Detrended fluctuation analysis detects altered coordination of running gait in athletes following a heavy period of training

Objectives

To investigate whether functional overreaching affects locomotor system behaviour when running at fixed relative intensities and if any effects were associated with changes in running performance.

Prolonged cortical silent period is related to poor fitness and fatigue,but not tumor necrosis factor,in Multiple Sclerosis

ObjectivePoor fitness among people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) aggravates disease symptoms. Whether low fitness levels accompany brain functioning changes is unknown.MethodsMS patients (n = 82) completed a graded maximal exercise test, blood was drawn, and transcranial magnetic stimulation determined resting and active motor thresholds, motor evoked potential latency, and cortical silent period (CSP).ResultsSixty-two percent of participants had fitness levels ranked below 10th percentile. Fitness was not associated with disability measured using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Regression analyses revealed that, cardiorespiratory fitness, when controlling for disease demographics, contributed 23.7% (p < 0.001) to the model explaining variance in CSP. Regression analysis using cardiorespiratory fitness and CSP as predictors showed that CSP alone explained 19.9% of variance in subjective fatigue (p = 0.002). Tumor necrosis factor was not associated with any variable.ConclusionLow fitness was associated with longer CSP in MS. Longer CSP was, in turn, related to greater MS fatigue.SignificanceMS patients had extremely low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Poor fitness predicted longer CSP, a marker of greater intracortical inhibition, which was linked to MS fatigue. Future research should examine whether aerobic training could shorten CSP and potentially lessen inhibition of cortical networks.     

Evidencias actuales sobre las potenciales aplicaciones terapéuticas de la estimulación magnética transcraneal en la esclerosis múltiple: Revisión sistemática de la literatura

IntroductionA growing number of studies have evaluated the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsWe performed a PubMed search for articles, recent books, and recommendations from the most relevant clinical practice guidelines and scientific societies regarding the use of TMS as symptomatic treatment in MS.ConclusionsExcitatory electromagnetic pulses applied to the affected cerebral hemisphere allow us to optimise functional brain activity, including the transmission of nerve impulses through the demyelinated corticospinal pathway. Various studies into TMS have safely shown statistically significant improvements in spasticity, fatigue, lower urinary tract dysfunction, manual dexterity, gait, and cognitive deficits related to working memory in patients with MS; however, the exact level of evidence has not been defined as the results have not been replicated in a sufficient number of controlled studies. Further well-designed, randomised, controlled clinical trials involving a greater number of patients are warranted to attain a higher level of evidence in order to recommend the appropriate use of TMS in MS patients across the board. TMS acts as an adjuvant with other symptomatic and immunomodulatory treatments. Additional studies should specifically investigate the effect of conventional repetitive TMS on fatigue in these patients, something that has yet to see the light of day.     

Single leg aerobic capacity and strength in individuals with surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligaments

ObjectivesCompare single-leg aerobic capacity and strength differences between the surgically repaired ACL leg (injured) and the uninjured leg.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingLaboratory.ParticipantsEight participants (5 female, 3 male, age = 23 ± 3.5 y, mass = 72.3 ± 17.3 kg, height = 169.7 ± 9.4 cm) that returned to play from ACL surgery between six and 18 months.Main outcome measuresParticipants performed an aerobically-based, single-leg cycling protocol to determine maximum oxygen consumption, ventilatory threshold, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and maximal watts cycled. Participants also performed isokinetic knee flexion and extension on a dynamometer to assess peak torque, total work, work fatigue, and power.ResultsThere were no statistical differences in single-leg aerobic capacity or strength outcomes between the injured and uninjured legs.ConclusionsIndividuals who have had an ACL surgically repaired six to 18 months after return to play do not appear to have aerobic capacity or strength deficits between the injured leg and uninjured leg.     

Subjective sleep quality in adult patients affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Beyond nocturnal hypoventilation

ObjectiveIn stable neuromuscular patients under long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV), subjective sleep quality may be predicted by chronic hypoventilation, as assessed by base excess (BE), and %N3 sleep stage duration. In this study, we explored how other variables, closely associated with self-reported health complaints, contributed to subjective sleep quality in adult patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of a quality of life study in 48 adult DMD patients under NIV therapy, with little evidence of residual hypoventilation. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A PSQI score >5 was considered indicative of poor sleep quality. Several other symptoms were evaluated: sleepiness, by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS); depression and anxiety, by the anxiety and depression subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D); autonomic symptoms, by the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31; pain, by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS); and fatigue, by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).ResultsMean PSQI was 6.1 ± 2.9. Abnormal scores were found for NPRS in 40, for HADS-A in 10 and for FSS in 24 subjects. The NPRS, HADS-A and FSS scores and the N3 sleep stage, independently predicted PSQI (R² = 0.47, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsIn adult DMD patients, pain, fatigue and anxiety may have a prominent influence on subjective sleep quality. Improvement of sleep quality may be of utmost importance in DMD, as it may ameliorate quality of life and extend its benefits to cardiovascular morbidity and life expectancy.     

Facteurs de risque d’asthénie en cours de la radiothérapie des cancers du sein et de la prostate

PurposePatients frequently report asthenia during radiation. The present study aimed at identifying the correlation between numerous clinical and tumoral factors and asthenia in breast and prostate cancer patients treated by curative radiotherapy.Materials and methodsA retrospective study was conducted at the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institute (France). All breast and prostate cancer patients undergoing curative radiotherapy during 2015 were screened (n = 806). Patient's self-evaluation of asthenia and radiotherapy tolerance was assessed through verbal analogic scale (0/10 to 10/10). Data about toxicities, travel distance and travel time, tumor's characteristics, radiotherapy treatment planning, previous cancer therapies, were collected from medical records.Results500 patients were included (350 in the breast cancer group and 150 in the prostate cancer group). In all, 86% of patients in the breast cancer group reported asthenia, with a 5/10 median score. In all, 54% of patients in the prostate cancer group reported asthenia, with a 2/10 median score. Univariate analysis showed correlation between asthenia and radiotherapy tolerance as well as tumor staging, in the prostate cancer group. No other correlation was evidenced.ConclusionRadiotherapy-related fatigue is a common side effect. This study showed that most of the factors related to patients or disease that are commonly used to explain fatigue during curative treatments, seem finally to be not correlated with asthenia.     

补肾疏肝汤对慢性疲劳综合征大鼠模型抗疲劳作用机制的实验研究

目的研究补肾疏肝汤对慢性疲劳综合征大鼠模型抗疲劳的作用机制。方法将50只SD大鼠按照随机数字表法分为5组,即空白组、模型组及补肾疏肝汤低、中、高剂量组,各组均10只。除空白组外,其余4组大鼠均制备慢性疲劳综合征模型。在造模同时,空白组、模型组均予0.9%氯化钠注射液40 m L/(kg·d)灌胃;补肾疏肝汤低、中、高剂量组分别予补肾疏肝汤40 m L/(kg·d)灌胃,生药含量分别为17.28、34.56、69.12 g/(kg·d),分别相当于人体用量1、2、4倍,均14 d。比较各组大鼠第1 d首次、第14 d末次力竭游泳时间。比较各组大鼠血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)水平,下丘脑5-羟色胺(5-HT)含量,大鼠骨骼肌过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅激活因子1α(PGC-1α)、细胞色素氧化酶(COX)含量。结果补肾疏肝汤低、中、高剂量组大鼠第14 d末次力竭游泳时间均较模型组延长(P<0.05),且补肾疏肝汤中剂量组大鼠第14 d末次力竭游泳时间最长(P<0.05)。补肾疏肝汤低剂量组第14 d末次力竭游泳时间较第1 d首次力竭游泳时间缩短(P<0.05);补肾疏肝汤中剂量组第14 d末次力竭游泳时间较第1 d首次力竭游泳时间延长(P<0.05)。模型组大鼠血清SOD水平低于空白组(P<0.05),MDA水平高于空白组(P<0.05)。补肾疏肝汤低、中、高剂量组大鼠血清SOD水平均高于模型组(P<0.05),补肾疏肝汤低、中剂量组血清MDA水平低于模型组(P<0.05)。补肾疏肝汤中剂量组大鼠血清SOD水平高于补肾疏肝汤低、高剂量组(P<0.05),MDA水平低于补肾疏肝汤低、高剂量组(P<0.05)。模型组大鼠下丘脑5-HT含量低于空白组(P<0.05)。补肾疏肝汤中、高剂量组大鼠下丘脑5-HT含量均高于模型组(P<0.05),且补肾疏肝汤中剂量组高于补肾疏肝汤高剂量组(P<0.05)。模型组大鼠骨骼肌PGC-1α、COX含量均低于空白组(P<0.05)。补肾疏肝汤低、中、高剂量组大鼠骨骼肌PGC-1α、COX含量均高于模型组(P<0.05),且补肾疏肝汤中剂量组大鼠骨骼肌PGC-1α、COX水平最高(P<0.05)。结论补肾疏肝汤能增强慢性疲劳综合征大鼠模型抗疲劳作用,补肾疏肝汤中剂量组更明显。     

Start-up propulsion biomechanics changes with fatiguing activity in persons with spinal cord injury

Objective: Shoulder pathology is a common condition in wheelchair users that can considerably impact quality of life. Shoulder muscles are prone to fatigue, but it is unclear how fatigue affects start-up propulsion biomechanics. This study determines acute changes in start-up wheelchair propulsion biomechanics at the end of a fatiguing propulsion protocol.

Design: Quasi-experimental one-group pretest-postest design.

Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Twenty-six wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (age: 35.5?±?9.8 years, sex: 73% males and 73% with a paraplegia).

Interventions: Protocol of 15 min including maximum voluntary propulsion, right- and left turns, full stops, start-up propulsion, and rests.

Outcome measures: Maximum resultant force, maximum rate of rise of applied force, mean velocity, mean fraction of effective force, and mean contact time at the beginning and end of the protocol during start-up propulsion.

Results: There was a significant reduction in maximum resultant force (P?<?0.001) and mean velocity (P?<?0.001) at the end of the protocol. Also, contact time was reduced in the first stroke of start-up propulsion (P?<?0.001). Finally, propelling with a shorter contact time was associated with a greater reduction in performance (maximum velocity) at the end of the protocol.

Conclusion: There are clear changes in overground propulsion biomechanics at the end of a fatiguing propulsion protocol. While reduced forces could protect the shoulder, these reduced forces come with shorter contact times and lower velocity. Investigating changes in start-up propulsion biomechanics with fatigue could provide insight into injury risk.