Damage and the repeated bout effect of arm,leg, and trunk muscles induced by eccentric resistance exercises

This study compared nine resistance eccentric exercises targeting arm, leg, and trunk muscles in one session for changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction strength (MVC), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity, and myoglobin (Mb) concentration after the first and second bouts. Fifteen sedentary men (20‐25 years) performed 5 sets of 10 eccentric contractions with 80% of MVC load for the elbow flexors (EF), elbow extensors (EE), pectoralis, knee extensors (KE), knee flexors (KF), plantar flexors (PF), latissimus, abdominis, and erector spinae (ES) in a randomized order and repeated the same exercises 2 weeks later. MVC decreased at 1 (16%‐57%) to 4 (13%‐49%) days, DOMS developed (peak: 43‐70 mm), and CK activity (peak: 23 238‐207 304 IU/L) and Mb concentration showed large increases after the first bout. The magnitude of decrease in MVC was greater (P < 0.05) for EF, EE, and PEC than others and for KF than KE, PF, and ES. DOMS was greater (P < 0.05) for EF, EE, and ES than others. Changes in all measures were smaller (P < 0.05) after the second than the first bout, and the magnitude of the repeated bout effect was similar among the muscles. Plasma CK activity and Mb concentration did not increase significantly after the second exercise bout. It was concluded that muscle damage was greater for arm than leg muscles, and muscle proteins in the blood increased to a critical level after unaccustomed whole‐body resistance exercises, but the magnitude of damage was largely attenuated for all muscles similarly after the second bout.     

Injectable (−)-gossypol-loaded Pluronic P85 micelles for cancer chemoradiotherapy

Purpose: The aim of tumor-specific chemoradiotherapy is to achieve synergistic anticancer effects with clinically acceptable toxicity. Our previous studies showed that Pluronic P85 augments radiation cancer cell killing of (±)-gossypol in vitro. In this study, the radiosensitizing effect of (?)-gossypol, more potent Bcl protein inhibitor, with Pluronic P85 was investigated.

Materials and methods: The inhibitory effect of (?)-gossypol solubilized Pluronic P85 with 0–8?Gy of radiation on clonogenic survival rate of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells was investigated in vitro. The anticancer effect of (?)-gossypol-solubilized Pluronic P85 with fractionated radiation of 15?Gy was assessed by A549 tumor-bearing mice.

Results: (-)-Gossypol-loaded Pluronic P85 was found to be a more potent radiosensitizer in vitro. Pluronic P85 increased the anti-proliferative activity of (?)-gossypol against A549 cells (82?±?42 versus 190?±?60?nM). In addition, the combination of P85 and (?)-gossypol effectively reduced clonogenic survival of A549 cells: (11?±?5%) compared to (?)-gossypol and P85 alone (62?±?27% and 93?±?13%, respectively), and enhanced radiation cancer cell killing. In vivo, P85 (200?mg/kg/day) and (?)-gossypol (15?mg/kg/day) could be safely injected intravenously over 5 days and enhanced radiation-related tumor control in an A549 xenograft model.

Conclusion: Pluronic P85 and (?)-gossypol act as a novel dual agent radiosensitizer and holds promise as a chemoradiotherapeutic strategy.     

Cortical and thalamic projections to cytoarchitectural areas 6Va and 8C of the marmoset monkey: Connectionally distinct subdivisions of the lateral premotor cortex

We studied the afferent connections of two cytoarchitectural subdivisions of the caudolateral frontal cortex, areas 6Va and 8C, in marmoset monkeys. These areas received connections from the same set of thalamic nuclei, including main inputs from the ventral lateral and ventral anterior complexes, but differed in their patterns of corticocortical connections. Areas 8C and 6Va had reciprocal interconnections, and received similar proportions of afferents from premotor areas 6M and 6DC, and from the prefrontal cortex. However, area 8C received stronger inputs from frontal areas that have been implicated in oculomotor functions, whereas area 6Va received stronger projections from the primary motor area. Somatosensory projections to area 6Va were generally stronger than those to area 8C, and originated from several areas; in contrast, only the second somatosensory area (S2) sent major inputs to area 8C. Finally, although both 6Va and 8C received major inputs from the rostral posterior parietal cortex (putative homologs of areas PE, PF, and PFG), area 8C also received a variety of smaller connections from posterior midline, caudal posterior parietal, and extrastriate areas. Statistical analyses revealed that the pattern of connections of area 8C is more akin to that characterizing a premotor area, rather than a prefrontal area. We conclude that cytoarchitectural area 6Va in the marmoset is similar to ventral premotor areas identified in other simian primates, and that area 8C corresponds to a specialized subdivision of the caudal premotor complex where visual information for the guidance of movements is likely to be emphasized. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1222–1247, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Validation of apathy evaluation scale and assessment of severity of apathy in Alzheimer's disease

Aim: Apathy is a well‐recognized symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to validate the Taiwanese version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale, clinician version (AES‐C) and assess the severity of apathy in patients with AD. Methods: Comprehensive evaluations were conducted in a total of 144 AD patients. This study used a cross‐sectional comparative design. Data were collected from clinical interviews using the AES, the Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR). Results: Internal consistency was indicated by Cronbach's alphas of 0.85; test–retest reliability was 0.89 over a period of 3 days. Criterion‐related validity was supported by the fact that AES‐C significantly correlated with the apathy scores of the NPI. Factor analysis indicated a three‐factor structure. Convergent validity was supported by a positive correlation between the AES‐C score and the anxiety score of the NPI. Discriminant validity was supported by the fact that the AES‐C scores did not correlate with the depression subscale of the NPI, and the correlation between the AES‐C score and the euphoria score of the NPI score was negative. Known‐group validity was supported by results showing that AD patients in a moderate stage of dementia (CDR = 2) had significantly higher scores on the AES‐C than patients with mild‐stage dementia (CDR = 1). Conclusion: The AES‐C is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring symptoms of apathy among AD patients in Taiwan.     

Iotrol versus metrizamide in lumbar myelography: a double-blind study

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 49 patients underwent lumbar myelography using iotrol (24 patients) or metrizamide (25 patients). The diagnostic imaging adequacy of iotrol was comparable with that of metrizamide. After iotrol myelography, adverse reactions were fewer, less severe, and of shorter duration than were those following metrizamide myelography. Thirteen of 24 patients (54%) receiving iotrol reported some adverse reactions compared with 24 of 25 patients (96%) receiving metrizamide. Five moderate and one severe adverse reaction occurred in the group receiving iotrol. Fourteen moderate and eight severe adverse reactions occurred in the group receiving metrizamide. Thirty-eight patients underwent electroencephalography both before and after myelography (19 iotrol and 19 metrizamide). None of the EEGs obtained after iotrol myelography changed from baseline, while seven of the EEGs obtained after metrizamide myelography showed changes from baseline. Iotrol was judged superior to metrizamide as a contrast medium in this patient population.     

Supplementation of Los Angeles classification with esophageal mucosa index of hemoglobin can predict the treatment response of erosive reflux esophagitis

Background  

We assessed whether the esophageal mucosa index of hemoglobin (IHb) could assist the Los Angeles (LA) classification in defining the severity of erosive reflux esophagitis (RE) and predicting the treatment response by esomeprazole.     

Features and futures: seizure detection in partial epilepsies

Many factors underlying basic epileptic conditions determine the characteristics of epileptic seizures and the therapeutic outcome. Diagnosis and treatment rely on the clinical manifestations as well as electroencephalographic (EEG) epileptic activities. This article briefly reviews the fundamentals of the EEG, interictal, and ictal electrical activities of both extracranial and intracranial EEG of partial epilepsies, based on the information obtained from epilepsy patients who have undergone epilepsy surgery. The authors also present the status of their current research, focusing on decomposed seizure sources and the rendered spatial-temporal transitions in focal seizure.     

Infected pancreatic fluid collections: percutaneous catheter drainage

Thirty-eight infected pancreatic fluid collections in 23 patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis were drained percutaneously following initial diagnosis with computed tomography and fine-needle aspiration. Fifteen (65.2%) patients were cured completely without surgery. Eight (34.8%) patients required some type of surgery despite successful treatment of the fluid collection, and in two (6.5%) the collection recurred after catheter removal. Complications occurred in three (13%) patients, but only one complication (4%), empyema, was a direct result of catheter drainage. Catheter drainage time averaged 29 days for 16 patients with isolated collections and 96 days and 104 days for patients with collections with pancreatic duct fistulas (nine patients) or gastrointestinal fistulas (14 patients), respectively. This study confirms that infected pancreatic fluid collections can be safely and effectively treated with percutaneous catheter techniques in most patients.