. These additional IHT adaptations were maintained for 4 weeks post-IHT, regardless of IHE.

Background:Scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is often observed in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc) and its diagnosis contributes to early treatment decisions1,2.Objectives:The present study aims to automatically quantify SSc-ILD from high-resolution chest-computed tomography (HRCT) and to evaluate the association between interstitial lung disease (ILD) extension and lung function impairment.Methods:Ninety-four patients with SSc and 27 lung-healthy subjects matched for gender, weight, height, and age underwent HRCT, spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO). SSc-ILD was determined as the tissue mass present between -500 and +100 Hounsfield Units normalized by the total lung tissue mass (TLM). Cut off was the highest value obtained in the control group (25% of TLM). All data are presented as mean and standard deviations (Table I). An ANOVA test followed by Bonferroni post-hoc correction was used for comparisons among groups.Results:From 94 patients with SSc, 64 were classified as having pulmonary involvement (SSc-ILD) and 30 as not having pulmonary involvement (SSc No-ILD). In SSc-ILD subjects, there was a significant reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity normalized by alveolar ventilation (DLCO/A) when compared with SSc No-ILD and control group.Conclusion:The proposed method allows the automatic quantification of SSc-ILD from HRCT and ILD extent is associated with pulmonary function impairment.References:[1]Doyle TJ, Dellaripa PF. Lung Manifestations in the Rheumatic Diseases. CHEST. 2017 Dec;152(6):1283–95.[2]Saketkoo LA, Magnus JH, Doyle MK. The primary care physician in the early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis: the cornerstone of recognition and hope. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 2014 Jan;347(1):54–63.Table 1.Demographic variables, pulmonary function tests and densitovolumetry considering scleroderma patients with less or greater pulmonary involvement.Control GroupN = 27SSc No-ILDN = 30SSc-ILDN = 64p-valueDemographic DataFemales16 (59.2)28 (93.3)58 (90.1)-Age (years)37.9 ± 14.851.2 ± 12.256 ± 14a,bBMI (kg/m2)26.7 ± 5.124.1 ± 5.025.9 ± 5.7-Lung Function FVC (% predicted)100.2 ± 9.299.9 ± 19.869.8 ± 16.7b,c DLco (% predicted)103 ± 13.383.8 ± 14.263.4 ± 20.3a,b,cDLco/A (% predicted)112.7 ± 17.485.7 ± 12.979.2 ± 20.6a,bDensitovolumetryTLV mL4675 ± 9864471 ± 9163492 ± 1120b,cLung Tissue Mass (g)793 ± 125756 ± 159731 ± 155- ILD Extent (% LTM)17 ± 222.9 ± 1.232.6 ± 8a,b,ca: Statistically significant difference between No-ILD SSc and control group; b and c: Statistically significant difference between SSc-ILD vs control group and SSc No-ILD, respectively.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common chronic condition that needs an organized and qualified health care network to provide appropriate prevention and treatment of this condition. These investigation mains to assess the quality of health care network according to the perception of patients diagnosed with DM. Method: It was conducted a cross-sectional study inside a cohort follow-up. Primary health care users were interviewed to evaluate quality of the health care network using the Patient Assessment of Care for Chronic Conditions scale. Clinical and socio demographic information was collected. Results: A total of 24 patients was interviewed, and the overall score of scale was 2.25 (1-5). When the patients were classified by groups based on the control of the DM, the overall score for those with controlled diabetes was lower (2.11) than the group of participants with not controlled diabetes (2.66). Discussion: It was found a low global evaluation of the health care network by the patients. This finding can be related with a low health literacy by the patients included in this evaluation. Conclusion: The lack of a health care network for chronic conditions acting in a coordinated care can compromised the quality of care provided to DM patients, as noted by the low overall scores of evaluations. A more positive assessment among patients not controlled in their glycemic level may reflect an incipient health literacy these patients.

Introduction Sarcopenia is a multifactorial condition that, like sleep debt, affects the elderly and is related to metabolic, endocrine, inflammatory alterations and risk to mortality. Resistance training (RT), in turn, can improve both factors. Aim: investigate the effects of 12-week RT on sleep and muscle function in the sarcopenic elderly. Methods 28 sarcopenic elderly were equally distributed in 2 groups at random: CTL: who participated in weekly lifestyle change lectures or; RT: who did the progressive load RT. Sleep was assessed by polysomnography, actigraphy and questionnaires. Isokinetic and isometric of peak torque (PT) of skeletal muscle, anabolic and catabolic hormones, pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines concentrations were also evaluated. For intention to treat analysis (Δ) the generalized linear/non-linear for absolute variables or Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test. Data are expressed as mean±standard deviation or median, minimum and maximum values and difference witch p Results The RT reduced the time to sleep onset (16.09±15.21) compared to CTL (29.98±22.57) group after the intervention. The Δ shows that RT had more N3 sleep (median:0.90, min:-13.40, max: 25.00) than CTL (median:-3.35, min:-15.20, max:19.10). The RT increases TTS (median:57.55, min:-204.75, max:220.91 vs median:-9.63, min:-120.98, max:185.57) and improved self-reported sleep quality (median: -1.50, min: -9.00, max: 4.00 vs median: 0.50, min: -3.00, max: 6.00) and sleep efficiency (median: 9.50, min: -15.00, max: 34.00 vs 0.00, min: -28.00, max: 18.00). For all muscle function parameters (extension and flexion knee in isokinetic or isometric PT) RT had higher values compared to CTL group after 12 weeks of intervention (p Conclusion Progressive load resistance training improves sleep parameters associated to muscle recovery in elderly people with sarcopenia, along with positive changes in physical performance. Support Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (AFIP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).

KEY POINTS: Dysfunction of post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control is associated with increased mortality risk in healthy adults and in patients with cardiorespiratory diseases. The afferent mechanisms that regulate the post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control remain unclear. We found that afferent signals from carotid chemoreceptors restrain the post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control in healthy adults and patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Patients with PAH had higher carotid chemoreflex sensitivity, and the magnitude of carotid chemoreceptor restraint of autonomic control was greater in patients with PAH as compared to healthy adults. The results demonstrate that the carotid chemoreceptors contribute to the regulation of post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control, and suggest that the carotid chemoreceptors may be a potential target to treat post‐exercise cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with PAH. ABSTRACT: Dysfunction of post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control predicts mortality, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We tested whether carotid chemoreflex activity restrains post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control in healthy adults (HA), and whether such restraint is greater in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who may have both altered carotid chemoreflex and altered post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control. Twenty non‐hypoxaemic patients with PAH and 13 age‐ and sex‐matched HA pedalled until 90% of peak work rate observed in a symptom‐limited ramp‐incremental exercise test. Recovery consisted of unloaded pedalling for 5 min followed by seated rest for 6 min. During recovery, subjects randomly inhaled either 100% O(2) (hyperoxia) to inhibit the carotid chemoreceptor activity, or 21% O(2) (normoxia) as control. Post‐exercise cardiac autonomic control was examined via heart rate (HR) recovery (HRR; HR change after 30, 60, 120 and 300 s of recovery, using linear and non‐linear regressions of HR decay) and HR variability (HRV; time and spectral domain analyses). As expected, the PAH group had higher carotid chemosensitivity and worse post‐exercise HRR and HRV than HA. Hyperoxia increased HRR at 30, 60 and 120 s and absolute spectral power HRV in both groups. Additionally, hyperoxia resulted in an accelerated linear HR decay and increased time domain HRV during active recovery only in the PAH group. In conclusion, the carotid chemoreceptors restrained recovery of cardiac autonomic control from exercise in HA and in patients with PAH, with the restraint greater for some autonomic indexes in patients with PAH.

Introduction: Complex risk scores have limited applicability in the assessment of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). In this work, the authors aimed to develop a simple to use clinical score to stratify the in-hospital mortality risk of patients with MI at first medical contact. Methods: In this single-center prospective registry assessing 1504 consecutively admitted patients with MI, the strongest predictors of in-hospital mortality were selected through multivariate logistic regression. The KAsH score was developed according to the following formula: KAsH=(Killip class×Age×Heart rate)/systolic blood pressure. Its predictive power was compared to previously validated scores using the DeLong test. The score was categorized and further compared to the Killip classification. Results: The KAsH score displayed excellent predictive power for in-hospital mortality, superior to other well-validated risk scores (AUC: KAsH 0.861 vs. GRACE 0.773, p

High cardiac vagal control in endurance athletes has been generally associated with adequate recovery from training and readiness to cope high-intensity training. A method that improves cardiac vagal control in endurance athletes could therefore be advantageous. Accordingly, we sought to test whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) could enhance cardiac vagal control in endurance runners. Fifteen subjects underwent IPC, sham ultrasound (SHAM) or control (CT), in random order. Subjects were informed both IPC and SHAM would be beneficial vs. CT (i.e., similar placebo induction), and IPC would be harmless despite ischemia sensations (i.e., nocebo avoidance). Resting cardiac vagal control was assessed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart rate variability (HRV) indexes. Post-exercise cardiac vagal control was assessed via heart rate recovery [HR time constant decay (T30) and absolute HR decay (HRR30s)] during 30-s breaks of a discontinuous incremental test. Capillary blood samples were collected for lactate threshold identification. RSA and HRV were similar among interventions at pre- and post-intervention assessments. Lactate threshold occurred at 85 ± 4% of maximal effort. T30 was similar among interventions, but IPC increased HRR30s at 70% and 75% of maximal effort vs. SHAM and CT (70%: IPC = 31 ± 2 vs. SHAM = 26 ± 3 vs. CT = 26 ± 2 bpm, mean ± SEM, P

Wireless mesh networks are multi-hop wireless networks which are useful in situations where there is little or no network infrastructure. Recently, those networks have been proposed for scenarios of Smart Grids and Internet of Things. The variability in routing metrics, which causes frequent changes in path choice, is a challenge in these networks. In this article, we propose a method, called Hypothesis Testing Estimator (HTE), for estimating the frame delivery probability of a link based on the concept of hypothesis testing. In this method, the estimate is fixed until the link behavior in the recent past significantly deviates from the expectation. The method was evaluated using simulations whose results show a significant reduction in the variability of the link quality estimates.

AimNumerous studies have demonstrated that exercise acutely prevents the reduction in flow-mediated dilation induced by mental stress in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, it is unknown whether a similar effect occurs in endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs). This study investigated whether exercise protects from the deleterious effect of mental stress on cultured EPCs in healthy subjects and those with MetS.Main methodsTen healthy subjects (aged 31±2) and ten subjects with MetS (aged 36±2) were enrolled. Subjects underwent a mental stress test, followed immediately by either 40min of leg cycling or rest across two randomized sessions: mental stress+non-exercise control (MS) and mental stress+exercise (MS+EXE). The Stroop Color-Word Test was used to elicit mental stress. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and following sessions to isolate mononuclear cells. These cells were cultured in fibronectin-coated plates for seven days, and EPCs were identified by immunofluorescence (acLDL+/ UEA-I Lectin+).Key findingsAll subjects presented similar increases in mean blood pressure and heart rate during the mental stress test (P0.05). The EPC response to MS and MS+EXE was increased in healthy subjects, whereas it was decreased in subjects with MetS (P

Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene decrease expression and activation of eNOS in vitro, which is associated with lower post-exercise increase in vasodilator reactivity in vivo. However, it is unknown whether such polymorphisms are associated with other eNOS-related phenotypes during recovery from exercise. Therefore, we investigated the impact of an eNOS haplotype containing polymorphic alleles at loci − 786 and 894 on the recovery of cardiovascular autonomic function from exercise. Sedentary, non-obese, healthy subjects were enrolled [n = 107, age 32 ± 1 years (mean ± SEM)]. Resting autonomic modulation (heart rate variability, systolic blood pressure variability, and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity) and vascular reactivity (forearm hyperemic response post-ischemia) were assessed at baseline, 10, 60, and 120 min after a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Besides, autonomic function was assessed by heart rate recovery (HRR) immediately after peak exercise. Haplotype analysis showed that vagal modulation (i.e., HF n.u.) was significantly higher, combined sympathetic and vagal modulation (i.e., LF/HF) was significantly lower and total blood pressure variability was significantly lower post-exercise in a haplotype containing polymorphic alleles (H2) compared to a haplotype with wild type alleles (H1). HRR was similar between groups. Corroborating previous evidence, H2 had significantly lower post-exercise increase in vasodilator reactivity than H1. In conclusion, a haplotype containing polymorphic alleles at loci − 786 and 894 had enhanced recovery of autonomic modulation from exercise, along with unchanged HRR, and attenuated vasodilator reactivity. Then, these results suggest an autonomic compensatory response of a direct deleterious effect of eNOS polymorphisms on the vascular function.

Mobile cloud computing paradigm enables cloud servers to extend the limited hardware resources of mobile devices improving availability and reliability of the services provided. Consequently, private, financial, business and critical data pass through wireless access media exposed to malicious attacks. Mobile cloud infrastructure requires new security mechanisms, at the same time as offloading operations need to maintain the advantages of saving processing and energy of the device. Thus, this paper implements a middleware-based computational offloading with cryptographic algorithms and evaluates two mechanisms (symmetric and asymmetric), to provide the integrity and authenticity of data that a smartphone offloads to mobile cloud servers. Also, the paper discusses the factors that impact on power consumption and performance on smartphones that's run resource-intensive applications.

Item does not contain fulltext

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of respiratory muscle fatigue on intercostal and forearm muscle perfusion and oxygenation in patients with heart failure. Five clinically stable heart failure patients with respiratory muscle weakness (age, 66 ± 12 years; left ventricle ejection fraction, 34 ± 3%) and nine matched healthy controls underwent a respiratory muscle fatigue protocol, breathing against a fixed resistance at 60% of their maximal inspiratory pressure for as long as they could sustain the predetermined inspiratory pressure. Intercostal and forearm muscle blood volume and oxygenation were continuously monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy with transducers placed on the seventh left intercostal space and the left forearm. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni correction. Respiratory fatigue occurred at 5.1 ± 1.3 min in heart failure patients and at 9.3 ± 1.4 min in controls (P0.05), but perceived effort, changes in heart rate, and in systolic blood pressure were similar between groups (P0.05). Respiratory fatigue in heart failure reduced intercostal and forearm muscle blood volume (P0.05) along with decreased tissue oxygenation both in intercostal (heart failure, -2.6 ± 1.6%; controls, +1.6 ± 0.5%; P0.05) and in forearm muscles (heart failure, -4.5 ± 0.5%; controls, +0.5 ± 0.8%; P0.05). These results suggest that respiratory fatigue in patients with heart failure causes an oxygen demand/delivery mismatch in respiratory muscles, probably leading to a reflex reduction in peripheral limb muscle perfusion, featuring a respiratory metaboreflex.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) of one or two limbs improves performance of exercise that recruits the same limb(s). However, it is unclear whether IPC application to another limb than that in exercise is also effective and which mechanisms are involved. We investigated the effect of remote IPC (RIPC) on muscle fatigue, time to task failure, forearm hemodynamics, and deoxygenation during handgrip exercise. Thirteen men underwent RIPC in the lower limbs or a control intervention (CON), in random order, and then performed a constant load rhythmic handgrip protocol until task failure. Rates of contraction and relaxation (ΔForce/ΔTime) were used as indices of fatigue. Brachial artery blood flow and conductance, besides forearm microvascular deoxygenation, were assessed during exercise. RIPC attenuated the slowing of contraction and relaxation throughout exercise (P 0.05). In conclusion, RIPC applied to the lower limbs delayed the development of fatigue during handgrip exercise, prolonged time to task failure, but was not accompanied by changes in forearm hemodynamics and deoxygenation.

Mental stress induces transient endothelial dysfunction, which is an important finding for subjects at cardiometabolic risk. Thus, we tested whether aerobic exercise prevents this dysfunction among subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and whether an increase in shear rate during exercise plays a role in this phenomenon. Subjects with MetS participated in two protocols. In protocol 1 ( n = 16), endothelial function was assessed using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Subjects then underwent a mental stress test followed by either 40 min of leg cycling or rest across two randomized sessions. FMD was assessed again at 30 and 60 min after exercise or rest, with a second mental stress test in between. Mental stress reduced FMD at 30 and 60 min after the rest session (baseline: 7.7 ± 0.4%, 30 min: 5.4 ± 0.5%, and 60 min: 3.9 ± 0.5%, P < 0.05 vs. baseline), whereas exercise prevented this reduction (baseline: 7.5 ± 0.4%, 30 min: 7.2 ± 0.7%, and 60 min: 8.7 ± 0.8%, P > 0.05 vs. baseline). Protocol 2 ( n = 5) was similar to protocol 1 except that the first period of mental stress was followed by either exercise in which the brachial artery shear rate was attenuated via forearm cuff inflation or exercise without a cuff. Noncuffed exercise prevented the reduction in FMD (baseline: 7.5 ± 0.7%, 30 min: 7.0 ± 0.7%, and 60 min: 8.7 ± 0.8%, P > 0.05 vs. baseline), whereas cuffed exercise failed to prevent this reduction (baseline: 7.5 ± 0.6%, 30 min: 5.4 ± 0.8%, and 60 min: 4.1 ± 0.9%, P < 0.05 vs. baseline). In conclusion, exercise prevented mental stress-induced endothelial dysfunction among subjects with MetS, and an increase in shear rate during exercise mediated this effect.