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All SK Officials are mandated by the SK Reform Act and ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government to undergo the SK Mandatory Training. This study is intended to assess the effectiveness of the SK Mandatory Training as conducted in selected barangays of Cebu City. It aims to check the extent of the variables. The method utilized in this study was the descriptive correlational design. Survey Questions were drawn from the five training modules, viz.: Decentralization and Local Governance, SK History, Meetings and Resolutions, Planning and Budgeting, Code of Conduct, and Ethical Standards. There were 160 respondents; 124 SK Councilors and 36 SK Chairpersons from different barangays of Cebu City. Based on Pearson product-moment correlation, it was revealed that there is a strong, positive correlation between knowledge and demonstration. It was also shown by the results that; SK Officials were very knowledgeable with a grand mean of 3.58 and have highly demonstrated a grand mean of 3.57. Therefore, the researchers concluded that the SK Mandatory Training conducted for the SK Officials of Cebu City was effective.

Tensiomyography (TMG) has been used as a simple and non-invasive tool to assess the mechanical properties of skeletal muscles. The TMG-derived velocity of contraction (Vc), which can be calculated from the ratio between maximal radial displacement and the sum of contraction time and delay time, has been proposed for evaluating athletes. However, its sensitivity to training effects and possible relation with changes in soccer players’ neuromuscular performance have not yet been addressed. To test this possibility, twenty-two male Brazilian elite soccer players were assessed using TMG-derived Vc, unloaded squat jump, countermovement jump and drop jump at 45 cm, loaded jump squat and linear (20 m) and change of direction (COD) sprint tests, prior to and after an 8-week period, between two consecutive official tournaments, during which the concurrency between endurance and strength-power training commonly impairs neuromuscular capacities. Magnitude-based inference was used to detect meaningful training effects. From pre- to post-tests, it was observed likely to almost certainly improvements in all modes of jumping tests. In addition, we could verify decrements in the 20-m and COD sprint performances, which were rated as very likely and almost certainly, respectively. Finally, both rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles presented a likely reduction in Vc. Therefore, chronic decreases in sprinting speed are possibly accompanied by a reduced TMG-derived Vc. From a practical standpoint, the TMG-derived Vc can be used to monitor negative specific-soccer training effects related to potential impairments in maximum speed.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of four weeks of training cessation (TC) on specific endurance performance, resting and postexercise heart rate variability (HRV) and neuromuscular capacities of high-level endurance runners.Eighteen endurance runners, 8 men and 10 women (25.5±7.5 years; 166.9±7.6 cm; 54.2±6.9 kg), took part in this study. The 3000 m time trial performance, resting HRV, 5'-5' test, squat and countermovement jumps (SJ and CMJ, respectively) and mean propulsive power in the jump squat exercise relative to body mass (MPP JS REL) were performed pre and immediately following the 4-week TC. The inference based on magnitudes were used to analyze the differences between pre and post values.The time in the 3000 m time-trial was almost certainly higher after TC. A very likely decrease was noticed in the resting HRV Index after the TC period. The differences in all variables analyzed during the 5'-5' test were rated as unclear. No differences were observed in SJ and CMJ comparing the pre and post moments of TC, while the MPP JS REL was very likely improved after the TC period.The resting HRV accompanied the reductions in the specific endurance performance while the 5'-5' test variables did not. The lack of training stimulus led to improvement in the MPP JS REL, possibly due to the withdrawal of specific endurance training, which strongly concurs with neuromuscular performance.

To evaluate the effect of temporary complete hilar versus only renal artery clamping with different duration of warm ischemia on renal functions, and possibly identify a "safe" clamping type and duration of renal ischemia.Fifty male rabbits have been incorporated to study. Rabbits were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury by temporary vascular clamping. Reagents were randomized to 3 experimental groups (only renal artery clamping, complete hilar clamping, sham surgery) and sub-groups were determined according to different clamping times (30 and 60 minutes). Median laparotomy and left renal hilus dissection were performed to sham group. Only artery or complete hilar clamping was performed for 30 or 60 minutes by microvascular bulldog clamps to other reagents. Rabbits were sacrificed 10 days after primary surgery and left nephrectomy performed. Nephrectomy materials were evaluated for the level of nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and an electron microscopic examination was performed.NOS immunoreactivity was correlated with the temporary clamping time. We also observed that complete hilar vascular clamping entails an increase on NOS immunoreactivity. MDA levels were similar for all experimental surgery groups (p = 0.42). The SOD activity was decreased among all subgroups compared with sham surgery. But the significant decrease occurred in 30 minutes only artery and 30 minutes complete hilar clamping groups in proportion to sham surgery (p = 0.026 and p = 0.019, respectively).This current study suggested that only renal artery clamping under 30 minutes is more appropriate during renal surgical procedures requiring temporary vascular clamping.

The aim of this study was to compare performance in the Yo-Yo IR1, 20-meter sprint, COD test, loaded and unloaded lower-limb muscle power tests (squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ] and jump squat [JS] tests), as well as resting and exercise heart rate variability parameters in high-level senior professional and under-20 (U-20) futsal players.All the players (18 senior and 15 U-20 male players) performed the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), 20-m sprint, COD test, loaded and unloaded lower-limb power tests (SJ, CMJ and JS tests), as well as resting and post-exercise log-transformed root-mean-square difference of successive normal RR intervals (lnRMSSD) recording. The t-test for independent samples and magnitude-based inference were used to compare the groups.Seniors were likely to very likely superior than U-20 in the Yo-Yo IR1 (1506.7±287.1 and 1264.0±397.9 m, P0.05), and resting (3.43±0.32 and 3.21±0.37 ms) and post-exercise lnRMSSD (2.95±0.39 and 2.48±0.59 ms, P0.05). Conversely, U-20 players performed very likely to almost certainly better than seniors in the relative mean propulsive power (10.39±1.60 and 9.05±1.57 W/kg, P0.05), 20-m sprint time (2.92±0.10 and 3.05±0.10 s, P0.05) and COD (5.50±0.15 and 5.71±0.22 s, P0.05).Findings from this cross-sectional study indicate that long-term exposure to futsal may lead to improvement in the aerobic fitness and cardiac autonomic regulation, while impairing the muscle power and speed performance of players. Future longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm the occurrence of such concurrent training adaptations.

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical performance (i.e., strength, power, speed and endurance) between Brazilian elite soccer players from different categories of the same club: professionals (PRO), under-20 (U-20), and under-17 (U-17).Seventy-one soccer players from three categories (PRO=24; U-20=21 and U-17=26) were assessed at the beginning of pre-season. Before the tests, they were familiarized with all experimental procedures. Squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint (10 m/20 m), maximum dynamic strength (1RM), and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery tests level 1 were performed in three non-consecutive sessions.No significant differences were found between the categories for sprint times. The PRO players presented higher outcomes in the 1RM, SJ, CMJ, and Yo-Yo tests than the U-20 and U-17 players (P≤0.05). No significant differences were found between the U-20 and U-17 players in 1RM, and SJ/CMJ heights. The U-20 presented superior performance than the U-17 in the Yo-Yo test (P≤0.05).The findings indicated that PRO performed better than younger players in all assessments, except for the sprint tests. This may have been possible due to the differences in training experience, technical expertise and individual levels of strength/power. However, the absence of differences between the U-20 and U-17 groups highlighted the necessity of developing specific training strategies in order to improve the physical capacities of younger players, throughout the maturation process. Moreover, due to the importance of sprinting in soccer, it is strongly recommended that fitness coaches develop more effective strategies to improve speed ability in professional players.

The polyphenolic compound Resveratrol is a naturally occurring phytochemical and can be found in many plant species, including grapes, peanuts and various herbs. Several studies have established that Resveratrol can exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It also has activity in the regulation of multiple cellular events associated with carcinogenesis. This review describes the general properties of Resveratrol including its relationship to estrogen, its effect on lipid metabolism, its cardiovascular effects, and its role on gene expression. Resveratrol has also been examined in several model systems for its potential effect against cancer. Its anti-cancer effects include its role as a chemopreventive agent, its ability to inhibit cell proliferation, its direct effect in cytotoxicity by induction of apoptosis and on its potential therapeutic effect in pre-clinical studies. In addition, Resveratrol has been shown to exert sensitization effects on cancer cells that will result in a synergistic cytotoxic activity when Resveratrol is used in combination with cytotoxic drugs in drug-resistant tumor cells. Clearly, the studies with Resveratrol provide support for the use of Resveratrol in human cancer chemoprevention and combination with chemotherapeutic drugs or cytotoxic factors in the treatment of drug refractory tumor cells.

SALERNO

To determine the sensitivity of drug-resistant prostate cancer cell lines to doxazosin-mediated cell death, and the effects of combining doxazosin and chemotherapeutic agents on these cell lines. Materials and methods The cytotoxic effect of doxazosin was initially evaluated in the prostate carcinoma cell lines DU145 and PC-3. Doxazosin was combined either with adriamycin, etoposide or paclitaxel after its cytotoxic effects were detected in these cell lines. The tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay and trypan blue dye-exclusion tests were used to determine drug-mediated cytotoxicity. Experiments were performed at least three times and representative data are presented.Both cell lines were sensitive to doxazosin-mediated cytotoxicity and the maximum cytotoxicity was achieved after 72 h. While cell death increased with increasing concentrations of doxazosin, 60 micromol/L doxazosin killed more than half of the cells in these cell lines. The combination of doxazosin with both adriamycin and etoposide resulted in significant synergistic cytotoxic activity at subtoxic concentrations of the drugs. Interestingly, the combination of doxazosin and paclitaxel resulted in antagonistic activity.Doxazosin-mediated cytotoxicity in the drug-resistant human prostate carcinoma cell lines was confirmed. Combinations of doxazosin with either adriamycin and etoposide, but not paclitaxel, had synergistic cytotoxic activity in these tumour cell lines. These results suggest that doxazosin could be a new cytotoxic agent, either used alone or combined, in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Biorhythmicity of living organisms, unicellular or multicellular, animal or vegetable, has been empirically observed for many centuries, but were precisely described only recently.

If circadian variations in tolerance to drugs have been often demonstrated, such observations about heavy metals are still very scarce. The present study proposes to determine if circadian variations occur in the tolerance of Mice to single lethal dose of mercuric chloride. 360 female Mice, kept in cages on a 8.00 - 20.00 L/D cycle, receive I.P. a single mercuric chloride injection at different concentrations (100 to 300 X 10(-6)) at different hours in the day (8.00 - 14.00 - 20.00 or 2.00). Death number is determined each during 10 consecutive days. For the highest doses causing death (from 200 x 10(-6)), the mortality percentage is a function of the time of the mercury administration. The metal is the most toxic at 20.00 (LD50: 4,14 +/-0,47) mg/kg) and least at 2.00 (LD50: 5,54 +/- 0,18 mg/kg). Moreover, death occurs later at 2.00 than at other times. So a susceptibility to mercuric chloride in Mice clearly appears.

Urinary gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), renal tubular brush border enzymes, have been shown to be sensitive indicators of renal tubular functions. This study documents circadian rhythms in the urinary activity of GGT and LAP, statistically validated and quantified by the cosinor method, in 15 male Wistar rats standardized to a LD 12:12 illumination schedule (light from 0800 hr to 2000 hr) and fed ad libitum. The acrophase of the circadian rhythms in urinary GGT and LAP activity occurred at the end of the rest span of the animals: between 1730 and 1915 for GGT (depending on the mode of expression of the activity) and between 1700 and 1910 for LAP. Of striking resemblance in their timing, both these rhythms were also of large amplitude (about 50% of the mesor for urinary GGT activity and about 45% for LAP one). The circadian acrophases of urinary GGT and LAP activity led in timing the circadian rhythms in urine volume and creatinine excretion by about 13 hr. Such findings consistent with the circadian variations found by other investigators in GGT in kidney homogenates or in LAP in human urine thus reflect a periodicity in renal tubular function. The reasons for these circadian variations, still unknown at this time, are discussed. The influence recently demonstrated of the hormonal context on protein and enzyme synthesis at the tubule, and its phase relations to urinary enzyme excretion emphasize how much the circadian rhythm in urinary GGT and LAP activity is well included in the murine time structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The present study considers a chronobiological approach in optimizing the clinical use of a drug know to induce nephrotoxicity, amikacin. Nephrotoxicity is probably the most frequent untoward effect encountered in patients treated with aminoglycoside antibiotics. Kidney dysfunction induced by these drugs primarily results from acute tubular necrosis. The risk of morbidity may be further aggravated by the widespread use of aminoglycosides such as advanced age, hypovolaemia, renal disease, previous treatment with aminoglycosides or concomitant administration of other nephrotoxic substances. Other factors may interfere such as dose, duration of drug treatment, frequency and time of administration (Fillastre, 1986). The aim of this study is to determine the importance of the latter.

This review presents our recent knowledge in renal chronobiology, considering physiology, pathology, pharmacology and toxicology. In a first part, are described renal chronophysiological data, pointing out particularly urinary excretion rhythms, largely described for last century. Such physiological observations lead to conclude that renal structures and functions present large temporal variations. Endogenous and exogenous origins of these rhythms are widely discussed. Evidence of such circadian and circannual variations in these renal structures and functions permit to understand why different agents, pathogeneous, toxic or medicamentous, will present time-dependent effects at renal level. So, a second part presents some recent experimental and clinical data in chrononephrology, chronopharmacology and chrononephrotoxicity. Finally, the concept of renal chronesthesy is presented and discussed, in order to explain these temporal variations in renal target susceptibility to different substances acting at this level.

If circadian variations in tolerance to drugs have been often demonstrated, such observations about heavy metals are still very scarce. The present study proposes to determine if circadian variations occur in the tolerance of Mice to single lethal dose of cadmium sulphate. 400 female mice, kept in cages on a 8.00-20.00 L/D cycle, received IP a single cadmium sulphate injection at different doses (2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 mg/kg) at different hours in the day (8.00, 14.00, 20.00 and 2.00 hrs.). Death number was determined each day during 10 consecutive days. The mortality percentage is a function of the time of the cadmium administration, varying between 3.3 and 21.7% for 2.5 mg/kg, between 16.7 and 43.3% for 3 mg/kg, between 33.3 and 71.7% for 3.5 mg/kg and between 73.3 and 96.7% for 4 mg/kg. The metal is the most toxic at 20.00 hr (mean: 58.3%) and the least at 2.00 hr. (mean: 33.7%). A circadian susceptibility to cadmium sulphate in Mice thus clearly appears, as has been recently described with mercury and platinum.

The reduction of HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity has been achieved by several factors affecting either the renal haemodynamics or the organ and/or subcellular distribution or excretion of mercury. Six main overlapping classes of compounds have been used to protect against mercury nephrotoxicity, these including beta-blocking agents, diuretics, chelators, substances that induce metallothioneins, agents involving a competition with mercury for the same binding sites or various nephrotoxicants. Among these, the pretreatment with small doses of Hg is of special interest because it provides a protection against nephrotoxic doses of HgCl2 by a mechanism which seems to be ubiquitous in all metal nephrotoxicology since the same holds true for Ag, As, Cd, etc (Yoshikawa, 1970). Against this background, the present work was undertaken to determine whether a pretreatment with low concentrations of mercury, the so-called “Mercurius corrosivus” also protects against lethal doses of HgCl2.