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The aim of this study is to explore participants' views and experiences of an eHealth phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) intervention: Physical Activity Towards Health (PATHway). Sixty participants took part in the PATHway intervention. Debriefs were conducted after the six-month intervention. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed with Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Forty-four (71%) debriefs were conducted (n = 34 male, mean (SD) age 61 (10) years). Five key themes were identified: (1) Feedback on the components of the PATHway system, (2) Motivation, (3) Barriers to using PATHway, (4) Enablers to using PATHway, and (5) Post programme reflection. There were a number of subthemes within each theme, for example motivation explores participants motivation to take part in PATHway and participants motivation to sustain engagement with PATHway throughout the intervention period. Participant engagement with the components of the PATHway system was variable. Future research should focus on optimising participant familiarisation with eHealth systems and employ an iterative approach to development and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effect of carbohydrate (CHO), or CHO supplemented with either sodium caseinate protein (CHO-C) or a sodium caseinate protein hydrolysate (CHO-H) on the recovery of skeletal muscle glycogen and anabolic signaling following prolonged aerobic exercise was determined in trained male cyclists [n = 11, mean ± SEM age 28.8 ± 2.3 years; body mass (BM) 75.0 ± 2.3 kg; VO2peak 61.3 ± 1.6 ml kg-1 min-1].Methods: On three separate occasions, participants cycled for 2 h at ~ 70% VO2peak followed by a 4-h recovery period. Isoenergetic drinks were consumed at + 0 and + 2 h of recovery containing either (1) CHO (1.2 g kg -1 BM), (2) CHO-C, or (3) CHO-H (1.04 and 0.16 g kg-1 BM, respectively) in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis were taken prior to commencement of each trial, and at + 0 and + 4 h of recovery for determination of skeletal muscle glycogen, and intracellular signaling associated with protein synthesis.Results: Despite an augmented insulin response following CHO-H ingestion, there was no significant difference in skeletal muscle glycogen resynthesis following recovery between trials. CHO-C and CHO-H co-ingestion significantly increased phospho-mTOR Ser2448 and 4EBP1 Thr37/46 versus CHO, with CHO-H displaying the greatest change in phospho-4EBP1 Thr37/46. Protein co-ingestion, compared to CHO alone, during recovery did not augment glycogen resynthesis.Conclusion: Supplementing CHO with intact sodium caseinate or an insulinotropic hydrolysate derivative augmented intracellular signaling associated with skeletal muscle protein synthesis following prolonged aerobic exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo compare the energy, nutrient and food group compositions of three sources of school-day lunches among students in five secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).DesignCross-sectional study conducted between October 2012 and March 2013. Students completed self-report food diaries over two school days. The energy, nutrient, nutrient density and food group composition of school-day lunches from home, school and ‘out’ in local food outlets were compared using ANCOVA and Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference post hoc analysis.SettingFive secondary schools in the ROI.SubjectsMale and female students aged 15–17 years (n 305).ResultsSix hundred and fifteen lunches (376 home lunches, 115 school lunches and 124 lunches sourced ‘out’ in the local environment) were analysed. School and ‘out’ purchased lunches were significantly higher than packed lunches from home in energy (2047 kJ (489 kcal), 2664 kJ (627 kcal), 1671 kJ (399 kcal), respectively), total fat (23·5 g, 30·1 g, 16·6 g, respectively) and free (added) sugars (12·6 g, 19·3 g, 7·4 g, respectively). More home lunches contained more fruit, wholemeal breads, cheese and red meat than lunches from school or ‘out’. Meat products, chips and high-calorie beverages were sourced more frequently at school or ‘out’ than home. Fibre and micronutrient contents of lunches from all sources were low.ConclusionsHome-sourced lunches had the healthiest nutritional profile in terms of energy and macronutrients. Foods high in energy, fat and free sugars associated with school and local food outlets are of concern given the public health focus to reduce their consumption. While school food should be improved, all sources of lunches need to be considered when addressing the dietary behaviours of secondary-school students. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

No-reflow phenomenon, defined as inadequate perfusion of myocardium without evident artery obstruction, occurs at a high incidence after coronary revascularization. The mechanisms underlying no-reflow is only partially understood. It is commonly caused by the swelling of endothelial cells, neutrophil accumulation, and vasoconstriction, which are all related to acute inflammation. Persistent no-reflow can lead to hospitalization and mortality. However, an effective preventive intervention has not yet been established. We have previously found that paeonol, an active extraction from the root of Paeonia suffruticosa, can benefit the heart function by inhibiting tissue damage after ischemia, reducing inflammation, and inducing vasodilatation. To further investigate the potential cardioprotective action of paeonol on no-reflow, healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated for 4 h followed by reperfusion for 8 h), and I/R injury pretreated with paeonol at two different doses. Real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography was used to monitor regional blood perfusion and cardiac functions. Our data indicated that paeonol treatment significantly reduces myocardial infarct area and no-reflow area (n = 8; p < 0.05). Regional myocardial perfusion (A·b) and cardiac functions such as ejection fraction, stroke volume, and fractional shortening were elevated by paeonol (n = 8; p < 0.05). Paeonol also lowered the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, cardiac troponin T, and C-reactive protein, as indices of myocardial injury. Paeonol exerts beneficial effects on attenuating I/R-associated no-reflow injuries, and may be considered as a potential preventive treatment for cardiac diseases or post-coronary revascularization in which no-reflow often occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At exercise steady state, the lower the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), the lower the O(2) return (QvO(2)). A linear relationship between these variables was demonstrated. Our conjecture is that this relationship describes a condition of predominant sympathetic activation, from which it is hypothesized that selective beta1-adrenergic blockade (BB) would reduce O(2) delivery (QaO(2)) and QvO(2). To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of BB on QaO(2) and QvO(2) in exercising humans in normoxia and hypoxia. O(2) consumption VO(2), cardiac output Q, CO(2) rebreathing), heart rate, SaO(2) and haemoglobin concentration were measured on six subjects (age 25.5 +/- 2.4 years, mass 78.1 +/- 9.0 kg) in normoxia and hypoxia (inspired O(2) fraction of 0.11) at rest and steady-state exercises of 50, 100, and 150 W without (C) and with BB with metoprolol. Arterial O(2) concentration (CaO(2)), QaO(2) and QvO(2) were then computed. Heart rate, higher in hypoxia than in normoxia, decreased with BB. At each VO(2), Q was higher in hypoxia than in normoxia. With BB, it decreased during intense exercise in normoxia, at rest, and during light exercise in hypoxia. SaO(2) and CaO(2) were unaffected by BB. The QaO(2) changes under BB were parallel to those in Q.QvO(2) was unaffected by exercise in normoxia. In hypoxia the slope of the relationship between QaO(2) and VO(2) was lower than 1, indicating a reduction of QvO(2) with increasing workload. QvO(2) was a linear function of SaO(2) both in C and in BB. The line for BB was flatter than and below that for C. The resting QvO(2) in normoxia, lower than the corresponding exercise values, lied on the BB line. These results agree with the tested hypothesis. The two observed relationships between QvO(2) and SaO(2) apply to conditions of predominant sympathetic or vagal activation, respectively. Moving from one line to the other implies resetting of the cardiovascular regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]