Contrast water immersion hastens plasma lactate decrease after intense anaerobic exercise

The benefits of rapid recovery after intense exercise are widely recognised, and lactate elimination is one indicator of recovery rate. This study examined the effect of contrast (alternating hot and cold) water immersion (CWI) on the rate of plasma lactate decrease during recovery after intense anaerobic exercise. Eleven subjects on each of two occasions undertook four successive 30-s Wingate tests separated by 30-s rest periods. On each occasion, plasma lactate concentration during recovery was measured 5 min post-exercise and thereafter at 5 min intervals for 30 min. On one occasion (determined randomly), the subjects recovered passively (PR) on a recovery bed and, on the other, they alternated partial body immersion in hot (36 °C) and cold (12 °C) water baths. Plasma lactate concentrations were analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance and by fitting a linear regression model, allowing for both gender and recovery mode differences. The rate of decrease in plasma lactate concentration over the 30-min recovery period was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in CWI; 0.28(±0.02) mmol L⁻¹ min⁻¹ (CWI) compared to 0.22(±0.02) mmol L⁻¹ min⁻¹ (PR). These values do not differ significantly between males and females. Contrast water immersion is a valid method of hastening plasma lactate decrease during recovery after intense anaerobic exercise for both males and females. An approximately 1.8 mmol L⁻¹ difference between the two conditions may be expected after 30 min. With differences among elite competitors as little as 1–2%, this reduction may be of practical significance.     

A liquid-scintillation-based primary standardization of Pb

A new radioactivity solution standard of ²¹⁰Pb has been developed and will be disseminated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as standard reference material (SRM) 4337. This new ²¹⁰Pb solution standard is contained in a 5 mL flame-sealed borosilicate glass ampoule, consists of (5.133±0.002) g of a nominal 1 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid solution, has a density of (1.028±0.002) g mL⁻¹ at 20 °C, has carrier ion concentrations of about 11 μg Pb²⁺ and 21 μg Bi³⁺ per gram of solution, and is certified to contain a massic activity (9.037±0.22) kBq g⁻¹ as of the reference time 1200 EST, 15 June 2006. All of the uncertainties cited above correspond to standard uncertainties multiplied by a coverage factor k=2. The standardization for the ²¹⁰Pb content of the solution was based on 4πβ liquid scintillation (LS) measurements using CIEMAT/NIST ³H-standard efficiency tracing (CNET). Confirmatory determinations were also performed by high-resolution HPGe γ-ray spectrometry, by 2π spectrometry with a Si surface barrier detector of separated ²¹⁰Po, and by 4πβ(LS)–γ(NaI) anticoincidence counting.     

Decomposition of aqueous solutions of phenol using high energy electron beam irradiation—A large scale study

High-energy electron-beam irradiation was used to remove phenol from aqueous solution. The variables that affected phenol decomposition were solute concentration, absorbed dose and total alkalinity. Experiments were conducted at large scale (480 L min⁻¹), at solute concentrations of 10.6, 106 and 531 μmol L⁻¹ (1, 10 and 50 mg L⁻¹) over the pH range 5–9, and in the presence and absence of solids (3% w/w kaolin clay). Absorbed doses ranged from 0–7 kGy (0–700 krad). At low absorbed doses, catechol, hydroquinone and resorcinol were identified as the major reaction byproducts. These compounds are consistent with hydroxyl radical (OH·) addition to phenol. Subsequent ring cleavage of hydroxylated phenolic radicals and continued oxidative processes resulted in the formation of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and formic acid. At high doses only trace amounts of the carbonyl derivatives were observed. Two recirculation experiments were conducted at higher phenol concentrations (≈950 μmol L⁻¹) and it was shown that phenol was removed while the total organic carbon of the solution decreased only slightly. These results suggest that phenol was not mineralized but, rather, that irradiation resulted in the possible formation of higher molecular weight polymers.     

An audit of clinically relevant abnormal laboratory parameters investigating athletes with persistent symptoms of fatigue

The aim of this audit was to assess the yield of a selection of laboratory tests as part of the clinical assessment of the fatigued athlete. Clinical charts and blood test results of fifty consecutive athletes who presented with the primary complaint of fatigue were retrospectively reviewed. Blood tests results reviewed were: haematology (haemoglobin, red cell count, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin content, platelets, white cell count, differential white cell count); erythrocyte sedimentation rate; serum biochemistry (urea, creatinine, electrolytes, urate, glucose, liver function tests, albumin, globulin); blood iron status (serum iron, total iron binding capacity, percent transferring saturation, and ferritin concentration); thyroid stimulating hormone; and immune measures (Epstein–Barr virus serology, cytomegalovirus serology). We identified only 3 abnormal results that contributed to the diagnosis of medical disease as a cause for fatigue. Laboratory testing identified 2 fatigued female athletes with serum ferritin concentration between 15 μg L⁻¹ and 20 μg L⁻¹ plus two of the other criteria of iron concentration (serum iron <10 μmol L⁻¹, iron binding capacity >68 μmol L⁻¹, or transferrin saturation <15%). We concluded that the yield from a selection of blood tests investigating fatigued athletes was low. Future study is needed to further define the role of laboratory testing and to study whether low iron stores in the absence of anaemia is related to symptoms in fatigued athletes.     

Influence of exercise mode and maximal lactate-steady-state concentration on the validity of OBLA to predict maximal lactate-steady-state in active individuals

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of exercise mode on the validity of onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA—3.5-mM fixed blood lactate concentration) to predict the work-rate at maximal lactate steady state (MLSS_work-rate). Eleven recreationally active males (21.3 ± 2.9 years, 72.8 ± 6.7 kg, 1.78 ± 0.1 m) performed randomly incremental tests to determine OBLA (stage duration of 3 min), and 2 to 4 constants work-rate exercise tests to directly determine maximal lactate steady state parameters on a cycle-ergometer and treadmill. For both exercise modes, the OBLA was significantly correlated to MLSS_work-rate, (cycling: r = 0.81 p = 0.002; running: r = 0.94, p < 0.001). OBLA (156.2 ± 41.3 W) was lower than MLSS_work-rate (179.6 ± 26.4 W) during cycling exercise (p = 0.007). However, for running exercise, there was no difference between OBLA (3.2 ± 0.6 m s⁻¹) and MLSS_work-rate (3.1 ± 0.4 m s⁻¹). The difference between OBLA and MLSS_work-rate on the cycle-ergometer (r = 0.86; p < 0.001) and treadmill (r = 0.64; p = 0.048) was significantly related to the specific MLSS. We can conclude that the validity of OBLA on predicting MLSS_work-rate is dependent on exercise mode and that its disagreement is related to individual variations in MLSS.     

Aerobic fitness and field test performance in elite Spanish soccer referees of different ages

The major aim of this study was to examine the physical fitness of elite Spanish soccer referees in relation to their age. A secondary aim was to assess the population criterion validity of the 12 min running test (12 MRT) against aerobic-fitness laboratory tests. Participants were 45 soccer referees (age 35.5 ± 4.4 years, height 178.3 ± 5.0 cm, body mass 75.1 ± 6.6 kg, body fat 11.3 ± 2.15%, VO_2max 54.9 ± 3.9 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) who were enrolled in the Referees Technical Committee of the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation. They were divided into three age groups: young (Y, 27–32 years, n = 15), average (A, 33–38 years, n = 17) and old (O, 39–45 years, n = 13). No age-related effects were observed for VO_2max, 12 MRT or 200 m sprint performance in either the pooled or grouped data. However, age-related performance decrements were observed for 50 m sprint performance and the ventilatory threshold (VT) running speed. Twelve MRT performance was moderately related to VO_2max (r = 0.46, P = 0.002), VT (km h⁻¹) (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), and peak treadmill velocity (PTV) (r = 0.60, P < 0.001). The results showed that older elite-level referees may be able to limit the expected age-related performance decrements in both aerobic and anaerobic performance usually reported for sedentary people. Additionally, these results show that older referees are able to reach physical fitness levels that have been suggested to be appropriate for coping with match demands.     

Muscle phosphocreatine repletion following single and repeated short sprint efforts

Phosphocreatine (PCr) repletion following either single (1x6 s, n =7) or repeated (5x6 s, departing every 30 s, n =8) maximal short sprint cycling efforts was measured in separate groups of trained subjects. Muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis) were taken pre-exercise before warming up, and then at 10 s, 30 s and 3 min post-exercise. After the 1 × 6 s sprint PCr concentration was respectively, 55% (10 s; P <0.01), 69% (30 s; P <0.01) and 90% (3 min; NS) of the pre-exercise value (mean±SD) (81.1±7.4 mmol · kg⁻¹ DM), whereas after the 5 × 6 s sprints, PCr concentration was, respectively, 27% (10 s; P <0.01), 45% (30 s; P <0.01) and 84% (3 min; P <0.01) of the pre-exercise value (77.1±4.9 mmol · kg⁻¹ DM). PCr concentration was correlated with muscle lactate at 30 s ( r =−0.82; P <0.05) and 3 min of recovery ( r =−0.94; P <0.01) for the 1 × 6 s sprint, but not for the 5 × 6 s sprints. The extent of PCr repletion was significantly greater after the 5 × 6 s sprints than the 1 × 6 s sprint between both 10 s and 30 s and 30 s and 3 min, despite lower PCr levels at 10 s, 30 s and 3 min following the 5 × 6 s sprints. Full repletion of PCr is likely to take longer after repeated sprints than single short sprints because of a greater degree of PCr depletion, such that replenishment must commence from lower PCr levels rather than because of slower rates of repletion.     

Distribution of radiocesium and natural gamma emitters in pine needles in coniferious forest sites of Izmir

Using a high-resolution gamma-spectrometer system, the activity concentrations of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K and ²²⁶Ra were determined in the pine needles. Activity concentrations of the concerned radionuclides in the needle samples were as follows: ⁷Be, 24.6±2.40 to 210±7.21 Bq kg⁻¹, ⁴⁰K, 23.5±12.4 to 287±15.6 Bq kg⁻¹, ²²⁶Ra, 0.44±0.12 to 12.3±2.18 Bq kg⁻¹, and ¹³⁷Cs, 0.61±0.30 to 2.29±0.38 Bq kg⁻¹. It is found that the frequency distributions obtained for ⁷Be and ¹³⁷Cs can be fitted to a normal distribution, and for ⁴⁰K and ²²⁶Ra can be fitted to a log-normal distribution.     

Investigating the background of a 1-cm quartz gas proportional counter

The background count rate of a 1-cm³ quartz gas proportional counter (GPC) was investigated for measuring natural radioactivity levels of small samples. Using a new multiparameter digital counting system, spurious or afterpulses that contribute to background were identified by their pulse waveform and by a special event indicator defined by the time (<2000 μs) between two successive pulses. With the GPC in coincidence with a low-background NaI(Tl) scintillation guard detector, the weighted mean and standard uncertainty anticoincidence counts per day (d⁻¹) was 6.2±0.4 d⁻¹.     

Measurement of Pu γ-ray intensities between 148 and 161 keV

Utilizing Pu isotopic standards characterized by the Institute for Nuclear Materials and Measurement (IRMM), New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) measured the γ-ray branching ratios of the 148.567-keV ²⁴¹Pu, the 152.72-keV ²³⁸Pu, the 159.995-keV ²⁴¹Pu and the 160.28-keV ²⁴⁰Pu γ-rays. The study reported here includes the measurement of four IRMM standards, utilizing three different detectors for a total of 16 spectra, finding branching ratios of (1.863 ± 0.008) × 10⁻⁶, (9.230 ± 0.068) × 10⁻⁶, (6.321 ± 0.040) × 10⁻⁸ and (4.065 ± 0.017) × 10⁻⁶, γ/disintegration, respectively.     

Muscle metabolism during sprint exercise in man: influence of sprint training.

In order to examine the influence of sprint training on metabolism and exercise performance during sprint exercise, 16 recreationally-active, untrained, men (VO2peak= 3.8+/-0.1 l.min(-1)) were randomly assigned to either a training (n= 8) or control group (n= 8). Each subject performed a 30-sec cycle sprint and a test to measure VO2peak before and after eight weeks of sprint training. The training group completed a series of sprints three times per week which progressed from three 30-sec cycle sprints in weeks 1 and 2, to six 30-sec sprints in weeks 7 and 8. Three mins of passive recovery separated each sprint throughout the training period. Muscle samples were obtained at rest and immediately following the pre- and post-training sprints and analysed for high energy phosphagens, glycogen and lactate; the activities of both phosphofructokinase (PFK) and citrate synthase (CS) were also measured and muscle fibre types were quantified. Training resulted in a 7.1% increase in mean power output (p<0.05), an 8% increase in VO2peak (p< 0.001), a 42% increase (p< 0.01) in CS activity and a 17% increase (p< 0.05) in resting intramuscular glycogen content. In contrast, neither PFK activity nor fibre type distribution changed with training. An increase (p< 0.05) in mean power output and attenuated (p< 0.01) ATP degradation were observed during sprint exercise following training. Glycogen degradation during sprint exercise was unaffected by sprint training. These data demonstrate that sprint training may have enhanced muscle oxidative but not glycolytic capacity.     

Thermoluminescence and electron spin resonance properties of some travertines from Turkey

For the sake of dating certain calcite geological samples, the TL and ESR properties of travertines from Denizli (in the southwestern part of Turkey) were studied and the effects of pre-heating temperature and pre-heating time on the sensitivity of the samples to radiation evaluated. Heat treatment above 350°C increases the sensitivity of all radiation-induced TL peaks except the 330°C glow peak. Results of gamma-ray dose calibration in travertine (CaCO₃ crystal of trigonal symmetry) indicate that the 180 and 280°C TL peak amplitudes increase exponentially with dose. We show that second-order kinetics characterizes the 180 and 280°C glow peaks reasonably well. The Mn²⁺ lines of the ESR spectra are used to investigate the thermal decomposition processes of travertine samples, showing very good agreement with those of thermogravimetry. Glow mechanisms of TL in travertine have also been studied using ESR analysis. The pre-heating and subsequent laboratory irradiation procedure is found to enhance the TL and ESR signals of CO₃³⁻ and CO₂⁻ centres. An isochronal thermal anneal sequence experiment showed that 180 and 280°C peaks in travertines are correlated with CO₃³⁻ and CO₂⁻ centres in the same way that the peak at 330°C is correlated with SO₂⁻ centres. A model for the recombination mechanism is suggested on the basis of the TL and ESR measurements.     

Physical fitness and performance. Fatigue responses during repeated sprints matched for initial mechanical output

PURPOSE: To compare muscle fatigability during two sets of repeated cycling sprints matched for initial mechanical output in a nonfatigued and fatigued state. METHODS: Eight young men performed 10, 6-s all-out sprints on a cycle ergometer interspersed with 30 s of recovery, followed, after 6 min of passive recovery, by five 6-s sprints, again interspersed by 30 s of recovery. RESULTS: On the basis of total work (TW), performance in sprint 11 (79.8 +/- 4.8 J.kg) was not significantly different to performance in sprint 4 (80.3 +/- 5.3 J.kg; P = 0.81). The decrease in TW for the five sprints after sprint 4 (i.e., sprints 4 to 8) averaged 14.5% (P < 0.001), which was significantly less than the decrement in TW from sprints 11 to 15 (20.3%; P < 0.05). Despite no significant differences in TW values achieved in sprints 4 and 11, the amplitude of the electromyogram (EMG) signal (i.e., root mean square (RMS)) recorded during sprint 11 (0.398 +/- 0.03 V) was 12.0% lower (P < 0.05) than in sprint 4 (0.452 +/- 0.02 V). In contrast, values of EMG median frequency (MF) recorded during sprint 4 (85.5 +/- 5.5 Hz) and 11 (89.3 +/- 7.2 Hz) were not significantly different (P = 0.33). However, the rate of decrease in EMG activity (i.e., RMS and MF) was similar for the two set of sprints. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that previous fatiguing repeated-sprint exercise, followed by a rest period, induces greater fatigability during subsequent repeated-sprint exercise, regardless of the initial mechanical output, and that these changes are associated with acute neuromuscular adjustments.     

Long-term metabolic and skeletal muscle adaptations to short-sprint training: implications for sprint training and tapering.

The adaptations of muscle to sprint training can be separated into metabolic and morphological changes. Enzyme adaptations represent a major metabolic adaptation to sprint training, with the enzymes of all three energy systems showing signs of adaptation to training and some evidence of a return to baseline levels with detraining. Myokinase and creatine phosphokinase have shown small increases as a result of short-sprint training in some studies and elite sprinters appear better able to rapidly breakdown phosphocreatine (PCr) than the sub-elite. No changes in these enzyme levels have been reported as a result of detraining. Similarly, glycolytic enzyme activity (notably lactate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase and glycogen phosphorylase) has been shown to increase after training consisting of either long (>10-second) or short (<10-second) sprints. Evidence suggests that these enzymes return to pre-training levels after somewhere between 7 weeks and 6 months of detraining. Mitochondrial enzyme activity also increases after sprint training, particularly when long sprints or short recovery between short sprints are used as the training stimulus. Morphological adaptations to sprint training include changes in muscle fibre type, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and fibre cross-sectional area. An appropriate sprint training programme could be expected to induce a shift toward type IIa muscle, increase muscle cross-sectional area and increase the sarcoplasmic reticulum volume to aid release of Ca(2+). Training volume and/or frequency of sprint training in excess of what is optimal for an individual, however, will induce a shift toward slower muscle contractile characteristics. In contrast, detraining appears to shift the contractile characteristics towards type IIb, although muscle atrophy is also likely to occur. Muscle conduction velocity appears to be a potential non-invasive method of monitoring contractile changes in response to sprint training and detraining. In summary, adaptation to sprint training is clearly dependent on the duration of sprinting, recovery between repetitions, total volume and frequency of training bouts. These variables have profound effects on the metabolic, structural and performance adaptations from a sprint-training programme and these changes take a considerable period of time to return to baseline after a period of detraining. However, the complexity of the interaction between the aforementioned variables and training adaptation combined with individual differences is clearly disruptive to the transfer of knowledge and advice from laboratory to coach to athlete.     

Evaluation of Dosimetric Parameters for Various Ir Brachytherapy Sources Under Unbounded Phantom Geometry by Monte Carlo Simulation

As per TG-43 dose calculation formalism, it is essential to obtain various dosimetric parameters such as the air-kerma strength, dose rate constant, radial dose function, and anisotropy function, as they account for accurate determination of dose rate distribution around brachytherapy sources. Most of the available reported Monte Carlo simulations were performed in liquid water phantoms with a bounded region of 30-cm diameter. In this context, an attempt was made to report the dosimetric parameters for various commercially available pulsed-dose rate (PDR) and high-dose rate (HDR) sources under unbounded phantom conditions, as the data may be used as input to treatment planning systems (TPSs) for quality control assistance. The air-kerma strength per unit activity, S_k/A, was computed for various Iridium-192 (¹⁹²Ir) sources in dry air medium. The air-kerma strength and dose rate constant for old PDR is (9.77 ± 0.03) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.124 ± 0.001 cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹; for new PDR, the values are (9.96 ± 0.03) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.124 ± 0.001 cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹; for old MHDR, the values are (9.80 ± 0.01) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.115 ± 0.001 cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹; for new MHDR, (9.80 ± 0.01) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.112 ± 0.001cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹; for old VHDR, the values are (10.32 ± 0.01) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.035 ± 0.002 cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹; for new VHDR, the values are (10.34 ± 0.02) 10⁻⁸ U/Bq and 1.096 ± 0.001 cGyh⁻¹U⁻¹. The computed radial dose function values and anisotropy function values are also in good agreement with available data.     

Maximal-intensity intermittent exercise: effect of recovery duration.

Seven male subjects performed 15 x 40m sprints, on three occasions, with rest periods of either 120 s (R120), 60 s (R60) or 30 s (R30) between each sprint. Sprint times were recorded with four photo cells placed at 0, 15, 30 and 40 m. The performance data indicated that whereas running speed over the last 10 m of each sprint decreased in all three protocols (after 11 sprints in R120, 7 sprints in R60 and 3 sprints in R30), performance during the initial acceleration period from 0-15 m was only affected with the shortest rest periods increasing from (mean +/- SEM) 2.58 +/- .03 (sprint 1) to 2.78 +/- .04 s (spring 15) (p < .05). Post-exercise blood lactate concentration was not significantly different in R120 (12.1 +/- 1.3 mmol.l-1) and R60 (13.9 +/- 1.2 mmol.l-1), but a higher concentration was found in R30 (17.2 +/- .7 mmol.l-1) (p < .05). After 6 sprints there was no significant difference in blood lactate concentration with the different recovery durations, however, there were significant differences in sprint times at this point, suggesting that blood lactate is a poor predictor of performance during this type of exercise. Although the work bouts could be classified primarily as anaerobic exercise, oxygen uptake measured during rest periods increased to 52, 57 and 66% of maximum oxygen uptake in R120, R60 and R30, respectively. Evidence of adenine nucleotide degradation was provided by plasma hypoxanthine and uric acid concentrations elevated post-exercise in all three protocols. Post-exercise uric acid concentration was not significantly affected by recovery duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of pH and concentration on the diffusion of radiostrontium in compacted bentonite—a capillary experimental study

The effects of pH and Sr²⁺ solution concentration on diffusion and sorption of Sr²⁺ in compacted bentonite (ρ_b=1000±30 kg/m³) were studied using an “in-diffusion” method at an ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO₄. The results (distribution coefficients, K_d, apparent and effective diffusion coefficients, D_a and D_e) derived from the capillary method are in good agreement with the literature data obtained for similar bentonite dry densities and fit Fick's second law very well. The results suggest that the diffusion of Sr²⁺ in compacted bentonite decreases slightly with increasing pH values and also increases slightly with increasing Sr²⁺ solution concentration. The distribution coefficients are weakly dependent on the solution concentrations and show a slight increase with increasing pH values. The average effective diffusion coefficient of Sr²⁺ in compacted bentonite is (1.2±0.2)×10⁻⁹ m²/s, surface diffusion effects are found for the diffusion of Sr²⁺ in compacted bentonite.     

Understanding the radiolabelling mechanism of Tc–antimony sulphide colloid

The chemistry of antimony trisulphide colloid (ATC) was examined to elucidate the radiolabelling mechanism with ^99mTcO₄⁻. Ion exchange chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry techniques determined ATC to be resistant to hydrolysis in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) at 25°C or 100°C (>97% recovery, Sb³⁺ absent). Hydrogen sulphide gas detected did not participate in the mechanism, where antimony trisulphide and ^99mTcO₄⁻ in HCl/100°C yielded 96% ^99mTc-product from a K₂S-free formulation (versus 98% when K₂S was present). ^99mTcO₄⁻ was reduced >90% by DMSA or dithiothreitol under the same conditions, identifying involvement of thiol groups. Infrared analysis of Re-ATC showed S=O bonds, indicating excess thiol groups at the colloid surface were oxidised at the expense of ^99mTcO₄⁻ reduction.     

Functional CT of the kidney

The iodinated contrast agents used for computed tomography (CT) are filtered at the glomerulus and not reabsorbed by the tubules and have pharmacokinetics comparable to inulin. They can thus measure physiological indices such as contrast clearance per unit volume, which is closely related to glomerular filtration rate per unit renal volume of kidney, after due allowance for the difference between blood and plasma clearance. In this review, we show how dynamic CT can be used to measure both regional and global blood clearance of contrast material. A single slice of kidney is scanned sequentially after bolus intravenous (i.v.) injection of contrast material. Next, time–attenuation curves are constructed and contrast clearance per unit volume is calculated using a Patlak graphical analysis. CT determination of renal volume is made and global contrast clearance can be then also calculated. In normal kidneys, clearance/volume averaged 0.49±0.11 ml min⁻¹ ml⁻¹ (mean ±S.D.), and these values agreed with literature data obtained using other techniques. A negative correlation between patient’s age and clearance/volume was seen. A strong correlation was observed between creatinine whole blood clearance and the global contrast clearance (the product of renal volume determined by CT and contrast clearance/volume). Dynamic CT can provide quantitative renal physiological information on a regional basis non-invasively.     

Physiological and psychological responses to a 12-week BodyBalance training programme

BodyBalance is a popular mind–body program practised at numerous leisure centres throughout the western world that makes many unsubstantiated claims as to the benefits of participation. This study examines physiological and psychological responses in adults, aged (mean ± S.D.) 43.9 ± 10.9 years, to a 12-week ‘BodyBalance’ exercise program. An exercise intervention group (n = 17) undertook three 1-h classes, each week for 12 consecutive weeks while the control group (n = 17) attended three 90-min ‘health lectures’. ANCOVA demonstrated significant differences between the control and exercise groups in body mass, skinfold measures, total girth circumference from six sites, maximal isometric back strength, five measures of flexibility and state anxiety. Post-hoc tests on the experimental group data showed body fat decreased significantly by 1.10 ± 1.02% (t = 4.44; P < 0.01), girth by 4.40 ± 5.80 cm (t = 3.13; P < 0.01) and back strength increased by 17.12 ± 15.39 kgf (t = −4.59; P < 0.01). Flexibility was also significantly enhanced with performance of the modified sit-and-reach test increasing by 5.90 ± 2.56 cm (t = −9.50; P < 0.01), hip flexion by 9.84 ± 8.41° (t = −4.82; P < 0.01), hip extension by 7.65 ± 4.48° (t = −7.04; P < 0.01), hip abduction by 10.00 ± 4.91° (t = −8.40; P < 0.01) and lateral trunk flexion by 3.06 ± 5.72° (t = −2.21; P < 0.05). Finally, state-anxiety (STAI) was significantly reduced intra-class at weeks 1, 6 and 12 by 9.24 ± 9.46 (t = 4.02; P < 0.01), 6.59 ± 6.26 (t = 4.34; P < 0.01) and 7.18 ± 5.50 (t = 5.38; P < 0.01), respectively. The findings of this study suggest mind–body exercise programs like BodyBalance could significantly benefit state-anxiety as well as strength, flexibility, and anthropometry around the trunk.