Effect of Different Rest Intervals on the Exercise Volume Completed During Squat Bouts

The purpose of this research was to compare effect 3 different rest intervals on the squat volume completed during a workout. Twenty college-aged men volunteered to participate in this study (age 20.73 ± 2.60 years; body mass 80.73 ± 10.80 kg). All subjects performed 3 testing sessions, during which 4 sets of the squat was performed with 85% of a 1RM load. During each testing session, the squat was performed with a 1, 2, or 5-minute rest interval between sets. Volume was defined as the total number of repetitions completed over 4 sets for each rest condition. Statistical analysis was conducted separately for the squat. One-way repeated analyses of variance with Bonferroni post hocs demonstrated significant differences between each rest condition for both exercises tested (p < 0.05). The 5-minute rest condition resulted in the highest volume completed, followed in descending order by the 2- and 1-minute rest conditions. The ability to perform a higher volume of training with a given load may stimulate greater strength adaptations.

Key Points

• There is no significant difference in the squat volume between the 1- and 2-minute rest conditions.
• A 5-minute rest interval between sets allow for the highest volume to be completed when training with 85% of a 1RM load.

Key words: Strength training, recovery, squat, recruitment     

Treatment with convalescent plasma in solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19: Experience at large transplant center in New York City

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients may be at higher risk for poor outcomes with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Convalescent plasma is an investigational therapy that may benefit immunosuppressed patients by providing passive immunity. Convalescent plasma was administered to hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) at an academic transplant center in New York City. Eligible patients were hospitalized and required to have positive nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, be at least 18 years old, and have either dyspnea, blood oxygen saturation ≤ 93% on ambient air, respiratory frequency ≥ 30 breaths/min, partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio < 300, or lung infiltrates > 50%. Thirteen SOT recipients received convalescent plasma from April 9, 2020, to May 17, 2020. The median time from symptom onset to plasma infusion was 8 days. Eight of 13 patients (62%) had de-escalating oxygenation support by day 7 post-convalescent plasma. Nine (69%) patients were discharged, 1 (7%) patients remain hospitalized, and 3 (23%) patients died. This series supports the need for additional studies on convalescent plasma use in SOT recipients with COVID-19 to better determine efficacy and identify patients who are likely to benefit.     

Evaluation of objective structured practical examination and traditional practical examination

To evaluate the competency of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) as an assessment technique compared to Traditional Practical Examination (TDPE) in assessment of laboratory component of physiology, the results of Physiology practical examination of 400 students from 4 Medical Colleges, two Government and two non Government (Dhaka Medical College, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh Medical College, Uttara Women's Medical College) under Dhaka University were studied. Students' performance in OSPE and TDPE was compared. Mean score obtained in OSPE was 77.72+/-0.66 and found significantly higher than that for TDPE (64.44+/-0.61). Again mean scores achieved in OSPE were compared among different Medical Colleges and significant difference was noted. In OSPE, male students achieved significantly higher score than that of female students, especially in responding question station. The outcome of the present study thus indicates that OSPE is a better choice as an assessment technique over the Traditional method measuring wide range of practical skill. It may be concluded that it is important for competency based performance discrimination and it also helps improving students performance quality in laboratory exercise.     

Knowledge of AIDS and condom as a preventive measure against AIDS among married males and factors influencing it in Bangladesh

Background: The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is now a global scourge of mankind. Nevertheless, Bangladesh is categorized as a low HIV prevalence country, from an epidemiological point of view, the HIV epidemic in Bangladesh is evolving rapidly. The majority of the studies on HIV/AIDS and condom use were carried out among the risk segment of people in the country. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of AIDS and use of condoms among general population for prevention of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh. Methods: Both quantitative and qualitative study designs were adopted in this study. Cross-sectional data were collected from rural and urban areas. Married males aged 20 years and above constituted the study population. Data on 524 male respondents were analyzed using SPSS software version 11.5. For qualitative data, selective in-depth interview was done using unstructured guidelines. Results: Analysis indicated that 26 of the respondents had no knowledge about AIDS. More than one-fifth 23 had poor, 26 had well and 25 had excellent knowledge on AIDS. Only 29 reportedly mentioned that condom might be a preventive measure against AIDS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that urban residents with access to electronic and printed media, better socioeconomic condition and service holders appeared to be significantly associated with knowledge of condom as a preventive measure for AIDS p<0.05. However, in the social context, the respondents had different views about use of condom as a preventive measure against AIDS. Conclusion: Useful and fruitful media campaigns to educate the people regarding the health consequences of STDs including HIV/AIDS and integrated approach is strongly suggested for disseminating knowledge and awareness to control the spread of HIV/AIDS among people in Bangladesh. Key words: Knowledge, awareness, STDs, HIV/AIDS, Condom, Bangladesh.     

Clinicopathological evaluation of the donor area following autologous suction blister epithelial grafting vs Thiersch grafting in vitiligo patients: A preliminary study

Surgical vitiligo treatment is suggested for recalcitrant small stable lesions. One of the limitations of this approach is the presence of large lesions. The donor site should be designed to be hidden without previous or present lesions; this limits donor sites. Aim of the study was to clinically and histopathologically evaluate donor areas 3 months and 1 year after Thiersch grafting (TG) and suction blister epithelial grafting (SBEG). Forty patients with stable vitiligo were equally divided into two groups before TG and SBEG. In each patient, the donor site was clinically and histopathologically evaluated after 3 months and 1 year. After 3 months in Group I, hyperpigmentation, mixed pigmentation with atrophic scarring, hyperpigmentation with hypertrophic scarring, erythema, and tough skin were detected in 10%, 50%, 10%, 10%, and 20% of cases, respectively. The condition improved with time leaving, leaving tough skin in all cases after 1 year. In Group II, hyperpigmentation was observed in all patients after 3 months and disappeared completely after 1 year. Histologically, biopsies taken 3 months after TG, showed increased basal pigmentation with dermal changes mimicking scar tissue in 92.5% of cases. Collagen homogenization of and fragmented elastic tissue were reported in all cases. Biopsies showed the same features after 1 year. In the SBEG group, biopsies revealed only basal hyperpigmentation that disappeared after 1 year in all patients. We concluded that SBEG is a scarless operation and regrafting from the same area can be performed. This is in contrast to TG, which is considered a scarring operation, and wherein the donor site cannot be reused for grafting.     

Re-operation for recurrent coronary artery and graft disease. A review of 73 patients in a group of 2573 consecutive first operations

Between January 1980 and December 1986, 2573 patients underwent simple first time coronary artery bypass grafting, of whom 73 (65 males and 8 females) aged 34-69 years (mean 51.3 yrs) had repeat bypass grafts at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. Of these 73 patients, 15 had a previous myocardial infarction, 5 hyperlipidaemia, 4 systemic hypertension, and 12 had a strong family history of ischemic heart disease. There was an overall deterioration of left ventricular function at the time of reoperation. The interval between the two operations was 5-131 months (mean 34.2 mths); recurrence of angina occurred earlier (mean 18.4 mths). Vessels grafted at the first operation were LAD (59), RCA (46), circumflex (41) and diagonal (13). The corresponding data at reoperation were LAD (55), RCA (46), circumflex (28) and diagonal (10). Blocked grafts were seen in 67 patients and new lesions noticed in 29. Reoperation was done using saphenous vein (129), internal mammary artery (5), arm veins (2) and tubular Gortex grafts (2). One patient had concurrent excision of a left ventricular aneurysm. Coronary anastomoses were performed with elective ventricular fibrillation (47) or cardioplegic arrest (91). Aortic cross clamp time varied from 0-92 minutes. Seven patients required intra-aortic balloon support. These patients died in the first 30 days, an operative mortality rate of 4.1%, and two 18 months after surgery. Sixty-eight percent of patients seen at 1 year were totally symptom free. We conclude that reoperation for coronary artery disease can be done with a low mortality and good immediate relief of symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Progression of retinopathy during pregnancy in type 1 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE: The incidence and risk factors for progression of retinopathy during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus were retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-four insulin-dependent diabetic patients at a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia were followed throughout the pregnancy/puerperium with serial ophthalmic examination. Dilated fundus examination was performed in each trimester and puerperium. RESULTS: Progression of diabetic retinopathy in the study occurred in 13/54 (24%) patients--2/22 (9.1%) patients had no diabetic retinopathy initially, 4/20 (20%) had non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 7/12 (58.3%) had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Of the eight patients with PDR who had no laser treatment before pregnancy, six (75%) showed progression but only one of the four patients who had PDR and laser treatment prior to pregnancy experienced progression of retinopathy. Eight patients in total received panretinal photocoagulation to arrest the progression of retinal disease during pregnancy and only one of them had laser treatment prior to pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Laser photocoagulation for severe NPDR or early PDR prior to pregnancy may protect against rapid progression of PDR. Visual impairment resulting from progression of PDR can be prevented by aggressive laser treatment during pregnancy. Duration of diabetes>15 years, poor glycaemic control and hypertension are high-risk factors in the progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy.     

Novel Risk Factors for Progression of Diabetic and Nondiabetic CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

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