Effects of carbohydrate supplementation on competitive runners undergoing overload training followed by a session of intermittent exercise

This study evaluated the effects of a micro cycle of overload training (1st–8th day) on metabolic and hormonal responses in male runners with or without carbohydrate supplementation and investigated the cumulative effects of this period on a session of intermittent high-intensity running and maximum-performance-test (9th day). The participants were 24 male runners divided into two groups, receiving 61% of their energy intake as CHO (carbohydrate-group) and 54% in the control-group (CON). The testosterone was higher for the CHO than the CON group after the overload training (694.0 ± 54.6 vs. CON 610.8 ± 47.9 pmol/l). On the ninth day participants performed 10 × 800 m at mean 3 km velocity. An all-out 1000 m running was performed before and after the 10 × 800 m. Before, during, and after this protocol, the runners received solution containing CHO or the CON equivalent. The performance on 800 m series did not differ in either group between the first and last series of 800 m, but for the all-out 1000 m test the performance decrement was lower for CHO group (5.3 ± 1.0 vs. 10.6 ± 1.3%). The cortisol concentrations were lower in the CHO group in relation to CON group (22.4 ± 0.9 vs. 27.6 ± 1.4 pmol/l) and the IGF1/IGFBP3 ratio increased 12.7% in the CHO group. During recovery, blood glucose concentrations remained higher in the CHO group in comparison with the CON group. It was concluded that CHO supplementation possibly attenuated the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and resulted in less catabolic stress, and thus improved running performance.     

Enhancement of DNA vaccine potency by linkage of Plasmodium falciparum malarial antigen gene fused with a fragment of HSP70 gene

Finding an appropriate adjuvant for human vaccination is crucial. HSPs have been shown to act as adjuvants when coadministered with peptide antigens or given as fusion proteins. However, there is a potential risk of autoimmunity when using the complete molecules because HSPs are evolutionary conserved. To overcome this, we first evaluated the adjuvant effect of a less conserved fragment of Plasmodium falciparum HSP70 (Pf70C) as compared it to that of the whole HSP70 molecule from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcHSP70). We found that Pf70C exhibited similar adjuvant properties as the whole molecule. We then evaluated the adjuvant potential of Pf70C for the malarial antigen EB200 in a chimeric DNA construct. No appreciable levels of EB200 specific antibodies were detected in mice immunized with the DNA constructs only. However, the DNA immunization efficiently primed the immune system, as indicated by the strong Th-1 antibody response elicited by a subsequent boosting with the corresponding recombinant fusion proteins. In contrast, while no such priming effect was observed for ex vivo IFN-gamma production, stimulation with the HSP chimeric fusion protein induced an enhanced secretion of IFN-gamma in vitro as compared to other proteins used. Our results emphasize the potential of HSPs as adjuvants in subunit vaccines.     

The European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach (ESFA): short-term effects

The European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach (ESFA) resulted in a smoking prevention project for six European countries. It included activities on four levels: adolescents, schools, parents and out-of-school activities. Common goals and objectives were developed, but countries were also able to include additional objectives. National diversities required country-specific methods. The most important common element was a school-based programme consisting of at least five lessons paying attention to social influence processes and training in refusal skills. During the first year, significantly more smoking prevention activities were realized in experimental schools compared with control schools. Not all countries had the same number of lessons on resisting peer pressures. Significant cognitive changes were observed in Spain, resulting in more negative attitudes, increased self-efficacy levels and a more negative intention towards smoking in the experimental group. Counter-productive cognitive effects were observed in the UK. Significantly less onset of weekly smoking in experimental groups was found in Finland (4.7%) and Spain (3.1%). Counter-productive effects were observed in Denmark and the UK. In conclusion, while having common objectives, the ESFA approach allowed for a great deal of diversity. Fundamental research using dismantling designs is needed to be able to detect the most effective elements of smoking prevention programmes for different age groups. Attention to parenting styles and practices is also needed.     

Carbohydrate supercompensation and muscle glycogen utilization during exhaustive running in highly trained athletes

Summary Three female and three male highly trained endurance runners with mean maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) values of 60.5 and 71.5 ml·kg^–1·min^–1, respectively, ran to exhaustion at 75%–80% of VO_2max on two occasions after an overnight fast. One experiment was performed after a normal diet and training regimen (Norm), the other after a diet and training programme intended to increase muscle glycogen levels (Carb). Muscle glycogen concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle increased by 25% (P<0.05) from 581 mmol·kg^–1 dry weight, SEM 50 to 722 mmol·kg^–1 dry weight, SEM 34 after Carb. Running time to exhaustion, however, was not significantly different in Carb and Norm, 77 min, SEM 13 vs 70 min, SEM 8, respectively. The average glycogen concentration following exhaustive running was 553 mmol· kg^–1 dry weight, SEM 70 in Carb and 434 mmol·kg^–1 dry weight, SEM 57 in Norm, indicating that in both tests muscle glycogen stores were decreased by about 25%. Periodic acid-Schiff staining for semi-quantitative glycogen determination in individual fibres confirmed that none of the fibres appeared to be glycogen-empty after exhaustive running. The steady-state respiratory exchange ratio was higher in Carb than in Norm (0.92, SEM 0.01 vs 0.89, SEM 0.01; P<0.05). Since muscle glycogen utilization was identical in the two tests, the indication of higher utilization of total carbohydrate appears to be related to a higher utilization of liver glycogen. We have concluded that glycogen depletion of the gastrocnemius muscle is unlikely to be the cause of fatigue during exhaustive running at 75%–80% of VO_2max in highly trained endurance runners. Furthermore, diet- and training-induced carbohydrate supercompensation does not appear to improve endurance capacity in such individuals.     

Toward high-energy-density,high-efficiency,and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics

The challenging problem of ultra-high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and small-scale portable power generation is addressed here using a distinctive thermophotovoltaic energy conversion mechanism and chip-based system design, which we name the microthermophotovoltaic (μTPV) generator. The approach is predicted to be capable of up to 32% efficient heat-to-electricity conversion within a millimeter-scale form factor. Although considerable technological barriers need to be overcome to reach full performance, we have performed a robust experimental demonstration that validates the theoretical framework and the key system components. Even with a much-simplified μTPV system design with theoretical efficiency prediction of 2.7%, we experimentally demonstrate 2.5% efficiency. The μTPV experimental system that was built and tested comprises a silicon propane microcombustor, an integrated high-temperature photonic crystal selective thermal emitter, four 0.55-eV GaInAsSb thermophotovoltaic diodes, and an ultra-high-efficiency maximum power-point tracking power electronics converter. The system was demonstrated to operate up to 800 °C (silicon microcombustor temperature) with an input thermal power of 13.7 W, generating 344 mW of electric power over a 1-cm² area.     

Development and evaluation of a sandwich ELISA for quantification of the 20S proteasome in human plasma

Because quantification of the 20S proteasome by functional activity measurements is difficult and inaccurate, we have developed an indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for quantification of the 20S proteasome in human plasma. This sandwich ELISA uses a combination of a monoclonal antibody (mcp 20) recognizing the C2-beta subunit of human 20S proteasome (Mr≈30,000) and a polyclonal rabbit anti-20S antibody which labels different subunits of the complex. The detection limit of the assay was established as 10 ng/ml (n=10, mean of zero standard+2 S.D.) and the recovery rate ranged from 96% to 104%. The within-run and between-run coefficients of variation (CV) ranges were 2.8–3.3 and 3.0–3.4, respectively. Using serial dilutions of plasma to which various amounts of purified 20S proteasome were added, a linear dose–response was observed between 102 and 2050 ng/ml with a slope of 1.004 and a coefficient of determination r² of 0.99. In a preliminary experiment performed on a limited number of patients, the present assay was used to quantify the 20S proteasome in plasma from healthy subjects (n=11) and from a limited number of patients with various diseases (two patients with each of the following diagnoses: acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloproliferative syndromes, Hodgkin's disease and solid tumors). The average concentration of 20S proteasome in plasma from normal subjects was found to be 2319±237 ng/ml (n=11). With reference to this normal range, the plasma proteasome concentration was found to be increased in most of these pathological state and as high as 1200% when solid tumors had been detected. For patients with Hodgkin's disease, the changes were more variable whereas in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the proteasome concentration was raised during the acute phase of disease and decreased during therapy. We suggest that this robust, accurate and highly reproducible assay could be used to quantify proteasome in human plasma and investigate its value as a biological marker for various malignant and nonmalignant diseases.     

Eighty years of the Slovenian Institute of Public Health: challenges for the future

Eighty years after the first national public health institution was founded in Slovenia, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (IPHRS) endeavors to meet ever-growing national demands. With the independence of Slovenia in 1991, new tasks had to be tackled, many of which were initially coupled with typical difficulties of a postcommunist country in transition. Also, increasing demands of the European Union (EU) and other international partners had to be met. The IPHRS monitors the health of the Slovenian population and its determinants and contributes to planning and implementation of population-based interventions for the better health of the whole nation. The diversity of the IPHRS activities is mirrored by the organization's internal complexity, multi-disciplinary approach, and links to various sectors. Currently, activities are organized within five centers: Center for Population Health Research; Center for Health Care Organization, Economics and Informatics; Center for Environmental Health; Center for Communicable Diseases; and Center for Health Promotion. The IPHRS is the key national institution in public health research, which is an integral part of all the areas covered by the Institute. The IPHRS also provides education programs in the field of public health. In the near future, it will be important to sustain current activities while integrating into the new program of Community action in the field of public health as well as contributing to the response to challenging public health issues in the wider context of the whole European region. Our aim is to integrate the Institute's activities in the programs relevant to public health issues of outstanding importance in this European sub-region. The IPHRS, given the geographic position and recent history, can act as an intermediate between the public health networks in EU and other countries in the sub-region.     

Re-emergence of pertussis in Slovenia: time to change immunization policy

The introduction of childhood vaccination has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality of pertussis in Slovenia. However, despite high vaccination coverage for many decades, reported incidence has increased recently, to the highest incidence of 27.5/100,000 in 2006, a 6.5-times increase in comparison to the previous year. Marked shift in age distribution among reported cases was observed in recent years. In 2006, reported age-specific incidence was relatively high in children 8-12 years old, the highest among 9 years old. Similar to other countries, where children are given pre-school boosters, we also have to consider the revision of the national vaccination policy. A booster dose at school entrance or latest at 8 years of age should be introduced to decrease the transmission of disease among school children and to further reduce the burden of disease among infants.