Short‐term low‐intensity blood flow restricted interval training improves both aerobic fitness and muscle strength

The present study aimed to analyze and compare the effects of four different interval‐training protocols on aerobic fitness and muscle strength. Thirty‐seven subjects (23.8 ± 4 years; 171.7 ± 9.5 cm; 70 ± 11 kg) were assigned to one of four groups: low‐intensity interval training with (BFR, n = 10) or without (LOW, n = 7) blood flow restriction, high‐intensity interval training (HIT, n = 10), and combined HIT and BFR (BFR + HIT, n = 10, every session performed 50% as BFR and 50% as HIT). Before and after 4 weeks training (3 days a week), the maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), maximal power output (P_max), onset blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), and muscle strength were measured for all subjects. All training groups were able to improve OBLA (BFR, 16%; HIT, 25%; HIT + BFR, 22%; LOW, 6%), with no difference between groups. However, VO_2max and P_max improved only for BFR (6%, 12%), HIT (9%, 15%) and HIT + BFR (6%, 11%), with no difference between groups. Muscle strength gains were only observed after BFR training (11%). This study demonstrates the advantage of short‐term low‐intensity interval BFR training as the single mode of training able to simultaneously improve aerobic fitness and muscular strength.     

腰椎间孔狭窄神经根卡压关键性数据与神经根分级关系MSCT负荷检查研究

目的探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)轴向负荷(axial compression in extension,ACE)检查对下腰椎椎间孔(lumbar intervertebral foramen,LIF)狭窄神经根(nerve root,N)卡压关键性数据(critical dimensional,CD):椎间盘后缘高度(h)、LIF高度(H)及其与N分级关系的影响和意义。资料与方法对30例伴腰腿痛或间歇性跛行患者行常规MSCT仰卧腰大肌放松体位(psoas-relaxed position,PRP)扫描后作ACE检查,分别在中央和旁中央矢状重组像测量h和H并观察N毗邻关系,将其分成0~Ⅲ4级,以Ⅱ~Ⅲ级及h和H均分别<4 mm和15 mm临界值判断为LIF狭窄N卡压。结果 30例中PRP无椎间盘膨隆或突出(A组)36个平面CD显著高于伴椎间盘膨隆或突出(B组)54个相应平面;ACE后CD均减小,其中L4~5平面变化最大,L5~S1平面变化最小;降低到临界值以下A组5个平面,B组23个平面(t=6.88,P<0.01)。A、B两组CD低于临界值Ⅱ~Ⅲ级N数PRP分别为:10根和28根(t=4.81,P<0.05)...     

The end game: Mortality outcomes in North American professional athletes

Comprehensive investigations into the mortality outcomes of elite athletes can assist in decoding risk factors for premature mortality and provide avenues for exploring human health through engagement in sport. As such, the purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine lifespan trends of athletes from the 4 major sports in North America: Major League Baseball (MLB ), National Basketball Association (NBA ), National Football League (NFL ), and National Hockey League (NHL ). We hypothesized that proportional death rates would be similar across the 4 sports, when standardizing the data by debut years. Overall, 17 523 of 50 515 (34.7%) athletes were deceased as of the respective data collection cutoff date for their sport, with MLB players having the highest risk of imminent mortality. Professional basketball players generally had the highest relative proportion of death when standardizing data by debut year, although NHL and NFL players who debuted after 2005 had the highest proportion of death. In addition, a 1‐year increase in career length significantly decreased the risk of death (HR : 0.982, 95% CI : 0.978‐0.985), even after adjusting for sport type (HR : 0.977, 95% CI : 0.974‐0.980). Meaningful significance should be considered given the historical and unique nature of the sample. Nevertheless, investigating risk of death differences through different occupational and biological variables can help highlight aversive trends to lifespan that permeate throughout high‐performance athlete populations.     

Can we integrate method-specific age-predictive models?: Analysis method-induced differences in detected DNA methylation status

Forensic research surrounding the use of DNA methylation (DNAm) markers to predict age suggests that accurate prediction of chronological age can be achieved with just several DNAm markers. Several age-prediction models are based on DNAm levels that are detectable by a diverse range of DNAm analysis methods. Among the many DNAm analysis methods, targeted amplicon-based massively parallel sequencing (MPS) and single-base extension (SBE) methods have been widely studied owing to their practicality, including their multiplex capabilities. Since these two DNAm analysis methods share an identical amplification step during their experimental processes, several studies have compared the differences between the methods to construct integrated age-prediction models based on both MPS and SBE data. In this study, we compared the specific differences in DNAm levels between these two commonly exploited analysis methods by analyzing the identical PCR amplicons from the same samples and quantifying the actual bisulfite-converted DNA amount involved in the PCR step. The DNAm levels of five well-studied age-associated markers—CpGs on the ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, MIR29B2CHG, and TRIM59 genes—were obtained from blood samples of 250 Koreans using both DNAm analysis methods. The results showed that only ELOVL2 is interchangeable between the MPS and SBE methods, while the rest of the markers showed significant differences in DNAm values. These differences may result in high errors and consequential lowered accuracy in age estimates. Therefore, a DNAm analysis method-specific approach that considers method-induced DNAm differences is recommended to improve the overall accuracy and reliability of age-prediction methods.     

Adjunctive rufinamide in Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome: a long‐term,open‐label extension study

Kluger G, Glauser T, Krauss G, Seeruthun R, Perdomo C, Arroyo S. Adjunctive rufinamide in Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome: a long‐term, open‐label extension study.
Acta Neurol Scand: 122: 202–208.
© 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard. Objective – This open‐label extension evaluated the long‐term efficacy and tolerability of rufinamide in patients with Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who had previously completed a 12‐week double‐blind study. Materials and methods – In total, 124 patients (aged 4–37 years), receiving 1–3 concomitant antiepileptic drugs, were treated with rufinamide ～25–60 mg/kg/day. Efficacy was assessed by seizure frequency; tolerability by adverse events (AEs) and laboratory tests. Results – Overall, patients were treated with rufinamide for a median (range) of 432 (10–1149) days. Reductions in seizure frequency were observed throughout the study; during the last 12 months of treatment, 41.0% and 47.9% of patients had ≥50% reduction in total and tonic–atonic seizure frequency, respectively. The most common AEs were vomiting (30.6%) and pyrexia (25.8%). Conclusions – In this open‐label extension, rufinamide appeared to be an effective long‐term adjunctive therapy for the treatment of LGS‐associated seizures in children and young adults.