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We assessed the feasibility of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) human adult clinical exercise protocols, while also documenting select cardiovascular, metabolic, and molecular responses to these protocols. After phenotyping and familiarization sessions, 20 subjects (25 ± 2 yr, 12 M, 8 W) completed an endurance exercise bout (n = 8, 40 min cycling at 70% V̇o2max), a resistance exercise bout (n = 6, ∼45 min, 3 sets of ∼10 repetition maximum, 8 exercises), or a resting control period (n = 6, 40 min rest). Blood samples were taken before, during, and after (10 min, 2 h, and 3.5 h) exercise or rest for levels of catecholamines, cortisol, glucagon, insulin, glucose, free fatty acids, and lactate. Heart rate was recorded throughout exercise (or rest). Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) and adipose (periumbilical) biopsies were taken before and ∼4 h following exercise or rest for mRNA levels of genes related to energy metabolism, growth, angiogenesis, and circadian processes. Coordination of the timing of procedural components (e.g., local anesthetic delivery, biopsy incisions, tumescent delivery, intravenous line flushes, sample collection and processing, exercise transitions, and team dynamics) was reasonable to orchestrate while considering subject burden and scientific objectives. The cardiovascular and metabolic alterations reflected a dynamic and unique response to endurance and resistance exercise, whereas skeletal muscle was transcriptionally more responsive than adipose 4 h postexercise. In summary, the current report provides the first evidence of protocol execution and feasibility of key components of the MoTrPAC human adult clinical exercise protocols. Scientists should consider designing exercise studies in various populations to interface with the MoTrPAC protocols and DataHub. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study highlights the feasibility of key aspects of the MoTrPAC adult human clinical protocols. This initial preview of what can be expected from acute exercise trial data from MoTrPAC provides an impetus for scientists to design exercise studies to interlace with the rich phenotypic and -omics data that will populate the MoTrPAC DataHub at the completion of the parent protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been linked to increased inflammation and attenuated resistance exercise adaptations in skeletal muscle. Nonaspirin cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors have been shown to reduce these effects. This study examined the effect of low‐dose aspirin on skeletal muscle COX production of PGE2 at rest and following resistance exercise. Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsies were taken from six individuals (4 M/2 W) before and 3.5 hr after a single bout of resistance exercise for ex vivo PGE2 production under control and low (10 μM)‐ or standard (100 μM)‐dose aspirin conditions. Sex‐specific effects of aspirin were also examined by combining the current findings with our previous similar ex vivo skeletal muscle investigations (n = 20, 10 M/10 W). Low‐dose aspirin inhibited skeletal muscle PGE2 production (p < 0.05). This inhibition was similar to standard‐dose aspirin (p > 0.05) and was not influenced by resistance exercise (p > 0.05) (overall effect: −18 ± 5%). Men and women had similar uninhibited skeletal muscle PGE2 production at rest (men: 1.97 ± 0.33, women: 1.96 ± 0.29 pg/mg wet weight/min; p > 0.05). However, skeletal muscle of men was 60% more sensitive to aspirin inhibition than women (p < 0.05). In summary, the current findings 1) confirm low‐dose aspirin inhibits the PGE2/COX pathway in human skeletal muscle, 2) show that resistance exercise does not alter aspirin inhibitory efficacy, and 3) suggest the skeletal muscle of men and women could respond differently to long‐term consumption of low‐dose aspirin, one of the most common chronically consumed drugs in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare energy expenditure during and after active and handheld video game drumming compared to walking and sitting. Ten experienced, college-aged men performed four protocols (one per week): noexercise seated control (CTRL), virtual drumming on a handheld gaming device (HANDHELD), active drumming on drum pads (DRUM), and walking on a treadmill at ~30% of VO2max (WALK). Protocols were performed after an overnight fast, and expired air was collected continuously during (30min) and after (30min) exercise. DRUM and HANDHELD song lists, day of the week, and time of day were identical for each participant. Significant differences (p < 0.05) among the average rates of energy expenditure (kcal.min-1) during activity included WALK > DRUM > HANDHELD. No significant differences in the rates of energy expenditure among groups during recovery were observed. Total energy expenditure was significantly greater (p < 0.05) during WALK (149.5 ± 30.6 kcal) compared to DRUM (118.7 ± 18.8 kcal) and HANDHELD (44.9±11.6 kcal), and greater during DRUM compared to HANDHELD. Total energy expenditure was not significantly different between HANDHELD (44.9 ± 11.6 kcal) and CTRL (38.2 ± 6.0 kcal). Active video game drumming at expert-level significantly increased energy expenditure compared to handheld, but it hardly met moderate-intensity activity standards, and energy expenditure was greatest during walking. Energy expenditure with handheld video game drumming was not different from no-exercise control. Thus, traditional aerobic exercise remains at the forefront for achieving the minimum amount and intensity of physical activity for health, individuals desiring to use video games for achieving weekly physical activity recommendations should choose games that require significant involvement of lower-body musculature, and time spent playing sedentary games should be a limited part of an active lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Traditionally, vaccines have been administered by needle injection. Topical immunization through the intact skin with either protein- or DNA-based vaccines has attracted much attention recently. We sought to enhance the immune responses induced by DNA-based vaccines after topical application by developing novel ethanol-in-fluorocarbon (E/F) microemulsion systems to aid in the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Methods. Ten different fluorosurfactants were selected or synthesized and screened by pseudo-phase-diagram construction for their ability to form E/F microemulsions. Plasmid DNA was successfully incorporated into E/F microemulsions using several different fluorosurfactants and perfluorooctyl bromide as the continuous fluorocarbon phase. For several reasons, Zonyl® FSN-100 (an ethoxylated nonionic fluorosurfactant) was selected for further studies. In vivo studies were performed in mice to assess pDNA expression in skin and immunologic responses after topical application of this system using a luciferase-encoding plasmid (CMV-luciferase) and a CMVβ-galactosidase-encoding plasmid, respectively. Results. Plasmid DNA incorporated into E/F microemulsion using FSN-100 as the surfactant was found to be stable. After topical application of this E/F microemulsion system, significant enhancements in luciferase expression and antibody and T-helper type-1 biased immune responses were observed relative to those of "naked" pDNA in saline or ethanol. For example, with the E/F microemulsion system, the specific serum IgG and IgA titers were increased by 45-fold and over 1000-fold, respectively. Conclusion. A novel fluorocarbon-based microemulsion system for potential DNA vaccine delivery was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several letters on medicine in Great Britain. Smoking withdrawal of patients with smoking related diseases; Difficulty of treating oesophageal carcinoma by resection; Necessity for seclusion in the caring professions. INSET: Points.

There is some evidence that the age-associated change in skeletal muscle mass is muscle specific, yet the number of specific muscles that have been studied to form our understanding in this area is limited. In addition, few aging investigations have examined multiple muscles in the same individuals. This longitudinal investigation compared changes in skeletal muscle size via computed tomography of the quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius), hamstrings (biceps femoris short and long heads, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus), psoas, rectus abdominis, lateral abdominals (obliques and transversus abdominis), and paraspinal muscles (erector spinae and multifidi) of older individuals from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study at baseline and 5.0 ± 0.1 years later ( n = 469, 73 ± 3 yr and 78 ± 3 yr, 49% women, 33% black). Skeletal muscle size decreased ( P < 0.05) in quadriceps (-3.3%), hamstrings (-5.9%), psoas (-0.4%), and rectus abdominis (-7.0%). The hamstrings and rectus abdominis atrophied approximately twice as much as the quadriceps ( P < 0.05), whereas the quadriceps atrophied substantially more than the psoas ( P < 0.05). The lateral abdominals (+5.9%) and paraspinals (+4.3%) hypertrophied ( P < 0.05) to a similar degree ( P > 0.05) over the 5 years. These data suggest that older individuals experience skeletal muscle atrophy and hypertrophy in a muscle group-specific fashion in the eighth decade, a critical time period in the aging process. A broader understanding of muscle group-specific skeletal muscle aging is needed to better guide exercise programs and other interventions that mitigate decrements in physical function with aging. NEW & NOTEWORTHY These longitudinal analyses of six muscle groups in septuagenarians provide novel information on the muscle group-specific aging process. Although the quadriceps, hamstrings, psoas, and rectus abdominis atrophied with different magnitudes, the lateral abdominals and paraspinals hypertrophied over the 5 years. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the skeletal muscle aging process and highlight the need to complete studies in this area with a muscle-specific focus.

Prostaglandin (PG) E 2  has been linked to increased inflammation and attenuated resistance exercise adaptations in skeletal muscle. Nonaspirin cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors have been shown to reduce these effects. This study examined the effect of low-dose aspirin on skeletal muscle COX production of PGE 2 at rest and following resistance exercise. Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsies were taken from six individuals (4 M/2 W) before and 3.5 hr after a single bout of resistance exercise for ex vivo PGE 2 production under control and low (10 μM)- or standard (100 μM)-dose aspirin conditions. Sex-specific effects of aspirin were also examined by combining the current findings with our previous similar ex vivo skeletal muscle investigations (n = 20, 10 M/10 W). Low-dose aspirin inhibited skeletal muscle PGE 2 production (p < 0.05). This inhibition was similar to standard-dose aspirin (p > 0.05) and was not influenced by resistance exercise (p > 0.05) (overall effect: -18 ± 5%). Men and women had similar uninhibited skeletal muscle PGE 2 production at rest (men: 1.97 ± 0.33, women: 1.96 ± 0.29 pg/mg wet weight/min; p > 0.05). However, skeletal muscle of men was 60% more sensitive to aspirin inhibition than women (p < 0.05). In summary, the current findings 1) confirm low-dose aspirin inhibits the PGE 2 /COX pathway in human skeletal muscle, 2) show that resistance exercise does not alter aspirin inhibitory efficacy, and 3) suggest the skeletal muscle of men and women could respond differently to long-term consumption of low-dose aspirin, one of the most common chronically consumed drugs in the world., (© 2021 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)