Flindtrichardson1498

Balneotherapy and exercise are potential factors influencing sleep through several physiological pathways and relaxing effects. This review aims to assess whether balneotherapy can improve sleep quality in concomitance or not with exercise. The research was conducted on Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The current review followed PRISMA reporting guidelines and involves twenty-one articles grouped into four sections based on the characteristics of the balneotherapy protocol 1.a Balneotherapy-thermal water immersion alone (five studies); 1.b Balneotherapy-thermal water immersion with other spa treatments (six studies); 2.a Balneotherapy and physical exercise-balneotherapy and out-of-the-pool physical exercise (eight studies); 2.b Balneotherapy and physical exercise-balneotherapy and in-pool physical exercise (three studies). Apart from healthy or sub-healthy subjects, patients recruited in the studies were affected by fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal pain, subacute supraspinatus tendinopathy, and mental disorders. Duration, number of sessions, and study protocols are very different from each other. Only one study objectively evaluated sleep, whereas the others used subjective sleep assessment methods. Eight studies considered sleep as a primary outcome and ten as secondary. Sixteen out of twenty-one studies described improvements in self-perceived sleep quality. Thus, balneotherapy associated with other spa treatments and physical exercise seems to be effective in improving self-perceived sleep quality. However, the miscellany of treatments makes it difficult to discern the isolated effects of balneotherapy and physical exercise. Future studies should consider using an objective sleep assessment method and describing the pathways and physiological mechanisms that could provoke sleep changes during balneotherapy treatments.Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 gene which encodes membrane receptor PKD1 and cation channel PKD2, respectively. PKD2, also called transient receptor potential polycystin-2 (TRPP2), is a Ca2+-permeable channel located on the membrane of cell surface, primary cilia, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Ca2+ is closely associated with diverse cellular functions. While ER Ca2+ homeostasis depends on different Ca2+ receptors, channels and transporters, the role of PKD2 within the ER remains controversial. Whether and how PKD2-mediated ER Ca2+ leak relates to ADPKD pathogenesis is not well understood. Here, we reviewed current knowledge about the biophysical and physiological properties of PKD2 and how PKD2 contributes to ER Ca2+ homeostasis.Conduction velocity (CV) slowing is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and reentrant ventricular tachycardia (VT). Clinical electroanatomical mapping systems used to localize AF or VT sources as ablation targets remain limited by the number of measuring electrodes and signal processing methods to generate high-density local activation time (LAT) and CV maps of heterogeneous atrial or trabeculated ventricular endocardium. The morphology and amplitude of bipolar electrograms depend on the direction of propagating electrical wavefront, making identification of low-amplitude signal sources commonly associated with fibrotic area difficulty. In comparison, unipolar electrograms are not sensitive to wavefront direction, but measurements are susceptible to distal activity. This study proposes a method for local CV calculation from optical mapping measurements, termed the circle method (CM). The local CV is obtained as a weighted sum of CV values calculated along different chords spanning a circle of predefined radius centered at a CV measurement location. As a distinct maximum in LAT differences is along the chord normal to the propagating wavefront, the method is adaptive to the propagating wavefront direction changes, suitable for electrical conductivity characterization of heterogeneous myocardium. selleck chemical In numerical simulations, CM was validated characterizing modeled ablated areas as zones of distinct CV slowing. Experimentally, CM was used to characterize lesions created by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on isolated hearts of rats, guinea pig, and explanted human hearts. To infer the depth of RFA-created lesions, excitation light bands of different penetration depths were used, and a beat-to-beat CV difference analysis was performed to identify CV alternans. Despite being limited to laboratory research, studies based on CM with optical mapping may lead to new translational insights into better-guided ablation therapies.Breath analysis was coupled with ergo-spirometry for non-invasive profiling of physio-metabolic status under exhaustive exercise. Real-time mass-spectrometry based continuous analysis of exhaled metabolites along with breath-resolved spirometry and heart rate monitoring were executed while 14 healthy adults performed ergometric ramp exercise protocol until exhaustion. Arterial blood lactate level was analyzed at defined time points. Respiratory-cardiac parameters and exhalation of several blood-borne volatiles changed continuously with the course of exercise and increasing workloads. Exhaled volatiles mirrored ventilatory and/or hemodynamic effects and depended on the origin and/or physicochemical properties of the substances. At the maximum workload, endogenous isoprene, methanethiol, dimethylsulfide, acetaldehyde, butanal, butyric acid and acetone concentrations decreased significantly by 74, 25, 35, 46, 21, 2 and 2%, respectively. Observed trends in exogenous cyclohexadiene and acetonitrile mimicked isoprene profile due to their similar solubility and volatility. Assignment of anaerobic threshold was possible via breath acetone. Breathomics enabled instant profiling of physio-metabolic effects and anaerobic thresholds during exercise. Profiles of exhaled volatiles indicated effects from muscular vasoconstriction, compartmental distribution of perfusion, extra-alveolar gas-exchange and energy homeostasis. Sulfur containing compounds and butyric acid turned out to be interesting for investigations of combined diet and exercise programs. Reproducible metabolic breath patterns have enhanced scopes of breathomics in sports science/medicine.Sarcopenia, a disorder characterized by age-related muscle loss and reduced muscle strength, is associated with decreased individual independence and quality of life, as well as a high risk of death. Skeletal muscle houses a normally mitotically quiescent population of adult stem cells called muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) that are responsible for muscle maintenance, growth, repair, and regeneration throughout the life cycle. Patients with sarcopenia are often exhibit dysregulation of MuSCs homeostasis. In this review, we focus on the etiology, assessment, and treatment of sarcopenia. We also discuss phenotypic and regulatory mechanisms of MuSC quiescence, activation, and aging states, as well as the controversy between MuSC depletion and sarcopenia. Finally, we give a multi-dimensional treatment strategy for sarcopenia based on improving MuSC function.Corbicula fluminea (C. fluminea) is an important freshwater economy shellfish in China, but it often suffers from air exposure during transportation. In this study, we investigated the histological, physiological (mainly including respiratory metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune function), and transcriptomic responses of hepatopancreas in C. fluminea to different times of air exposure. At histological level, air exposure caused vacuolation of digestive cells (24-96 h) and enlargement of digestive tubule lumen (6-96 h) in hepatopancreas. At physiological level, the activities of enzymes related to glycolysis (hexokinase and pyruvate kinase) and anaerobic respiration (lactate dehydrogenase) were increased first (6-24 h) of air exposure, then came back to normal level or even decreased. The activity of aerobic respiration-related enzyme (succinic dehydrogenase) began to reduce from 24 h of air exposure. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were enhanced during 6-48 h of air exposure and then returned to control level or even inhibited. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased from 96 h of air exposure. The activities of immune-related enzymes (acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) increased during 6-48 h, then returned to normal or began to decline. At transcriptome level, 44 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hepatopancreas were identified after 96-h air exposure. Among these DEGs, 8 were associated with glycolysis, TCA cycle, immune, and antioxidant, and were downregulated after 96-h air exposure. Taken together, these findings illuminated the response of C. fluminea to air exposure at histological, physiological, and transcriptomic levels, which will be beneficial to the aquaculture and transportation of C. fluminea.The Principle of the 3Rs is widely recognised as the methodological and ethical backbone of contemporary animal research. Different authors also stress the reciprocal links among the 3Rs, and how these often complement and reinforce each other. We very much agree with this point, but in this contribution we would like to raise some problems related to the application of the "3Rs". There is an obvious link among "Replacement, "Reduction" and "Refinement", but it is worth to notice also that each "R" has its own conceptual characteristics, as well as its own level of applicability. For example, a realistic "methodological inertia" has to be expected more in the case of "Replacement" than in the case of "Refinement". This also leads to a second order of issues, and here we will offer our experience as projects evaluators. The "3Rs" differ also in the possibility to verify how are applied by the proponents of research protocols involving the use of animal models. Sometimes it appears that the application of the Principle still resolves itself in the use of formulaic sentences, from which it is difficult to really understand the reality of the laboratory decisional and procedural processes. However, the demanding characteristics of the "3Rs" can vary greatly, and this is something that has to be considered. We propose that a network, or a virtual platform, of evaluators could help both researchers and evaluators for a more satisfactory understanding and pragmatic application of the Principle of the 3Rs.Raynaud's phenomenon of the tongue after radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy is an exceedingly rare complication. Symptoms are similar to Raynaud's disease of other sites and involve pallor and discomfort on exposure to cold temperatures that resolve with rewarming. Presentation occurs approximately 18-24 months after radiotherapy on average and can usually be managed effectively with lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy. Here, we present a case of lingual Raynaud's following surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.Significant disruptive events have the potential to change travel behaviour in the long-term. COVID-19 has caused the most significant disruption of travel behaviour in living memory. One of the most notable changes has been the increase in working from home, which was forced upon many workers during lockdowns and 'stay at home' orders. But much is still unknown about the long-term impacts of those changes. This study explores the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on changing work from behaviours using the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change. The Transtheoretical Model has been widely used to study behaviour change in health, with some application to travel behaviour change. In this paper, we explore whether people's 'stage of change' before COVID-19 has an impact on their long-term intent to work from home. We found that only 12% of respondents had considered working from home more before COVID, yet those that had were far more likely to intend to work from home in the long term. In addition, we unpack the influence of 'process of change' factors, some of which point to a potential 're-norming' of attitudes toward working from home.