Effects of Creatine Supplementation after 20 Minutes of Recovery in a Bench Press Exercise Protocol in Moderately Physically Trained Men.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to analyse the effect of creatine supplementation on the performance improvement in a bench pressing (BP) strength test of muscle failure and to evaluate muscle fatigue and metabolic stress 20 min after the exercise. METHODS: Fifty young and healthy individuals were randomly assigned to a creatine group (n = 25) or a placebo group (n = 25). Three exercise sessions were carried out, with one week of rest between them. In the first week, a progressive load BP test was performed until the individuals reached the one repetition maximum (1RM) in order to for us obtain the load-to-velocity ratio of each participant. In the second week, the participants conducted a three-set BP exercise protocol against 70% 1RM, where they performed the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) until muscle failure occurred, with two minutes of rest between the sets. After one week, and following a supplementation period of 7 days, where half of the participants consumed 0.3 g·kg-1·day-1 of creatine monohydrate (CR) and the other half consumed 0.3 g·kg-1·day-1 of placebo (PLA, maltodextrin), the protocol from the second week was repeated. After each set, and up to 20 min after finishing the exercise, the blood lactate concentrations and mean propulsive velocity (MPV) at 1 m·s-1 were measured. RESULTS: The CR group performed a significantly higher number of repetitions in Set 1 (CR = 14.8 repetitions, PLA = 13.6 repetitions, p = 0.006) and Set 2 (CR = 8 repetitions, PLA = 6.7 repetitions, p = 0.006) after supplementation, whereas no significant differences were seen in Set 3 (CR = 5.3 repetitions, PLA = 4.7 repetitions, p = 0.176). However, there was a significant increase in blood lactate at minute 10 (p = 0.003), minute 15 (p = 0.020), and minute 20 (p = 0.015) after the exercise in the post-supplementation period. Similarly, a significant increase was observed in the MPV at 1 m·s-1 in the CR group with respect to the PLA group at 10, 15, and 20 min after the exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Although the creatine supplementation improved the performance in the strength test of muscle failure, the metabolic stress and muscle fatigue values were greater during the 20 min of recovery.

Neuromuscular Fatigue and Metabolic Stress during the 15 Minutes of Rest after Carrying Out a Bench Press Exercise Protocol.

Background: Velocity loss (VL) at 1 m·s−1 can help to determine neuromuscular fatigue after performing an exercise protocol. The aim of this study was to analyse muscle fatigue and metabolic stress during the 15 min that follow the execution of a bench press (BP) exercise protocol. Methods: Forty-four healthy male students of sports science performed two exercise sessions separated by one week of rest. In the first week, the participants carried out a test with progressive loads in the (BP) exercise until reaching the one-repetition maximum (1RM) in order to obtain the load−velocity relationship of each participant. In the second week, each participant conducted three BP exercise sets at an intensity of 70% of 1RM, determining this load through the mean propulsive velocity (MPV) obtained from the individual load−velocity relationship, with the participants performing the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) to muscle failure. Two minutes of rest were allocated between sets. MPV at 1 m·s−1 and blood lactate concentrations were recorded before executing the exercise and at minute 0, 5, 10 and 15 after performing the exercise protocol. Results: A two-factor repeated measures ANOVA was performed. MPV at 1 m·s−1 in minute 0 post-exercise was −33.3% (p < 0.05), whereas in minute 10 and 15 post-exercise, it was ≈−9% (p > 0.05). Regarding the blood lactate levels, significant differences were observed in all measurements before and after the exercise protocol (p < 0.001), obtaining ≈7 mmol·L−1 at minute 10 post-exercise and 4.3 mmol·L−1 after 15 min of recovery. Conclusions: MPV with medium or moderate loads shows a certain recovery from minute 10 of rest. However, the blood lactate levels are still high (>5 mmol·L−1). Therefore, although there seem to be certain conditions to reach a similar maximum MPV peak, the residual fatigue at the neuromuscular level and the non-recovery of metabolic homeostasis would hinder the reproduction of these protocols, both at the level of applied stimulus and from a methodological perspective, since a long recovery time would be required between sets and exercises.

Physiological Responses at 15 Minutes of Recovery after a Session of Functional Fitness Training in Well-Trained Athletes.

BACKGROUND: the aim of this study was to analyse muscle fatigue and metabolic stress at 15 min of recovery after performing two independent sessions of functional fitness training (FFT): a session of strength functional fitness training (FFTstrength) and a session of endurance functional fitness training (FFTendurance). METHODS: eighteen well-trained men conducted two protocols, separated by one week of rest: FFTstrength (3 sets of 21, 15 and 9 repetitions of Thruster with bar + Pull ups) and FFTendurance (3 sets × (30 kcal rowing + 15 kcal assault air bike)). Neuromuscular fatigue and metabolic stress were measured right before, right after and at 10 and 15 min after completing the FFT workout, as well as the mean heart rate (HRmean) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) at the end of the FFT. RESULTS: FFTendurance recovered the velocity loss values after 15 min of recovery. On the other hand, FFTstrength only recovered velocity in the 1 m·s-1 Tests in squat (SQ), since the velocity levels were 7% lower in the 1 m·s-1 Tests in military press exercise (MP) after 15 min. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that there are specific recovery patterns not only as a function of the exercise and the body regions involved, but also regarding the recovery of neuromuscular and metabolic factors, since both FFT workouts obtained high blood lactate concentrations.

Muscle Recovery after a Single Bout of Functional Fitness Training.

BACKGROUND: Functional fitness training (FFT) is a new exercise modality that targets functional multi-joint actions via both muscle-strengthening exercises and aerobic training intervals. The aim of the study was to examine muscle recovery over a 20 min period after an FFT workout in trained adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were 28 healthy trained subjects. In a single session, a countermovement jump (CMJ) was performed to determine several mechanical variables (jump height, maximum velocity, power) before (preFFT) and 4, 10, and 20 min after the FFT workout (postFFT). In parallel, capillary blood lactate concentrations were measured pre- and 3 min postFFT. Heart rate was also measured before and after the workout, and perceived exertion was measured postFFT. RESULTS: Significant differences between the time points preFFT and 4 min and 10 min postFFT, respectively, were produced in jump height (p = 0.022, p = 0.034), maximum velocity (p = 0.016, p = 0.005), average power relative (p = 0.018, p = 0.049), and average power total (p = 0.025, p = 0.049). No differences were observed in any of the variables recorded preFFT and 20 min postFFT. CONCLUSIONS: While mechanical variables indicating muscle fatigue were reduced 4 and 10 min postFFT, pre-exercise jump ability only really started to recover 20 min after FFT although not reaching pre-exercise levels. This means that ideally intervals of around 20 min of rest should be implemented between training bouts.

Improvement of carotenoid extraction from a recently isolated, robust microalga, Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 (chlorophyta).

In recent years, there has been increasing consumer interest in carotenoids, particularly of marine sustainable origin with applications in the food, cosmeceutical, nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical industries. For instance, microalgae belonging to the genus Tetraselmis are known for their biotechnologically relevant carotenoid profile. The recently isolated marine microalgal strain Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 is a fast-growing, robust industrial strain, which has successfully been produced in 100-m3 photobioreactors. However, there are no reports on total carotenoid contents from this strain belonging to T. striata/convolutae clade. Although there are several reports on extraction methods targeting chlorophytes, extraction depends on the strength of cell coverings, solvent polarity and the nature of the targeted carotenoids. Therefore, this article evaluates different extraction methods targeting Tetraselmis sp. CTP4, a strain known to contain a mechanically resistant theca. Here, we propose a factorial experimental design to compare extraction of total carotenoids from wet and freeze-dried microalgal biomass using four different solvents (acetone, ethanol, methanol or tetrahydrofuran) in combination with two types of mechanical cell disruption (glass beads or dispersion). The extraction efficiency of the methods was assessed by pigment contents and profiles present in the extracts. Extraction of wet biomass by means of glass bead-assisted cell disruption using tetrahydrofuran yielded the highest amounts of lutein and ß-carotene (622 ± 40 and 618 ± 32 µg g-1 DW, respectively). Although acetone was slightly less efficient than tetrahydrofuran, it is preferable due to its lower costs and toxicity.

Which Patients Require Physician-Led Inter-Hospital Transport in View of Endovascular Therapy?

INTRODUCTION: The current guidelines advocate the implementation of stroke networks to organize endovascular treatment (ET) for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) after transfer from a Primary Stroke Centre (PSC) to a Comprehensive Stroke Centre (CSC). In France and in many other countries around the world, these transfers are carried out by a physician-led mobile medical team. However, with the recent broadening of ET indications, their availability is becoming more and more critical. Here, we retrospectively analysed data of patients transferred from a PSC to a CSC for potential ET to identify predictive factors of major complications (MC) at departure and during transport that absolutely require the presence of a physician during interhospital transfer. METHODS: This observational, single-centre study included patients with evidence of intracranial LVO transferred for ET from Perpignan to a 156 km-distant CSC between January 1, 2015 and -December 31, 2018. We compared 2 groups: MC group (patients who required emergency intervention by the medical team due to life-threatening complications, including need of mechanical ventilation at departure) and non-MC group (all other patients who experienced no or only minor complications that could be managed by the emergency paramedics alone). RESULTS: Among the 253 patients who were transferred to the CSC, 185 (73.1%) had no complication, 57 (22.6%) minor complications, and 11 (4.3%) had MC. In multivariate analysis, MC was associated with basilar artery (BA) occlusion (p < 0.0001), initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score >22 (p < 0.005), and history of atrial fibrillation (p < 0.04). Among the 168 patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), only 1 patient (0.6%) had MC due to an IVT-related adverse event during transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Physician-led inter-hospital transports are warranted for patients with BA occlusion, initial NIHSS score >22, or history of atrial fibrillation. For the other patients, transfer without a physician may be considered, even if treated with IVT.

Futile inter-hospital transfer for mechanical thrombectomy in a semi-rural context: analysis of a 6-year prospective registry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Inter-hospital transfer for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) might result in the transfer of patients who finally will not undergo MT (ie, futile transfers [FT]). This study evaluated FT frequency in a primary stroke center (PSC) in a semi-rural area and at 156 km from the comprehensive stroke center (CSC). METHODOLOGY: Retrospective analysis of data collected in a 6-year prospective registry concerning patients admitted to our PSC within 4.5 hours of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) symptom onset, with MR angiography indicating the presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) without large cerebral infarction (DWI-ASPECT ≥5), and selected for transfer to the CSC to undergo MT. Futile transfer rate and reasons were determined, and the relevant time measures recorded. RESULTS: Among the 529 patients screened for MT, 278 (52.6%) were transferred to the CSC. Futile transfer rate was 45% (n=125/278) and the three main reasons for FT were: clinical improvement and reperfusion on MRI on arrival at the CSC (58.4% of FT); clinical worsening and/or infarct growth (16.8%); and longer than expected inter-hospital transfer time (11.2%). Predictive factors of FT due to clinical improvement/reperfusion on MRI could not be identified. Baseline higher NIHSS (21 vs 17; P=0.01) and lower DWI-ASPECT score (5 vs 7; P=0.001) were associated with FT due to clinical worsening/infarct growth on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: In our setting, 45% of transfers for MT were futile. None of the baseline factors could predict FT, but the initial symptom severity was associated with FT caused byclinical worsening/infarct growth.

Angiomatosis dérmica difusa de la mama: aportación de un nuevo caso en paciente no fumadora.

Diffuse cutaneous angiomatosis is one of the reactive angiomatoses. Historically, it is associated with lesions located in the lower extremities. Breast localization is uncommon, but may be under-reported. We report a non-smoking woman who exhibited this vascular condition of both breasts.

Epigenetic Modifications of Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic disease whose neurological basis and pathophysiology remain poorly understood. Initially, it was proposed that genetic variations were responsible for the development of this disease. Nevertheless, several studies within the last decade have provided evidence suggesting that environmental factors play an important role in MDD pathophysiology. Alterations in epigenetics mechanism, such as DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA expression could favor MDD advance in response to stressful experiences and environmental factors. The aim of this review is to describe genetic alterations, and particularly altered epigenetic mechanisms, that could be determinants for MDD progress, and how these alterations may arise as useful screening, diagnosis and treatment monitoring biomarkers of depressive disorders.