Effect of low-dose combined oral contraceptive on aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold level in active and sedentary young women

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term use of oral contraceptives (DC) containing 0.20 mg of ethinylestradiol (EE) combined with 0.15 mg of gestodene (GEST) on the peak aerobic capacity and at the anaerobic threshold (AT) level in active and sedentary young women. Study Design: Eighty-eight women (23 +/- 2.1 years old) were divided into four groups active-OC (G1), active-NOC (G2), sedentary-OC (G3) and sedentary-NOC (G4) and were submitted to a continuous ergospirometric incremental test on a cycloergometer with 20 to 25 W min(-1) increments. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test. Level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The OC use effect for the variables relative and absolute oxygen uptake VO(2) mL kg(-1) min(-1); VO(2), L min(-1), respectively), carbon dioxide output (VCO(2), L min(-1)), ventilation (VE, L min(-1)), heart rate (HR, bpm), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and power output (W) data, as well as the interaction between OC use and exercise effect on the peak of test and at the AT level did not differ significantly between the active groups (G1 and G2) and the sedentary groups (G3 and G4). As to the exercise effect, for all variables studied, it was noted that the active groups presented higher values for the variables VO(2), VCO(2), VE and power output (p<.05) than the sedentary groups. The RER and HR were similar (p>.05) at the peak and at the AT level between G1 vs. G3 and G2 vs. G4. Conclusions: Long-term use of OC containing EE 0.20 mg plus GEST 0.15 mg does not affect aerobic capacity at the peak and at the AT level of exercise tests. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The new craft skills of engineering: The impact of innovation technology on engineering practices

This chapter explores the impact of innovation technologies such as simulation, modelling, and rapid prototyping on engineering practice. Innovation technologies help redefine the role of engineers in the innovation process, creating a new division of innovative labour both with and across organizations. This chapter also explores the boundaries of experimentation and inertia within particular domains of problem-solving to create new opportunities and value.

Proteomic analysis of low- to high-grade astrocytomas reveals an alteration of the expression level of raf kinase inhibitor protein and nucleophosmin

Proteomic approaches have been useful for the identification of aberrantly expressed proteins in complex diseases such as cancer. These proteins are not only potential disease biomarkers, but also targets for therapy. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in diffuse astrocytoma grade II, anaplastic astrocytoma grade III and glioblastoma multiforme grade IV in human tumor samples and in non-neoplastic brain tissue as control using 2-DE and MS. Tumor and control brain tissue dissection was guided by histological hematoxylin/eosin tissue sections to provide more than 90% of tumor cells and astrocytes. Six proteins were detected as up-regulated in higher grade astrocytomas and the most important finding was nucleophosmin (NPM) (p < 0.05), whereas four proteins were down-regulated, among them raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) (p < 0.05). We report here for the first time the alteration of NPM and RKIP expression in brain cancer. Our focus on these proteins was due to the fact that they are involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MAPK pathways, known for their contribution to the development and progression of gliomas. The proteomic data for NPM and RKIP were confirmed by Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Due to the participation of NPM and RKIP in uncontrolled proliferation and evasion of apoptosis, these proteins are likely targets for drug development.

Predictors of word-level literacy amongst Grade 3 children in five diverse languages

Groups of Grade 3 children were tested on measures of word-level literacy and undertook tasks that required the ability to associate sounds with letter sequences and that involved visual, auditory and phonological-processing skills. These groups came from different language backgrounds in which the language of instruction was Arabic, Chinese, English, Hungarian or Portuguese. Similar measures were used across the groups, with tests being adapted to be appropriate for the language of the children. Findings indicated that measures of decoding and phonological-processing skills were good predictors of word reading and spelling among Arabic- and English-speaking children, but were less able to predict variability in these same early literacy skills among Chinese- and Hungarian-speaking children, and were better at predicting variability in Portuguese word reading than spelling. Results were discussed with reference to the relative transparency of the script and issues of dyslexia assessment across languages. Overall, the findings argue for the need to take account of features of the orthography used to represent a language when developing assessment procedures for a particular language and that assessment of word-level literacy skills and a phonological perspective of dyslexia may not be universally applicable across all language contexts. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of P-glycoprotein, MDR-related protein 1, breast cancer resistance protein, and lung-resistance protein expression in leukemic stem cells of acute myeloid leukemia

Background: The most primitive leukemic precursor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is thought to be the leukemic stem cell (LSC), which retains the properties of self-renewal and high proliferative capacity and quiescence of the hematopoietic stem cell. LSC seems to be immunophenotypically distinct and more resistant to chemotherapy than the more committed blasts. Considering that the multidrug resistance (MDR) constitutive expression may be a barrier to therapy in AML, we have investigated whether various MDR transporters were differentially expressed at the protein level by different leukemic subsets. Methods: The relative expression of the drug-efflux pumps P-gp, MRP, LRP, and BCRP was evaluated by mean fluorescence index (MFI) and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov analysis (D values) in five leukemic subpopulations: CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) (LSCs), CD34(+)CD38(+)CD123(-), CD34(+)CD38(+)CD123(+), CD34(+)CD38(+)CD123(-), and CD34(-) mature cells in 26 bone marrow samples of CD34(+) AML cases. Results: The comparison between the two more immature subsets (LSC versus CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells) revealed a higher P-gp, MRP, and LRP expression in LSCs. The comparative analysis between LSCs and subsets of intermediate maturation (CD34(+)CD38(+)) demonstrated the higher BCRP expression in the LSCs. In addition, P-gp expression was also significantly higher in the LSC compared to CD34(+)CD38(+)CD123(-) subpopulation. Finally, the comparative analysis between LSC and the most mature subset (CD34(-)) revealed higher MRP and LRP and lower P-gp expression in the LSCs. Conclusions: Considering the cellular heterogeneity of AML, the higher MDR transporters expression at the most immature, self-renewable, and quiescent LSC population reinforces that MDR is one of the mechanisms responsible for treatment failure. (C) 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society.

Cytokine Signatures of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in 17DD Yellow Fever Vaccinated Children and Its Association With the Level of Neutralizing Antibody

Background. The live attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccines have been available for decades and are considered highly effective and one of the safest vaccines worldwide. Methods. The impact of YF-17DD-antigens recall on cytokine profiles of YF-17DD-vaccinated children were characterized using short-term cultures of whole blood samples and single-cell flow cytometry. This study enrolled seroconverters and nonseroconverters after primovaccination (PV-PRNT(+) and PV-PRNT(-)), seroconverters after revaccination (RV-PRNT(+)), and unvaccinated volunteers (UV-PRNT(-)). Results. The analysis demonstrated in the PV-PRNT(+) group a balanced involvement of pro-inflammatory/regulatory adaptive immunity with a prominent participation of innate immunity pro-inflammatory events (IL-12(+) and TNF-alpha(+) NEU and MON). Using the PV-PRNT(+) cytokine signature as a reference profile, PV-PRNT(+) presented a striking lack of innate immunity proinflammatory response along with an increased adaptive regulatory profile (IL-4(+) CD4(+) T cells and IL-10(+) and IL-5(+) CD8(+) T cells). Conversely, the RV-PRNT(+) shifted the overall cytokine signatures toward an innate immunity pro-inflammatory profile and restored the adaptive regulatory response. Conclusions. The data demonstrated that the overall cytokine signature was associated with the levels of PRNT antibodies with a balanced innate/adaptive immunity with proinflammatory/regulatory profile as the hallmark of PV-PRNT(MEDIUM+), whereas a polarized regulatory response was observed in PV-PRNT(-) and a prominent proinflammatory signature was the characteristic of PV-PRNT(HIGH+).

The Stability of the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Functional MRI Response to Motor Tasks Is Altered in Patients With Chronic Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose-Functional MRI is a powerful tool to investigate recovery of brain function in patients with stroke. An inherent assumption in functional MRI data analysis is that the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal is stable over the course of the examination. In this study, we evaluated the validity of such assumption in patients with chronic stroke. Methods-Fifteen patients performed a simple motor task with repeated epochs using the paretic and the unaffected hand in separate runs. The corresponding BOLD signal time courses were extracted from the primary and supplementary motor areas of both hemispheres. Statistical maps were obtained by the conventional General Linear Model and by a parametric General Linear Model. Results-Stable BOLD amplitude was observed when the task was executed with the unaffected hand. Conversely, the BOLD signal amplitude in both primary and supplementary motor areas was progressively attenuated in every patient when the task was executed with the paretic hand. The conventional General Linear Model analysis failed to detect brain activation during movement of the paretic hand. However, the proposed parametric General Linear Model corrected the misdetection problem and showed robust activation in both primary and supplementary motor areas. Conclusions-The use of data analysis tools that are built on the premise of a stable BOLD signal may lead to misdetection of functional regions and underestimation of brain activity in patients with stroke. The present data urge the use of caution when relying on the BOLD response as a marker of brain reorganization in patients with stroke. (Stroke. 2010; 41:1921-1926.)

Globalisation and the technology gap: Regional and time evidence

This chapter examines the relationship between globalisation and technological progress. It computes an annual and country specific measure of technological gap, the technology ratio (TGR), using a recently proposed method known as metafrontiers. The TGR is measured as the distance from a group frontier to the global (or meta) frontier. The TGRs provide a measure to compare technological capability across countries. The ranking obtained from the metafrontiers method is first compared to other methods based on the direct measure of patents, science articles, schooling etc. The TGRs are then related to levels of trade openness and inbound and outbound foreign direct investment within regions and overtime in an effort to identify the relationship between technological gap and outward orientation.

Modeling the Dynamics of Viral Evolution Considering Competition Within Individual Hosts and at Population Level: The Effects of Treatment

We consider two viral strains competing against each other within individual hosts (at cellular level) and at population level (for infecting hosts) by studying two cases. In the first case, the strains do not mutate into each other. In this case, we found that each individual in the population can be infected by only one strain and that co-existence in the population is possible only when the strain that has the greater basic intracellular reproduction number, R (0c) , has the smaller population number R (0p) . Treatment against the one strain shifts the population equilibrium toward the other strain in a complicated way (see Appendix B). In the second case, we assume that the strain that has the greater intracellular number R (0c) can mutate into the other strain. In this case, individual hosts can be simultaneously infected by both strains (co-existence within the host). Treatment shifts the prevalence of the two strains within the hosts, depending on the mortality induced by the treatment, which is, in turn, dependent upon the doses given to each individual. The relative proportions of the strains at the population level, under treatment, depend both on the relative proportions within the hosts (which is determined by the dosage of treatment) and on the number of individuals treated per unit time, that is, the rate of treatment. Implications for cases of real diseases are briefly discussed.